Nell Viola Heare

Nell Viola (Willis) Heare, passed away September 14, 2018, in Logan, Utah surround by her family. Nell was born October 29, 1921, in Vernonia, Oregon to Louise Jessie and Walter Willis. She was 96.
Growing up, Nell lived in Vernonia, Fir Creek, Gales Creek, and Forest Grove, OR. She was the second of three daughters. Evelyn, the eldest and Emelie her younger sister. Growing up on a farm, Nell would often be working along side her dad. As she recalls, Nell liked the “outside” chores while her sisters preferred the “inside” chores with their mom.
In 1938, Nell married Elton Beard and they had two sons, Dennis and Robert (Bob). They were later divorced. In February 1945, she married the love of her life, Harvey H. Heare and together they had one more son, Michael. Harvey’s 20 year, military career found the family in many homes throughout the western states. When he retired from the military, Harvey and Nell settled in Bend, OR.
Nell had quite the sense of adventure. Although they had a permanent residence on the banks of the Deschutes River in Bend, she and Harvey spent many years traveling across the Western US and Mexico in one of their many “rigs” they called home. Nell and Harvey spent many winters on the beaches of Mexico during the seventies and eighties, or camping at RV Parks in Arizona or Southern California with other retirees, escaping cold winters. When Oregon thawed in the spring, they would head back to Bend for the summer. Her grandchildren all have memories of Grandmas deck, hanging over the rocks on the river bank in Bend. She would sit for hours in her deck chair, reading a book, working a puzzle, eating chocolate and listening to the river.
Nell and Harvey lost their son Micheal in 1983 and Harvey passed away shortly after Christmas in 1985. That didn’t stop Nell from an active life. She got a smaller RV and continued her adventures on the road. She also began work as a volunteer with the American Red Cross as a disaster relief volunteer. She always had a bag packed and ready to go. One of her more exciting adventures with the Red Cross was her deployment to St. Croix after Hurricane Hugo. Nell was very active until a near fatal car accident left her body badly broken in 1997. Things slowed down after that, but she continued to volunteer with her church in Bend and as a Hospice volunteer. Nell also enjoyed time with her son Bob and his wife Joanne in Culver, OR. Bob and Joanne spent countless days looking in on Nell, before and after her accident. Although she didn’t like to admit she needed help as she got older, she liked the attention and time she was able to spend with them.
After her son, Bob, passed away in 2013, Nell moved to Logan, UT, near her son Dennis and his family. Over the last four years, Nell spent holidays and birthdays with five generations in one room on most occasions and regular visits with grandchildren and their grandchildren.
Nell spent the last 18 months at Maple Springs Assisted Living Center in Utah. Although she was bound to a wheelchair, she zipped around the facility, sometimes a bit too fast. A few near misses prompted her wheelchair settings to be turned down to “low speed,” which she wasn’t happy about. Though her mind and body began to tell a different story, Nell didn’t like to slow down. She knew most of the staff and they knew Nell. She was especially fond of Jessica and would visit in her office almost daily. On the day of her passing, many of the staff and nurses stopped in to say goodbye in her final hours.
Nell was preceded in death by her parents Walter and Louise Willis. Husband, Harvey Heare, Sons, Robert Heare and Michael Heare, Daughter-in-law Diane Heare and sister Evelyn. She is survived by her son Dennis Heare (Logan, UT), Daughter-in-Law Joanne Heare (Culver, OR), 6 grandchildren, Mike Heare (Logan, UT), Janet (Lawrence) Lohr ((Kilgore, TX), Cyndi (Geoff) Corey (Bountiful, UT), Ken (Jon) Heare (Logan, UT), Jen (Matt) Barton (Logan, UT), Tim (Emma) Heare (Centerville, UT), 14 Great-grandchildren and 14 Great-great-grandchildren. Nell’s sister Emelie Conwell of Beaverton, OR. survived Nell, but passed a week later, on September 22, 2018.
Her family wishes to thank the nurses and staff of Maple Springs, Bonnie of Access Home Care and Hospice and the many people who cared for Nell during the last few years.
According to her wishes, Nell will be returned to Bend and her ashes interred with her husband Harvey and son Mike.
A graveside service will be held at 10:00 am, Monday, October 1, 2018, at the Pilot Butte Cemetery in Bend. Please share a favorite memory or offer condolences to the family by leaving a tribute on this site