Longtime Hermiston Resident Shirley Hamblin Dies

On the morning of July 11, Shirley Hamblin, a 50-year resident of Hermiston, passed away peacefully at home in her sleep at the age of 79.

Shirley Renay (Jacobson) Hamblin was born to Emery Willis Jacobson and Agnes Irene (McKay) Jacobson of Jackson Hole, Wyoming on Dec. 16, 1934. Shirley, along with her three sisters and four brothers, grew up in Jackson Hole while Emery worked as a hunting and fishing guide. She was a working hand at her father’s hunting camps in the Jackson Hole wilderness, setting up camp and providing meals for the “dudes.” In 1946, a major motion picture, Bad Bascom starring Wallace Beery and Margaret O’Brien, was filmed in Jackson Hole and Shirley was proud to be an extra in the movie.

Eventually, the Jacobson family moved to Boise, Idaho, but returned to Jackson Hole each summer to work the seasonal guide jobs with Emery. Shirley graduated from Boise High School in 1953. That year, Shirley survived a car accident on Teton Pass, but she suffered a broken back. A short time after her recovery, she moved to San Francisco to explore career opportunities and graduated from dental school. During her time in San Francisco, she made occasional trips back to Boise where she met Howard Hamblin who, no doubt, fell in love with her. At one point, Howie surprised Shirley by showing up in San Francisco with a marriage proposal and the couple was married in Reno, NV in March of 1956. Lisa and Terry were born in California and then, in 1959, the young family moved back to the Boise area where Cindy and Kevin were born. After Howie’s career moves to Moscow, Idaho and Yakima, Wash.,, the family settled into Hermiston in 1964 for the next 50 years. During this time, Shirley and Howie, along with their 4 children, enjoyed the love of nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Howie, her beloved husband and life partner of 58 years, passed away only three months ago in April.

Once Shirley’s children ventured into their careers and created their own families, Shirley was able to realize her passion for travel. She traveled all over America including Hawaii, Florida, Arizona, Washington D.C and New England as well as countries like Canada, Sweden, Denmark, and Mexico.

Shirley’s family was the most important endeavor of her life. Her unspoken mission was to provide for her family under all circumstances and at any cost. She taught life’s basic principles and personal values while being the best living example herself. She was selfless and tireless. She was a school board member and, along with Howie, initiated Hermiston’s first swim team concessions stand. She encouraged, supported, and managed her children through their sports and activities including: swimming, football, skiing, baseball, 4H, art, and music lessons.

She worked locally at Lamb Weston for 25 years, mostly on the night shift (11 p.m. to 7 a.m.0, so she could make the evening meals before her shift and then return after her shift to provide breakfast and see the kids off to school. Shirley orchestrated all major family events each year assuring that family vacations, holidays, and birthdays were special. What’s amazing is that she continued the same activities with her grandchildren, and, incredibly, with her great grandchildren. Her legacy and her gift to the family, along with her undying love, are the traditions she sustained and the memories she created forever in our hearts. These traditions live on today with her children, grandchildren, and mostly certainly with her great grandchildren – and all our generations to come.

Shirley is survived by her siblings, Jerry Jacobson (wife Inez) of Boise, Arlene Scragg of Boise, and Carol Steele of Susanville, Calif.; her children, Lisa Bushman (husband Jeff), their children, Joel Bushman (wife Carrie), their children, Keller and Brenna, Rebecca Varland (husband Aaron), their children, Natalie, Maverick, and Danner; Terry Johnson (husband Lee), their children, Kevin Johnson (wife Anna), their children, Simon and Miles, Jacob Johnson (wife Kara), their child, Billy, Brittany Johnson, and Keith Johnson (wife Shelley); Cindy Landers (husband Rett), their children, Allison Landers Stewart (husband Patrick), Ashley Landers; Kevin Hamblin (wife Lynne), and their child, Thomas.

A celebration of Shirley’s life for family and friends will be held on Saturday, July 19 at 5 p.m., at 816 East Main St, Hermiston. The family wishes that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to National Public Radio, one of Shirley’s favorite forms of entertainment.

Please send condolences at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.

Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.