Cecil W. “Babe” Rock passed away peacefully with family members by his side on Jan. 2, 2018. His illness took all by surprise, as he was vibrant and active, save the last few days of his life.
He was born on Aug. 19, 1927 to Cecil and Pearl Rock in Clarkston, Wash.
Babe was the eldest of the four original Rock brothers, including Reg, Percy and Stanley, plus a half-brother, Clyde. Growing up, he used to ride his bicycle two miles one way to buy milk for his little brother, “Tanny”, at the age of only 6 years old while living in Richland, Wash. He started driving at age 8 and was cooking and bucking hay at age 9. By his 15th birthday, he was escorting 1,200 fat lambs by rail to market in Chicago by himself. He helped his childhood family run the Rock Sheep Company until he was inducted into the Army in 1952 at the peak of the Korean War. He served stateside at Fort Roberts and Fort Lewis. Upon leaving active duty, he returned to the farm in 1954. Being a part of the “River Rats”, the Rock boys farmed 11,000 acres along 12 miles of the Columbia River, east of Roosevelt, Wash.
In 1955, he hired a local cowgirl from Whitcomb to help on the farm. He robbed the cradle when he married Ora DeElva Robbins (his Deedlebug) on May 31, 1957. Back then, she didn’t know how to boil water, so he taught her how to cook and make sheepherders’ coffee. They left the river in 1964, as the waters of the John Day Dam consumed their ranches.
After farming in Hermiston for six years, Babe went to work for Lampson Railroad Contractors as foreman for Byron “Spike” Lampson. They hauled all the mainline pipe for the major irrigation projects in the Columbia Basin. These included Prior Land (Agri-Northwest) and SimTag (RDO). Being a natural mechanic and hard worker, he began to develop an interest in center pivot irrigation. In 1978, he started Irrigon Irrigation with his sons, which later morphed into Rock Enterprises. He and his crews installed literally hundreds of center pivots and turn-key projects throughout the Pacific Northwest. Babe was known by all as an expert in his field, and a guy who would literally give the shirt off his back. He was particularly known as a hard worker who never complained. Simply put, he was “old school”. He loved farm equipment, big trucks, and getting the job done right.
He was a loving husband, father, papa, grandfather, brother and friend. He is survived by his wife and companion of 60 years, Ora DeElva (Dee); brother and wife Stanley and Martha Rock; daughter and husband Tammie and Brad Williams; three sons and their wives, Cecil and Sabrina Rock, Rick and Jan Rock, and Donnie Rock; 11 grandchildren and two great grandchildren: Dustin, Tyler, JoDee, Nikolos, Chelsea, Mallory, Megan, Logan, Braden, AudriAnna and Brooke, plus Eve and Claire; brothers- and sisters-in-law, some of whom he took in and raised and others to whom he provided loving advice: Dortha and Bud, Linda and Ed, Jayne and Monty, and Vickie and Rocky.
Babe touched many lives, and the list of friends would consume the entirety of today’s copy, but we would like to acknowledge his pal Bear Dog, who faithfully stood by his side, and his friend Arturo Ortega Sr., who has done so much for our family over the years. Babe never met a stranger he didn’t get along with and was always bringing someone to the house for supper or a place to stay.
Please join us for a Rock family dinner, as he looks down from heaven and enjoys the celebration of his life. The celebration will be at the top floor of the Echo City Hall at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018 to share memories and stories with family and friends. We will welcome all stories and memories from family, friends and his many loyal customers.
Donations on Babe’s behalf may be submitted to the city of Irrigon Enhancement Fund.
Please sign the online condolence book at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
