Sheila Denise Piper of Heppner passed away on June 29, 2025 at the age of 54.
Born on July 14, 1970 at Good Shepherd Hospital in Hermiston, Sheila brought joy and spirit into the world from the very beginning.
Sheila was a beloved daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, partner, and friend. She spent most of her life in Heppner, where she attended elementary and high school. During her school years, Sheila developed a deep love for golf, participating in tournaments with the Heppner Golf Club. She was also a proud member of the school choir and enjoyed hunting and fishing – traditions that stayed with her throughout her life. After graduating, she continued her education at Blue Mountain Community College in both Pendleton and Hermiston.
Sheila was a vibrant soul, known for her contagious laughter, creative spirit, and boundless compassion. She had a gift for connection. Whether through a heartfelt conversation, a shared joke, or a simple “BEE positive!” (a phrase inspired by her love of bumblebees), she left everyone she met feeling seen and cared for.
She faced serious health challenges with extraordinary resilience and grace. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1994 following gestational diabetes, she experienced complications that led to kidney failure in 2009. Despite being on dialysis for eight years, she received a kidney transplant in 2017 and continued to inspire others with her strength and positivity.
Throughout her life, Sheila held many roles that spoke to her generous and nurturing heart. She homeschooled both of her daughters in their early years, worked with CAPECO, and delivered meals to seniors at the St. Patrick’s Senior Center. She was especially proud of her work with autistic children, helping them grow toward independence through patience, love, and understanding.
Sheila had a deep love for the natural world. An accomplished herbologist and passionate botanist, she was happiest surrounded by the plants and creatures of the forest. Her home was a lush haven filled with greenery, art, and journals – she wrote constantly, documenting her life with honesty, humor, and grace.
Among her many hobbies, Sheila’s love for model horses stood out. She was a champion showman and began collecting as a young girl and maintained pen-pal connections across the country, breeding and showing her horses in competitions. She hand-crafted saddles, designed elaborate scenes, and photographed them with artistic flair and precision.
She was a woman of faith and curiosity, grounded in her Christian beliefs but always open to learning about other spiritual traditions. She found God in nature and was deeply drawn to Native American wisdom and ways of life; she embraced her walk on The Red Road.
Sheila is survived by her daughters, Whitney Rose Ervin and Emily Ann McDaniel; her cherished grandchildren, Kayden Thomas Toombs, Evalynn Denise Urenda-Lopez Smith, Arreya Sunshine Ervin, Ajay Ervin, Rebecca Lynn Ervin, and Rachel-Ann Colleen Ervin; her great-grandson, Draco Smith; her siblings, Donna Ball, Christy Virgil, Dave Piper, Cynthia Uding, and Teri Lynch; and her boyfriend, Andy Gorman.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Betty Louise Piper and Melvin Rufus Piper; her infant daughter, Leora Denise Smith; her brother-in-law, Gary Otis Ball; and her grandmother, Irma Mae Kiggins.
Sheila was married three times – to Arkie Smith, with whom she had her first daughter, Whitney; Rick McDaniel, with whom she had her second daughter, Emily; and Marshall Moran.
Her legacy lives on in the hearts of those she touched with her humor, wisdom, and radiant kindness.
A celebration of life will be held at Cutsforth Park in Heppner on July 19 at 1 p.m. Friends and family are encouraged to bring photos and memories to share. There will be a collective memory table and space for written remembrances to be read aloud during the gathering. Please bring a dish for the potluck, and if you enjoy fishing, feel free to bring your rod to enjoy the nearby pond – just as Sheila would have loved.
Please leave your condolence messages for the family at https://www.sweeneypaytonmortuary.com/.
Sweeney Payton Mortuary has been entrusted with the arrangements.
