Joseph Perry Sherburn, 30, of Fields, Ore., passed away at St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Boise, Idaho, on July 4, 2011. He was surrounded by loved ones and suffered no pain. His death was the result of a fatal automobile accident that occurred on the morning of July 3rd.
Joe was born on Nov. 24, 1980, in Lakeview, Ore., to Lorin and Katharine Sherburn of Fields. He grew up in the Fields area working on the family hay farm/ranch. He graduated from Crane Union High School in 1999.
After high school, Joe began college at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande before transferring to the University of Idaho in Moscow. It was there that Joe discovered his natural talent in economics and thus graduated from the University of Idaho in 2005 with a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics. His ability in this field led him to complete one year at Texas A&M University in pursuit of a doctoral degree in Agricultural Economics in 2006, whereupon he received the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award for the fall of 2005.
In the spring of 2006, Joe made the decision to return to the family hay farm/ ranch in Fields. He quickly became a critical component to the operation. Again, many of Joe’s exceptional talents and abilities were drawn upon throughout the years. Whether it was running haying equipment, working cattle, or masonry work, there was precious little he couldn’t nor wouldn’t do.
Joe was also a very valued and active member of the Fields and Denio communities serving on various boards. Examples of such positions include the Denio Community Club, Rural Volunteer Fire Department, and the Fields School Board.
However, his greatest passions involved hunting and fishing. Joe’s spare time was spent outdoors pursuing these activities with many of his friends. Within the last few months of his life, one of Joe’s greatest blessings became his girlfriend Nichole Michaud, currently of Denio.
Joe is survived by his father and mother, Lorin and Katharine Sherburn of Fields, Ore.; his brother-in-law and sister, Nick and LaDell Schott of Orovada; and his nephew Conrad Schott.
He is also survived by his uncles and aunts, Sarah Casey of Fields, Ore.; Gene and Mindy Northrup of Fields, Ore.; Ted and Charlotte Sherburn of Murphy, Idaho; Nolan and Charmaign Edwards of Fields, Ore.; and Roxanna Baldwin of Narrows, Ore., as well, as numerous cousins.
A service for Joe will be held at the Denio Community Hall in Denio on July 23, 2011, at 1:00 pm. A potluck will follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions to his memory can be made to the Denio Community Club, P.O. Box 248, Denio, Nevada 89404.
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