Richard G. Madariaga

Richard G. Madariaga. Born August 6, 1927. 90 years young. Richard began his life so many years ago along side his family of 11 brothers and sisters. He was one of the younger more mysterious children. He always went on about how athletic and how tough his brothers were. He especially took a liking to his brother Sab. His favorite story to tell was how big yet acrobatic he was. Sab was a bartender in Jordan Valley and back then Jordan was really happening. One day came along a group of sailors. Must have mistaken the Owyhee for the Mississippi. There was one sailor who came in with a lot of energy. He began tumbling through the bar and did front flips while landing on his feet. He then jumped flat foot on the bar and made the following challenge. If anyone in the bar could do what he did then drinks around were on the sailor. Fitting as it were Sab stepped out from behind the bar a bear of a man. He said I accept this challenge and everyone watched in dismay. Sab made all of those turns and flips as grandpa would say and then he too jumped up on the bar as that sailor had had his day.
Richard was always running at a high pace. He always had something to do and people to impress. He too was a very strong man although he would not ever admit to that. He also fancied impressing all of those around him. He liked to be center of attention out on the town. He would sing you a song and tell you how it was. He always went on about dancing all night on the town. Richard enjoyed his sports as well. His favorite sports were baseball and basketball neither of which could pull him away from his true love on the back of a horse as a cowboy.  To hear it from grandpa he would tell you he had offers to play any professional sport he wanted but he chose being a cowboy. Richard found the love of his life Evon "Bonnie"during the dreaded snowfall of 48 and 49.  She would tell you that she was the one who found him back in those years. Grandma always said that they moved out here to get away from the snow. Grandma and Grandpa were a great pair. She complimented him and he to her. The ranching life found them moving around a lot. From Jordan to Fairfield to New Plymouth and then back. Richard and Evon raised four wonderful children. Each unique in their own way.  Richard traveled a lot and saw a lot of country but always found his home to be in the Jordan Valley. He was a great mentor in the community and he had ties all around him. It seems everywhere he went he either had friends or he quickly made them with his great stories.
In his time as a rancher he learned many crafts. Grandpas greatest craft was in his rawhide riatta. Richard was well know for braiding great ropes and many of the cowboys in the area would seek them out. He built ropes to the very end of his day and the tough old mean looking but very flexible ropes fit his personality to a key.
I could continue to go on however I will end with this. One of the most remembered story grandpa always told me was on how we screwed up the moon. His Dad was a great worker of the moon. He would grow by the moon. He would work animals by the moon. He did everything by the moon. Grandpa said though that we messed up when we sent a man to the moon. Nothing ever was the same. We never had the winter like 48 and 49 again. The world was going down. I think Grandpa found in the end though was it wasn't a problem with the moon it was a change in lifestyles. I think he found great joy when I would start to explain how our family started using the moon again to work. Everything can fill circle and I think that is where we are now. Grandpa you go in peace. Be with all of those that you always spoke of and you now are the one that we may speak of as well. Rest In Peace.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. Saturday  October 7 St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Jordan Valley, Oregon. Burial will follow at the Jordan Valley Cemetery. Arrangement are under the direction of the Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel. an online guestbook is available at www.nampafuneralhome.com

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