Gail Homer Hendrick

History of My Brother Gail Homer Hendrick
I & my brother started our life in Portland Oregon. I was born 1948 & my brother was born in 1949 we were 11 months apart. Our Father & Mother lived on Maple Crest Drive North West Portland. Me & my brother spent our baby years in Portland while my Father attended Worked at various jobs in Portland and attended George Fox College in electronics & machinal automotive. Upon graduation my parents moved to Brigham City, Utah & father was hired by the United States Air Force as a civilian employee working in jet engine removal and disassemble and rebuild. My Brother Gail attended are primary school in Brigham City, Utah. My father became sick from working in Wheels Brakes & Struts. Chemicals claimed many lives at Hill Air Force base. He was retired at an early age. My parents sold the home in Brigham City and we moved to a town out side of Ely Nevada Called Lane City. Lane City was an old Ghost town with very few residents. Gail attended the 4th grade in Ely Grade school. The teacher Mrs. Amy Stambough taught me & my brother Gail and brought us up to school level standards in reading writing and mathematics. Utah schools were substandard on Learning. Gail graduated the 4th grade and our parents moved to Payette, Idaho where Gail attended the 5th grade. Upon graduation we moved to Summit, Oregon where Gail attended the 6th Grade of School. We moved again to Cherry Grove, Oregon where Gail attended the 7th & 8th Grade school in Cherry Grove, Oregon. Gail's 8th grade class was the last class that was taught in Cherry Grove Oregon. Gail attended High School in Gaston, Oregon his freshman and sophomore years. We moved to Willamina, Oregon where Gail attended his Junior year in High School. We moved to the town of Sheridan, Oregon where Gail attended his senior year of school. Gail started college in Astoria, Oregon at Clatsop Community College. Where he attended one year. Gail signed up in the United States Army and went to Ft. Lewis, Washington for Basic training. Upon graduation from Basic Gail signed up for another year for school in Ft. Lee Virgina as a Unit Armor & Supply Specialist. Upon graduation from school, Gail received orders to Germany as a Unit Armor and Supply Specialist. Gail again was reassigned to the D team out of Athens, Greece where he served as a member on Missile site of nuclear weapons. Upon completion of over sees deployment Gail received orders for Ft. Riley, Kansas to the Big Red One unit. The 1st infantry Division. Gail served the remainder of his enlistment at Ft. Riley, Kansas and was Honorably Discharged from the United States Army. Gail went on to serve 3 more years as Ready Reserve. Gail took a job at Oregon Department of Forestry in Forest Grove, Oregon Headquarter as a Tree Planter. Later accepted a job as precommercial thinning of Oregon State Forest in the Tillamook Burn. Gail was offered a job as a Helper on the Area Road crew which he accepted and work with many Heavy Equipment Operators. Gail work for Ray Thompson as a helper on a 777 WABCO Motor Grader. Ray asked Gail if he could operate the 777 WABCO & Gail said yes. Then Ray Thompson said there it is, run it and grade the road on Round Top Lookout. He said if you survive this you got the job running the 777 WABCO Motor grader. So, Gail graded the road and asked Ray Thompson how he did, looking for a good grade. Ray Thompson told Gail what he did was a science, as he had never seen such expert way of grading a forest road. Gail accepted and became a Heavy Equipment Operator on the Area Road Crew at Forest Grove Headquarters. Gail served as operator of all of the Forest Grove Heavy Equipment. This included Dozers, Back Hoes, Excavators, Dump Trucks, Water tankers, Fire Engines of all types, Mobile Fire Kitchens and Bath Room Truck & Trailers and many more equipment of the State of Oregon. Gail's expertise was the Motor Graders of which he operated many different types of Motor Graders. Gail worked in many Districts when the Road crew was downsized to Districts. Forst Grove District, Tillamook District, Columbia City District & Astoria District. Gail retired form Astoria District with 30 years in 2001. Shortly after retirement Gail was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. Gail was treated with radiation of more than 55 visits. The cancer team said the count of cancer cells was the highest they had ever seen. After treatment Gail was told the cancer had been diminished. Shortly after receiving this news Gail was tested again and the PSA was again rising and again the cancer was moving in his body. Gail received treatments of Pils that destroyed his stomach. More treatment with shots in the stomach and IVs. Still Gail stood strong and battled the horrible dieses called cancer. Gail then was given chemo treatment in IVs which made him so very sick he was admitted to OHSU Hospital with severe cancer sickness. He was given blood thinners to diminish blood clots which he received in OHSU Hospital in the legs and some moved to his center chest. Still Gail battled the cancer that was spreading through his body. As Gails strength lessened and he declined in his motor movement and became bedridden, he still fought the disease tell his strength was almost diminished. With all the drugs and pain killers Gail's breathing became heavy and then lower and lower until no breathing could be seen. My brother Gail had finally beat this horrible decease. I will never forget Gail my loving brother. He was first my only brother; my best friend and I love him to no end. I will love him forever.
Othel Jr. Hendrick

Graveside services with military honors will be held Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at 1:00 p.m and Fir Lawn Memorial Park, 1070 W Main St, Hillsboro, OR, 97123.