Larraine Myree "Lambert" Tiller

Larraine Lambert Tiller passed away on October 1st, surrounded by loved ones. She was born on December 27th, 1934, in Harney County, Oregon, to Homer (Pat) and Eunice Lambert. She was the second of four children - Homer, Larraine, Gail, and Arlene.
Larraine grew up on a homestead in Silvies Valley, 38 miles outside of Burns, where the family had no electricity or plumbing. She often wondered why her parents left California, where they had modern comforts, to build a new life in the middle of nowhere Oregon - but that rugged start shaped her strong spirit. She loved sharing stories about those early years: helping her dad cut and stack hay even while sick with rheumatic fever, the "two-holer" outhouse (that no one ever used side by side!), and using Sears catalog pages as toilet paper - "the paper ones worked better than the shiny ones," she'd say with a laugh.
Later, her parents bought the Texaco gas station known today as Hines Market. Larraine was always dependable, helping run the station, looking after her siblings, and doing her best to keep her brother Homer out of trouble - a full-time job in itself! By her freshman year, the family moved into town, and Larraine began her long tradition of hard work, taking jobs at the gas station, the drive-in theater, and Tillers Market (back when it was where NAPA stands now).
Just before her senior year, she fell seriously ill and was taken to a hospital in Portland, where she was diagnosed with polio. After months of treatment and determination, she made a full recovery and proudly graduated with the class of 1953.
While working at Tillers Market, she met a handsome young man named Robert "Bob" Tiller - a friend of her brother's - and in 1954, they married in Eugene. They began their life together in a small rental in Burns and soon welcomed their three children: Karen, Rocky, and Randy. Eventually, they settled in their forever home in Hines, where Larraine lived until her passing.
In 1979, Larraine and Bob built and opened Tiller's Market in Hines - a beloved community fixture that people still talk about today. Larraine famously refused to ever step foot in Safeway again.
She was fearless and full of fun. When her teenage sons showed up on motorcycles and asked if she wanted a ride, she didn't hesitate - she jumped on and held tight. She loved the outdoors: hunting, camping, fishing, and especially four-wheeling. On Mother's Day one year, Bob took her "just to look" at four-wheelers, and as soon as she saw a bright yellow one, he got out his checkbook. Before long, the whole family and half the county were riding right along with her. She put nearly 20,000 miles on that four-wheeler, and loved nothing more than "laying the hammer down" to see how fast it could go. She also loved plowing snow on her 4 wheeler in the winter for friends and family and mowing her lawn and keeping it green in the summer.
Even as her kids grew up and started families, she stayed close and deeply involved in their lives. She loved her grandkids with all her heart. Larraine was always there for anyone who needed her. She cared for countless family members and friends over the years, often putting her own needs last. Her home was always open, her heart even more so.
She was loved by everyone she met and always seemed surprised when people told her how beautiful or kind she was. But those who knew her will never forget her warmth, humor, strength, and generosity.
Larraine is survived by her son Randy Tiller and wife Connie of Hines; grandchildren Karrie Weir and Dee of Eugene, Katie Weir of Salem, Robby Tiller and wife Ashley of Hines, Brandon Tiller and wife Audrey of Kansas, and Mathew Tiller and partner Katie of Cove; and great-grandchildren Maximus, Bobby, Nathen, Jaxon, Kason, Colton, and Cambry.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Robert "Bob" Tiller; daughter Karen Weir; and son Rocky Tiller.
Donations in her name can be made to the local CAN Cancer organization through Harney District Hospital or Hospice.
A funeral service will be held October 18th at 11:00 a.m. at LaFollette's Chapel, followed by burial at the cemetery and a reception at the Elks Lodge.