- Date Of Birth: May 26, 1916
- Date Of Death: August 2, 2012
- State: Idaho
Shamy Johnson, 96, of Vale, Oregon passed away August 2, 2012.
Shamy was born in on May 26, 1916 in Vale, Oregon and spent his life in Malheur and Harney counties. His father nicknamed him Shamrock when he was a toddler because he always wanted him to sing the shamrock song; the nickname was soon shortened to Shamy. He was on a horse from the time he was a preschooler. He landed his first cowboy job when he was eleven and never returned home. He spent the next several years working on ranches in Oregon.
Shamy married Erma Maupin in 1936 and everything they owned fit into one suitcase. They enjoyed nearly 66 years together. Shamy worked in the saw mill in his early 20’s and saved every dollar he earned to buy his first ranch in Westfall, Oregon.
Five years later he sold out and helped manage the Stockman’s café that he purchased with Kenney Johnson and George Troy.
In 1957 Shamy got his real estate license and sold ranches all over the northwest. He was instrumental in putting together the first grazing association.
Shamy was the president of the Vale rodeo board in 1957 during the great flood of Vale and was instrumental in rebuilding the rodeo grounds in time for the rodeo that year.
Shamy was also the president of the Lions Club and the Chamber of Commerce and helped organize the Vale Auxiliary Police Program and served as its captain. He also volunteered for the fire and ambulance crews for several years.
