May 23, 1916 – Feb. 15, 2010

Vera Catherine Bankofier, a long time resident of Crook County and Prineville, Oregon, passed away February 15, 2010, She was 93.

Vera was born May 23, 1916, in Winnemucca, Nevada, to Carrie (Choate) and Angus Cameron Bullis.

She received her education in Paradise Valley and Winnemucca, Nevada, graduating from Humboldt County High School in 1934.

Vera married her high school sweetheart, Earl Chester Bankofier on Easter Sunday, April 21, 1935, in Reno, Nevada. They resided at the Bankofier family ranch, the Piute Indian Reservation and the UC ranch in McDermitt, Nevada for several years, then moved onto other ranches in Susanville and Sierra Valley, California, and Reno, Nevada, before moving to the Humphrey Ranch in Paulina, Oregon, in July 1950, then to the Prineville area in 1955.

They resided at the Keystone Ranch from 1955, until 1967, moving into town to their own home after 32 years of marriage. They moved to Marmot Lane in 1987, adjacent to the eighth fairway of the Prineville Golf and Country Club, her dream home. Earl passed away in 1999, but Vera maintained her home and life style until September 2008, when she moved to Portland to be near her son, Duane and her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Vera served as American Red Cross Water Safety Chairwoman and conducted the Prineville swim program for many years where she taught all levels of swimming and diving. She volunteered in other areas also. She worked as a Ward Clerk at the Pioneer Memorial Hospital for ten years. Vera loved to play golf and was a member of the Prineville Golf and Country Club. She also enjoyed music, doing handcrafts and doing oil and watercolor paintings, but most of all she loved to swim.

At her request, only a close family service will be observed.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl; her older sister, Carol; her older brother Gerwin; and her twin sister, Verna. She is survived by her sons, Duane (Sharon) of Happy Valley, and Joe (Robin) of Bend; her grandchildren, Randy (Peggy) of Happy Valley, Kristi (Jon) of Winter Garden, Florida, Jeff of Bend, and Mark of Seattle, Washington; and by six great grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the American Red Cross or Pioneer Memorial Hospital.

Vera Catherine Bankofier