Juan "John" Miguel Erice

Juan Miguel Erice was born to Pedro Erice and Monica Cia on May 17, 1942 in the small Basque village of Muzquiz in Northern Spain. He passed away peacefully at his home on March 7, 2024. He was the oldest of six children. The village grade school was in the basement of his parents’ big four-story stone house. He started working like a man at age 9, and never did get a chance to go to high school. He was the foreman of a ranch by the age of 16 and then spent three years in the Spanish army. After that, he came to America to work for Cunningham Sheep Company where he spent all but three of his working years. In the three years he was not at Cunningham, he spent two years in the logging industry and one year on a ranch in Red Bluff California.

He met his wife Carolyn at the ranch where she spent her days off helping her mom who was the cook for Cunningham. He loved his mother-in-law and said she was one of the best women he ever knew, and of course he liked her cooking too. So, he thought the daughter would be a pretty great woman and cook herself and Juan and Carolyn got married in 1968 enjoying 56 years of marriage.

He and Carolyn had three children and they enjoyed 50 years of living on the ranch in Pilot Rock. Juan took the kids with him any chance he got, going to the mountains and taking supplies to the sheep herders. And when he had grandkids, it was no different, he would take them too.

Juan was a very hard worker but there were two things that would get him off the ranch, going to Spain to visit his family and cruises with his wife and friends. Juan and Carolyn enjoyed many cruises, including Alaska, Caribbean, and Mediterranean. The family also took several trips to Spain where all of Juan’s siblings and their families still live. He was very thankful for modern technology so he could stay in touch with family.

Juan’s hobbies were hard work, family, and friends. He loved people. One of his favorite things to do was throw big get togethers on the ranch where he would enjoy barbecuing with his son Jose, enjoying the beautiful weather, and having all his friends and family around. And with their barbecuing and Carolyn’s cooking, this was the place to be if you wanted a huge great meal and lots of fun and laughter.

Juan retired in 2015 and he and Carolyn moved to the Goad Rd. property which they have enjoyed with a few sheep still grazing in their field. He had a hard time giving up what he loved doing all his life but with the help of his son Jose, he got to continue to work the few sheep he still had. He spent much of his retired years looking out the window at the mountains or on the deck in the sunshine enjoying the countryside. He enjoyed his granddaughters and recently his two great grandkids.

Juan is survived by his wife Carolyn, son Juan Jose (Monica) of Pendleton, Stepson Michael       Du Plessis of Australia , Granddaughters Macey (Dakota), Marti Kae, and Mallory (Jeffery) of Pendleton, Sister Feliza (Jose Antonio), Sister Rosario, Sister Josepha (Ernesto), Brother Miguel (Christina) of Spain, and many adopted family that call him “Dad” and “Grandpa”.

Proceeded in death by his parents Pedro and Monica, brother Juan Jose, mother-in-law Della Cummings, daughter Monica, son Marty Carlos, and his faithful dog Sassy.

Juan will ne missed by many but never forgotten. Juan’s funeral will be held on Thursday March 21st at 11:00 a.m. at the Pendleton Seventh day Adventist church.