Mac Kerns passed away, peacefully, at his home outside of Haines, Ore., July 5, 2022, with his loving family at his side.

Tom McCornack (Mac) Kerns was born in Sheridan, Wyo. on Oct. 31, 1934 to Tom and Janet (McCornack) Kerns. In 1936 the little family moved to Eugene and then Lorane, Ore. Soon, Mac’s father researched a desirable location (out of the Willamette Valley because of hay fever and allergies) for the family to settle and farm. The beautiful Baker Valley reminded Tom of the Sheridan area he’d grown up in and it had a railway which he knew was very important for transporting crops and farm animals. 

In 1939 Mac and his family moved to a ranch in Haines. He and his older sister Jean attended grade school in the Rock Creek, then Muddy Creek, riding horseback to and from. His freshman year of high school was in North Powder. Because his older sister Jean was attending high school in Baker, Mac’s folks determined it would be best if he attended there also. Lucky thing, because it was there he met his future bride Joyce (Cole).

Joyce and Mac were married June 21, 1953 and began 57 years of marriage and adventure.  The newlyweds resided on the ranch in Haines, until that fall, when Mac resumed his studies at Oregon State University in Corvallis. Mac completed his college career with a degree in Agricultural Engineering which he used thoroughly throughout the rest of his life.  

In 1959 the ranch had a rough year and Mac’s brother-in-law, Tom suggested he seek employment with the U.S. Forest  Service. Mac signed on for what was going to be a temporary job but the Forest Service offered him many ways to use and expand his knowledge so he stayed with them until 1984. 

He obtained his professional license as a Civil Engineer in 1962. In 1978 he became a licensed land surveyor and in 1991 he added Certified Water Rights Examiner to his resume’.

The family had expanded with the birth of Lorance Brent in 1954, Wesley Allen in 1958 and Janet Irene in 1960.  Mac’s career with the Forest Service took them to many postings throughout the Northwest, then Missouri and finally Washington D.C. They often purchased a home that benefited from remodeling or later on constructed their homes. Mac included the children in all aspects of the building projects and they learned many valuable skills in the process. Each move was considered an adventure by Mac and Joyce and he not only made a difference with his engineering skills in building roads and reservoirs, but became active in community affairs and their church. Locally, while working in the Malheur Forest out of John Day, Mac was the chief engineer in the project creating the Tipton Cutoff highway. He was awarded “Best Road Job In the Nation” for that project. He also served on the John Day city council while living there.

Upon retirement in 1984, Mac and Joyce moved back to Haines to ranch with their family. There, Mac was active in several aspects of agriculture, especially as a Water Rights Examiner and even served as chairman of the Oregon Wheat Growers Commission. In that position he was able to visit China on a marketing trip.

Mac remained active and positive all through his life, by participating in community activities. The 4th of July Haines Fun Run was rarely missed by him and as a member of the Haines Methodist Church, he assisted with the construction of that Community Hall. Mac was a proponent of water and stream enhancement and use, while also especially a champion in advocating for better forest management to prevent fires. The children of Haines Elementary School (many of which were great-grandchildren and great-nieces and nephews he loved to point out) benefited from his volunteering in the classroom. He served on a board for the rural fire district as an activist for getting support through tax rolls for better fire protection. His interest in local history led him to involvement with the Baker County Historical Society and Eastern Oregon Museum at Haines, where his own memories of early years have helped inspire people.

Mac had a way of linking the past to the present, learning from experiences not only of his own, but also of others, to aptly apply them in solving problems. In his last days, he still displayed an interest in what each of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were working on, learning or simply interested in.

In 2021 Mac, with assistance of his youngest  brother, James, penned a “Christmas letter’ that eventually grew into a book entitled “Our Oregon Heritage.” These writings document and celebrate the lives of Thomas and Cornelia Condon (Mac’s great, great-grandparents) and Herbert McCornack’s family. (Herbert being Ellen Condon’s husband and Mac’s great- grandparents).

Mac was proceeded in death by his wife, of 57 years, Joyce Avon (Cole); daughter, Diane; parents, Tom and Janet; and sister, Jean (Tom) Griffith.

Mac is survived by his children, Brent (Mary), Wes (Mary Davies), and Janni (John) Eggers; grandchildren,  Jacque (Josh) Cobb,  Logan (Holly) Kerns,  John (Catie) Kerns, Jeff (Kim) Kerns, Mark (Savannah) Kerns, Zach (Savannah) Eggers, 1st Class Petty Officer Eli Eggers, and  Andy (Chelsey) Johnson; great-grandchildren,  Colt and Orin Cobb, Weston Kerns, Lance and Joy Kerns, and Bridger and Briar Johnson; brothers, Tim (Jan) Kerns, James (Margery); sister, Ellen (Philip) Stevenson; and brother–in-law, Tom (Jean) Griffith; plus numerous nieces and nephews. Also Mac’s special friend, Mary Boyer.

Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022 at the Haines United Methodist Church. Memorial contributions  in Mac’s memory may be sent to the Eastern Oregon Museum or the Haines United Methodist Church via Cole’s Tribute Center.