Mody Russel Hewitt

Mody Russel Hewitt, 46, formerly of La Grande, died Feb. 12 at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Hermiston.

A celebration of life will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Hermiston Eagles Lodge No. 2909, 160 NW Second St.

Mody was born July 17, 1961, to Mike and Joanne Johnston Hewitt in La Grande. Mody was a military brat and was raised throughout the United States and in Germany. He graduated from Ellison High School in Killeen, Texas, in the Class of 1979. He then moved to California and Washington for a time before returning to Germany where he started his career in construction.

Mody worked in several countries including Germany and Japan as well as the United States. Mody lived in Orting, Wash., for 17 years where he worked in construction before moving to Umatilla in 2005 where he has lived since.

Mody was a member of the Orting Eagles Lodge. He volunteered for many churches and groups over the years including his recent volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity in Umatilla. Mody enjoyed fishing, hunting, traveling, jeeping, golfing, sports and the outdoors. He volunteered as a Little League coach and was a great supporter of youth athletics.

He is survived by his parents, Mike and Joanne Hewitt of Umatilla; brother, Michael Hewitt and his wife, Theresia of Port Orford, Wash.; sisters, J. Marie Norris and her husband, Bob, of Pendleton, Modine Hewitt and her friend, Bob Taft, of Umatilla, Marcene Lay and her husband, Gary of Orting, Wash.; numerous nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews; and his special dog, Cindy. Mody was considered a special adopted grandpa - known as "MoMo" to many.