The Rev. Fred W. Heard was born in Prineville, Oregon, on September 9, 1940. He attended elementary and high school in Klamath Falls, Oregon. He started college at the University of Oregon and received a BS degree (Education) and an MS degree (Secondary Education) from Southern Oregon College (now Southern Oregon University), Ashland, Oregon.
Later in life, he received a Master of Divinity degree from Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Berkeley, Calfornia. He completed his Clinical Pastoral Education at the Oregon State Hospital Forensics Unit and his field experience at Prince of Peace Episcopal Church in Salem, Oregon. Also, he served as interim minister at the Congregational Church in Klamath Falls OR from 1963 to 1966. He was ordained as an Episcopal Transitional Deacon in June 2003 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Salem and a priest at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, California, in December 2003.
Fr. Fred retired as Vicar at Dallas Oregon’s St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church in June 2022 where he had served since January 2016. Prior to that, he was Assisting Priest at St. Paul’s in Salem from September 2014 to December 2015. From January 2009 until September 2014, he served as Rector at St. Paul’s in Cambria, California. Fr. Fred was the Associate Rector at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Menlo Park, California, from July 2003 until July 2008.
His first career was as a teacher at Klamath Union High School (the school where he graduated). Eventually, he became an Assistant Professor at Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls where he taught for 13 years. He was experienced at all education levels ranging in enrollments from 60 to 2000-plus students and filled positions as teacher, department chair, budget manager, assistant professor, vice principal and principal. He taught English, literature, social studies, speech, sociology, economics and journalism in junior high, high school and college.
In 1968, Fr. Fred ran for the State Legislature; and for the next 14 years, he served as State Representative for Klamath and Lake Counties and State Senator for Klamath and Deschutes Counties. He held the post of Senate Majority Leader for three sessions and Senate President for one session. He resigned his Senate seat in 1983 to accept the cabinet appointment of Director of Oregon Department of Commerce for Governor Victor Atiyeh. As Director of the 450-employee department, he supervised nine divisions and 24 licensing boards.
For a short time, he worked as a general contractor and as a career manager. Needless to say, he was active in many political campaigns other than his own in Oregon.
Over the years, Fr. Fred was an active member of the Kiwanis Club and served as a Board Member in both the Menlo Park and Salem Kiwanis Clubs. He was President in Salem and a delegate to the international convention. In the diocese of El Camino Real, he served on the Commission for Ministry. Prior to seminary, he served as a Vestry member & Jr. Warden at St. Paul’s in Salem. While at St. Thomas, Fr. Fred was President of the Board for the Compass Ministries on the Western Oregon University campus. In the Diocese of Oregon, he was Dean of the Willamette Convocation, a member of the Diocesan Recovery Commission, a member of the Diocesan Council, and a member of the board for Formation and Mission. He was also past President of the Board of Trustees for the School for Deacons in Berkeley at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific. During Covid he co-facilitated a Zoom discussion on racism.
In his spare time, Fr. Fred loved to garden outside and seriously started growing orchids inside. He also kept his eye on the political scene with his faithful cat, Apple. As a political scientist, he was fascinated by the evolution of politics over the last several years. As a politician, he was saddened by the breakdown of decorum, tradition, compromise, and camaraderie amongst politicians. He was writing his own autobiography which includes social/political/religious commentary on his life and family.
Whether he was Mr. Heard, Sen. Heard, Fr. Heard, Dad or Papa, he was always a forward thinker filled with hope, looking for solutions. He worked tirelessly for his students, his constituents, and his parishioners. He wasn’t afraid of controversy and was a mentor and a mediator. He worked across party and regional lines toward compromise which resulted in many fine pieces of legislation. He had a ready smile, lots of energy and was always planning what to do next. Fr. Fred was an excellent speaker, and he loved to preach. For the last 33 years, he was a member of AA.
Fr. Fred was so very proud of his family, and he loved to tell of the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren. He is survived by his loving wife, Adair of 57 years; son, Frederick (Theresa); twin daughters, Robin (Casey) and Heather (Barry); Japanese exchange son, Hiro (Beth, daughters Emily and Elena); seven grandchildren (Christopher, Matthew, Carter, Jackson, Sawyer, Harrison and Edith).
Fr. Fred’s memorial service will be held on Sept. 5 at 5 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1444 Liberty St. SE, Salem, where he will be interred. The service will also be available for those who cannot attend on the St. Paul’s website: stpaulsoregon.org. City View Funeral Home has set up a page for remembrances and comments: cityviewfh.com.
–Submitted information
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