George W. Dewees, Valley Pioneer, taken by death widely known Ellensburg resident dies here today
George William DeWees, 78, an Ellensburg resident for the past 56 years, died at the Ellensburg General Hospital this morning. In failing health for several years, he suffered a stroke Wednesday [October 6, 1945] morning and failed to rally
The son of the late William and Valinda DeWees, he was born April 14, 1867, near Leitchfield, KY. When he was six years old his parents moved to the Middle West, where he spent his boyhood. He came to Ellensburg February 28, 1889, and went to work for the late J. D. Damman. In 1891 he began working for the late Andrew Olsen in the flour milling business, working there until 1906, when he purchased the business. He operated the Ellensburg Feed Mills until the plant burned in the mill district fire of August 1928
He was married in Ellensburg May 20, 1894, to Almira Swett, Mrs. DeWees died in 1940. Mr. DeWees served as a member of the Ellensburg City Council for two terms from 1909 to 1913 and as director and president of the South End Water Company for many years
Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. Lillie Barnhart, Tacoma; Mrs. W. S. (Ruth) Lewis, and Mrs. George P. (Vera) Williams, Ellensburg, with whom he made his home for the past five years; and Mrs. D. G. (Faye) Bongiorni, Vancouver, Wash.; five grandchildren, Beverly Jean Barnhart, Jo Ann, Dale and Mardelle Lewis and Preston Williams; five sisters, Mrs. R. M. Kirk, Coldwater, Kan.; Mrs. Emma Sherman and Mrs. Laura Brooks, North Hollywood, Cal.; Mrs. M. E. (Ina) Davis, Ellensburg, and Mrs. Ola Reed, Seattle; and three brothers, W. P. DeWees, Vancouver, B. C.; R. G. DeWees, Kamloops, B. C., and E. B., DeWees, Seattle
Funeral arrangements have not been completed. [George is buried in the IOOF Cemetery]
Contributed by: Sheli Steedman