Ellensburg Washington

Cooke, Earl Patten – Obituary

Earl P. Cooke, 57, resident of Yakima for the past seven years, died in a Yakima hospital Monday [December 27] evening. He had made his home at 301 N. 26th Ave. Mr. Cooke was born in Ellensburg. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Morand D. Cooke were pioneers of the Ellensburg District. He is survived by his wife, Hazel; one sister, Mrs. Laurin T. Dawes, Ellensburg, and three brothers, Lester V. of Ellensburg, Charlie P. of Ellensburg and Frank M. of Seattle. Mr. Cooke was a member of the Elks. He had previously lived in Menlo, Wash. for 19 years. He … Read more

Rader, Benjamin Franklin – Obituary

Funeral services will be held at the Evenson Chapel Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 2 p.m. for Ben F. Rader, native Reeecer Creek rancher who died Thursday [September 12, 1963] at the Ellensburg General Hospital. Rev. Paul G. Nance will officiate and interment will be in the IOOF Cemetery. The family suggests that anyone wishing to make a memorial in Mr. Rader’s name, send it to the First Christian Church Memorial Fund. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Cleman, Nora Belle Sharp – Obituary

One of Kittitas County’s earliest settlers died Monday [January 4] in the passing of Mrs. Jake Cleman, 63, who passed at the Ellensburg hospital from a brain hemorrhage which had confined her since Christmas Day. Mrs. Cleman, whose maiden name was Nora Belle Sharp, came to this valley with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. sharp in 1874 and has resided here continually since that time. She was born in Oregon in 1868 and in 1887 was married. Eleven children, three sisters and two brothers survive her. The children are Clarence of Sacramento, Calif.; Mrs. Lelah Pratsch of Aberdeen; … Read more

Thomson, Colin P. – Obituary

Death Comes To Colin P. Thomson Colin Petrie Thomson, 58, logger, died at the Ellensburg General hospital last night after an illness of several months [May 4, 1944]. He lived at the Webster hotel. He was born at Ottawa, Canada, May 11, 1885. He is survived by two brothers, James H. of Renton and George of Edmonton, Canada, and a sister, Mrs. Maggie Klock of Ottawa. Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock at the Honeycutt chapel. Burial will be in the I.O.O.F. cemetery. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Prater, Jess C. – Obituary

Jess C. Prater, 90, died Friday [February 28, 1975] at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. A native son of pioneer parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Prater, he was born Dec. 24, 1884 on his parents’ farm on the Westside. A farmer all his life, he ranched on the Hanson Road for many years. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Norma Noble Prater. The celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on February 14. Other survivors include two sons, William of Tacoma, and Gene of Ellensburg; two daughters, Marjorie Williamson of Seattle and Myrna Halvorsen of Bellevue; a sister, Mrs. … Read more

Bender, Maria Elizabeth Hayes – Obituary

Mrs. Maria E. Bender, daughter of one of the earliest Kittitas Valley pioneer families, died Saturday morning March 30, 1968, at Bernaths Nursing Home at the age of 82 years. She was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. James T. Hayes A Valley resident all of her life, she was married to Louis Bender June 22, 1907, at Ellensburg. He preceded her in death in 1946. She was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Moose for 40 years Mrs. Bender is survived by four sons; Bernard, Louis, Russell, and Harrell, all of Ellensburg; one daughter, Mrs. … Read more

Biography of Frederick D. Schnebly

FREDERICK D. SCHNEBLY – Our subject was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, in 1832, and was educated in the Franklin and Marshall College of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In 1854 he started for California by way of Nicaragua. In passing up the Pacific, the steamer, Star of the West, on which he had taken passage, took fire; but the horrors of a burning ship tragedy were avoided by the timely and effective labors of the crew and passengers. After stopping for a time in San Francisco, he visited the Sandwich Islands, but, returning to the Golden state, spent two unsuccessful years in mining. … Read more

Charlton, Max Ernest – Obituary

Max E. Charlton, 74, a native Fairview District rancher, died Friday [February 4, 1977]. Born Aug. 27, 1902 in Ellensburg, he was a graduate of Ellensburg High School and attended Washington State University. He married Loila Schnebly April 9, 1933 in Ellensburg and then began farming in the Fairview District. He was a member of the First Christian Church and past member of the Fairview Grange, Farm Bureau and Kittitas County Cattlemen’s Association. He was the son of the late George and Maude Charlton. He is survived by his wife, Loila; two sons, Dave Charlton, of Ellensburg; and Paul Charlton, … Read more

Prater, Wendell Weaver – Obituary

Wendell W. Prater, 74, of Ellensburg, died Thursday at his home following an extended illness. He was born March 11, 1913, at the family home near Ellensburg on land he has continued to farm throughout his life. He was the oldest of the three children of Cordy and Velma Ann (Weaver) Prater. Prater was graduated from Ellensburg High School in 1930 and from Washington State College in 1936 with a degree in agricultural engineering. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Ellensburg, a lay member of the First Methodist Church Conference and was a member of … Read more

Schnebly, Joseph Carroll – Obituary

Joseph Carroll Schnebly, 67, of Ellensburg, died Sunday [February 10, 1985] at his home following a brief illness. He was born May 6, 1917, in Ellensburg, the son of the late Joseph Jay and Elizabeth (Barnhart) Schnebly He was graduated from Ellensburg High School and Washington State University, where he was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He operated a ranch in the Fairview District until his retirement in 1972 Mr. Schnebly was a past president of the Kittitas County Farm Bureau, and was a member of the Kittitas County Cattlemen’s Association and the county board of tax … Read more

Grunden, Selma Caroline Jacobsen – Obituary

Death came here this week to another of Kittitas Valley’s pioneers, Mrs. Selma Caroline Grunden, 80, who had lived here 68 years died November 29, 1946. Born in Sweden May 31, 1866, Mrs. Grunden came to Ellensburg in 1878, when she was 12 years old, and had made her home here continuously since that time. She was in Ellensburg during the last Indian uprising in Central Washington and witnessed growth of this area from a frontier section to its present development. She made her home with the late J. L. Vaughn for several years after coming to the valley. She … Read more

Banister, Samuel Newell – Obituary

Aged pioneer of valley loses his life in the river; Samuel Newell Bannister, resident of valley for many years, drowns; Body is recovered; Falls from Lower River Bridge at noon yesterday; No witnesses Samuel Newell Banister, 92, a pioneer of this state and the Kittitas valley, lost his life yesterday when he fell from the lower Yakima River bridge into the river. Physicians stated death was probably cased by striking his head on a pier in the fall. The accident occurred about noon, and his body was recovered about two hours later nearly a mile down the stream [died February … Read more

Hayes, Ruby Miles – Obituary

Ruby Hayes, 90, daughter of William and Rosa (Owens) Miles, died February 21 [1992] in Ellensburg. She was born in Surgoinsville, Tenn., on December 2, 1901. At the age of six, her family moved to Washington where she attended school in the Ellensburg area. She and her husband, Harry, farmed for more than 50 years in the Denmark area before moving into Ellensburg in 1972. Survivors include three sons, William Hayes of Prosser, Jerry Hayes of Yakima, and Joel Hayes of Renton; three daughters, Barbara Scenna of Oak Park, Mich., Kay McPherson and Sandra Johnson of Ellensburg, stepson Homer Hayes … Read more

Cooke, Susan Brewster – Obituary

Mrs. Susan E. Cooke, Kittitas Pioneer, Dies At Age Of 89. Was Resident Of Valley Since 1870; Crossed Plains In 1851; Funeral Monday; Deceased Came From Noted Family; Was Descendant Of Pilgrim Following a decline suffered nearly two years ago, Mrs. Susan Eliza Brewster Cooke, one of the oldest pioneers of Kittitas Valley, died last night at the family residence, 11 miles northeast of Ellensburg [died March 11, 1921]. Last Monday Mrs. Cooke celebrated her 89th birthday, having been born in Waterford County, four miles from Troy, New York, on March 7, 1832. Mrs. Cooke was a direct descendant of … Read more

Wheeler, Wesley – Obituary

Wesley Wheeler Taken By Death. Wesley Wheeler, 63, died at his home, four miles north of Ellensburg, late this morning, apparently the victim of a heart attack. Wheeler, a native of Ellensburg, had spent his entire life in this area as a farmer. He is survived by his widow, Zelma, a son and two stepsons. His mother, Mrs. Al. L. Wheeler of Ellensburg, and two sisters, Mrs. John Harder of Ellensburg and Mrs. Phil Moran of Seattle, also survive. There is one grandchild. Wheeler’s mother is believed to be the oldest living Kittitas county pioneer. Funeral arrangements are being handled … Read more

Prater, Charles Cornelius Jr. – Obituary

C. C. Prater, 57, life-long Kittitas Valley resident and prominent Westside farmer, died here last night at the home of his sister, Mrs. Minnie Wangeman, after an illness of 10 weeks. The son of pioneer valley settlers, he was born on the family farm on the Westside on December 15, 1881. He was married here to Miss Velma Weaver on November 14, 1906. From his youth he took an active part in the activities of the community. Among the many responsibilities which he held at the time of his death were: Community Committeeman of the Kittitas County Conservation Association; Director … Read more

Wheeler, Annie Montgomery – Obituary

Annie M. Wheeler Pioneer, Passes; Death Comes To Valley Resident of Past 65 Years Mrs. Annie Montgomery Wheeler, 82, a Kittitas valley resident 65 years and one of he valley’s oldest remaining pioneers, died here last night following an illness of six weeks [died April 26, 1945]. Mrs. Wheeler had not been in good health, for several years. However, she survived a fall five years ago in which she suffered fractures of both hips, learning to walk again. Mrs. Wheeler was born near St. Helena in Napa county, California, March 27, 1863. She made her home there with her parents, … Read more

Godbey, Bert – Obituary

Funeral services for Bert (Bertie) Godbey, 95, longtime Ellensburg resident, who died Friday [December 27, 1968] at Bernath Nursing Home, will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Evenson Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Maurice Swisher will officiate. Interment will be in the IOOF Cemetery. Born April 13, 1893 in Kearney, Neb., Godbey was a veteran of army service in World War I. He came to Ellensburg from Nebraska in 1932 an was married to Bertha Looney Aug. 22, 1936 in Yakima. Godbey followed the cement finisher’s trade. Surviving are his wife, Bertha at the family home, 504 S. Pearl; … Read more

Cooke, Irma Lucile Wilson – Obituary

Irma L. Cooke, 90, of Kittitas, died Sunday, Dec. 23, 1990, at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital in Ellensburg. She was born Aug. 26, 1900, in Wausau, Wis., the only child of Vernon E. and Caroline (Finup) Wilson. She earned her teaching degree at the University of Wisconsin at Grand Rapids and, following her graduation, she was a high school teacher teaching English, Spanish and piano. She came to the Ellensburg area in 1932. She was a member of the Kittitas Community Church, where she was organist and pianist. She and Norman L. Cooke were married in Ellensburg on March 29, … Read more

Seaton, Marguerite L. Stampfly – Obituary

Marguerite L. Seaton, 72, of Rt. 5, died Thursday morning [December 13, 1984] at her home. She was born Jan. 18, 1912, in Ellensburg, a daughter of Emil and Marie Stampfly. She attended the rural Fairview School and Ellensburg High School. She and Ralph Seaton were married Feb. 1, 1930 in Yakima. They farmed in the Fairview District until retirement in 1969. Following the death of her husband in 1975, Mrs. Seaton made her home near her daughter and son-in-law on Wilson Creek Road. She was a member of the First Lutheran Church. Survivors include a son, Allen Seaton, of … Read more