Ellensburg Washington

Johnson, Dora Evans Crawford – Obituary

Mrs. Dora Evans Crawford Johnson, better known as Mrs. George Crawford, passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Pete Sorenson, this morning following a lengthy illness. Mrs. Johnson was born in Todd County, Minnesota 54 years ago and has been a resident of this community since she was 14 years of age. She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Spanish American War Veterans and for her 40 years residence here has been a worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Besides her widower, Joseph R. Johnson, one son, Stephen E. Crawford of Ellensburg and three daughters, … Read more

Wyatt, Lester Jay – Obituary

Lester Jay Wyatt, 27, teacher and head basketball coach for Hanford High School, died Tuesday at his home in Richland. He was born in Ellensburg on Dec. 31, 1954, the only son of Marvin and Kathryn Wyatt of Ellensburg. He graduated from Ellensburg High School in 1973 and from Central Washington University in 1973 with a degree in education. Mr. Wyatt taught and coached for one year at Tonasket High School. Since 1979 he had been a teacher and coach at Hanford High. Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Wyatt of Ellensburg; a sister, Mrs. John (Jane) Floyd … Read more

McGranahan, Thomas H. – Obituary

Death came peacefully this afternoon [April 14, 1928] to Thomas H. McGranahan, retired Ellensburg business man, who was stricken with an acute heart attack last Monday night. His health, however, had been poor for the last year or two, especially since the death of Mrs. McGranahan a year ago.. Mr. McGranahan, who was born in Jamestown, PA., April 11, 1852, had resided in Ellensburg since 1901, and formerly was associated with A. C. Butler in the grocery business here. Prior to that he was proprietor of a bank and general merchandise store at Delta, Colorado. The funeral services will be … 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

Biography of Joseph M. Shelton

JOSEPH M. SHELTON. – “Present misfortune is our future weal,” wrote the old homilist; and in human experience it has been well enough proved that in adversity is the power of a man’s character developed. Joseph M. Shelton, the subject of this sketch, had lived in comfort and prosperity on the family plantation in Caswell County, in North Carolina; but, in common with so many of the foremost Southern families, the Sheltons sustained heavy losses in the war, and by the liberation of the slaves of which Joseph’s father was a large owner. It was then that Joseph showed the … Read more

Phelps, Bessie McEwen – Obituary

Bessie L. Phelps, 87, lifetime Ellensburg area resident, died Monday [November 8, 1976] at a local nursing home. She was born in Ellensburg, Sept. 15, 1889, a daughter of the late James E. and Elizabeth McEwen Ferguson. She attended Dysart School No. 5 in the Fairview district. She and Odie N. Phelps, were married in 1914 (correct date was August 30, 1911) and they operated the Palm Café and Candy Store on Pearl Street for a number of years in partnership with the late Dan Bates. The Phelps lived in Lewiston, Ida. And Portland, Ore. For a time during the … Read more

McEwen, Cora Belle – Obituary

Auburn—Cora B. McEwen, 95, retired Ellensburg school teacher, died Sunday [June 30, 1990] in Auburn where she had lived for the past four years. She attended Ellensburg Normal School and Central Washington College of Education. She worked for Dr. Pinckard for a number of years before beginning her 30-year teaching career. Following retirement she served as a private tutor in her home. She was a member of the First Baptist Church and was active in youth groups for more than 80 years. Survivors include three great nephews, Clair Schnebly of Kittitas, and Ted Schnebly and David Leickum, both of Renton. … Read more

Clymer, Doris Schnebly – Obituary

Doris Schnebly Clymer, 99, of Issaquah, Washington, died Sunday May 18, 2008 after a short illness. She was born April 3, 1909, in Ellensburg, Washington to Joseph Jay and Elizabeth Barnhart Schnebly. Her early years were spent on the family ranch which was located in the Fairview District, where she attended a one-room schoolhouse. After graduating from Ellensburg High School, Doris went on to study History and English at Washington State College (now WSU), where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1931. In 1932, Doris married high school sweetheart and artist John Ford Clymer. Over the 58 years of their … Read more

McEwen, Mary Louise Hyde – Obituary

Toppenish—Mary Louise McEwen, 81, of Toppenish passed away at the Providence Hospital, Toppenish, on Friday, November 27, 1998. She was born on January 24, 1917 in Ashley, ND, the daughter of John and Mary Hyde. When she was three-years-old, the family moved to Quilcene, Washington, where she was raised and educated. She moved to Granger in 1945. She married Ralph McEwen [son of Oscar McEwen and Mary Peffers of Ellensburg]on March 25, 1978. Mary’s hobbies included crocheting, feeding the animals and spending time at Liberty where she and Ralph had a summer home. She was an avid traveler and had … Read more

Bull, John Alva – Obituary

John Alva Bull, 78, died suddenly at his home on Route 5, Saturday [September 20]. Bull was born at the family farm, September 10, 1891 to Walter A. and Rebecca Bull and spent his entire life in the Kittitas Valley. He graduated from the local school and attended the University of Washington where he studied law. On Dec. 24, 1915 in Salt Lake City, he married Margaret Porter whom he had met while both where students of the University. Since their marriage they have made their home on Route 5 on the farm his mother, Rebecca Nelson [Bull], had homesteaded. … Read more

Hayes, Robert Lewis – Obituary

The body of Robert Lewis Hayes, 36, who was electrocuted north of Spokane Monday morning [November 30, 1964], will be returned here by the Evenson Funeral Home for services and burial. His home was at Kittitas. Arrangements are pending the arrival [IOOF Cemetery]. Mr. Hayes was born May 30, 1928 in Ellensburg, attended Kittitas High School and served with the US Navy during the Korean War. He married Mollie Mullen on Sept. 21, 1957 in Kittitas and they had made their home there since that time. He was a member of the Moose Lodge and the Electrical Workers Union NO. … Read more

Cooke, Glen W. – Obituary

Glen W. Cooke, 66, a lifetime resident of Ellensburg, died Friday, September 11, 1992 at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Yakima, after a long illness. Mr. Cooke was the youngest child of Guy and Catherine (Shotwell) Cooke. He lived most of his life within a few miles of his birthplace, on Naneum Road. As a boy he was active in 4-H and FFA. He attended grade and middle school in Kittitas and graduated from Ellensburg High School in 1944. After graduation he served as a aviation cadet in the U. S. Air Force. He then returned home to ranch with … Read more

Prater, Julia Alice Harrell – Obituary

Mrs. Felix G. (Alice) Prater, 87, died Sept. 23 [1970] in a Seattle nursing home. Mrs. Felix lived for 60 years in the Ellensburg-Thorp area and in 1953 retired as a housemother at Central Washington College and moved to Burien. She lived in Des Moines, Wash., the past two years. Survivors include a son, Dorsey Prater of Burien; a daughter, Mrs. Glen (Gertrude) Kelley of Mt. Vernon; a grandson, Dr. Timothy Kelly of Corvallis, Ore., and two great grandsons. She has several nieces and nephews living in the Kittitas Valley and on the coast. Services will be Monday at Parkers … Read more

Jensen, Hellen Mrs. – Obituary

Death Come To Hellen Jensen Mrs. Hellen Jensen, 72, long-time Ellensburg resident and widow of Jens. C. Jensen, died Sunday at Sorensen Memorial Hospital. She had been hospitalized for two weeks. Mrs. Jensen was born May 24, 1883, in Wabassee, Canada, and came to Ellensburg in 1900. She and Mr. Jensen were married here in April, 1900. They farmed for a number of years in the Kittitas area. Mr. Jensen worked for 24 years for the Carter Transfer Co., and then was employed by the Northeran Pacific Railroad. He was killed Jan. 11, 1944, when a N. P. passenger train … Read more

Barnhart, Pleasant Frederick – Obituary

Pleasant Frederick Barnhart, 70, son of original pioneers of Kittitas Valley, died Wednesday night, March 28 [1951], in a Pasco Hospital. He had made his home in Pasco since 1917 Barnhart was a veteran railroad man. He had been employed by the Northern Pacific since 1906 until retirement three years ago. Death followed illness of three months He was born here [Ellensburg] on October 7, 1880, and lived with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Barnhart, on the family farm in the Fairview District until he began his railroading career. In 1906, he went to live in Pasco, returned … 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

Grindrod, Edward Gove – Obituary

Following closely in death his wife and a son, E. G. Grindrod, Kittitas Valley pioneer, died at his home on East Capitol Avenue this morning. Eighty-four at the time of his death, Mr. Grindrod came to the valley as a young man and spent the remainder of his life here. He farmed for many years before retiring to make his home in the city. His wife, Mrs. Etta [Bonebrake] Grindrod, died here December 9, and a son, Roy, succumbed the following day. Surviving are a son, George and two daughters, Ione Grindrod of Seattle and Mrs. Floy Hunt of Ellensburg. … Read more

Grimm, Anna Bailes – Obituary

Mrs. Annie Grimm died in this city at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Poland, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 1911. Funeral from Briley’s Chapel, Friday at 2 p.m., Rev. A. L. Crim officiates. Mrs. Grimm was born in Missouri, October 19, 1852. When yet a child, she moved with her parents to Salem, Oregon, where she married William Grimm, who died seven years ago this month. A few years after her marriage, the family moved to this valley where she has lived for 34 years. She became a member of the Christian Church in her early life and lived a … Read more

Cooke, Rufus – Obituary

Death this morning [March 7, 1922] claimed one of the earliest and best known residents of the Kittitas valley when Rufus Cooke passed away. Mr. Cooke died this morning at the home of his sister, Mrs. P. H. Schnebly where he has been ill for the past two weeks. The Kittitas Valley had been his home since 1870 when he came here from Yakima with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Schnebly. Both are now deceased Mr. Cooke was born in Yakima on Sept. 12, 1867, the family removing to Ellensburg three years later, where they took up a … Read more

Parker, Orilla Fogarty – Obituary

Mrs. Orilla Fogarty Parker, 49, a native of Ellensburg, died at her home at 608 North Ruby Street last night [November 23, 1948] following an illness of two months. She had been in failing health for several years. Mrs. Parker, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Edward F. Fogarty, Kittitas Valley pioneers, was born here in 1899. She married her husband, Fred C. Parker, on January 23, 1926. For the past 11 years, Mrs. Parker had been employed at the Washington National Bank. Her last position with the bank was chief of the safety deposit vault department. Mrs. Parker … Read more