Kitittas Valley Washington

Sorenson, John O. – Obituary

John O. Sorenson, 57, prominent Kittitas Valley farmer, died this morning at his home in the Denmark District. In poor health for some time, he had been seriously ill the past month. Sorenson was a native son of the valley. A son of the late Soren Sorenson, a valley pioneer who came here from Aarhus, Denmark and Nielsine Pedersen Sorenson, he was born here May 13, 1893. He had lived all his life in the valley. An active community worker throughout his adult life, Sorenson had been identified with scores of agricultural and civic enterprises. He was active in the … Read more

Wyatt, Felix – Obituary

Felix Grundy Wyatt, 90, well-known and long-time Kittitas Valley resident, died yesterday [January 15, 1948] at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Howard Baughman, in Seattle. He had lived in Seattle for the past 10 years. Born January 1, 1858, in Ina, Illinois, Wyatt was brought to Shelton, Wash., by his parents when he was six years old. The trip was made by ox team. The family remained only a short time in Shelton and returned to Illinois. He was married in Mount Rose, Mo., in 1881 to Miss Mary Birney. They moved out to Shelton and then settled in … Read more

Dewees, Rebecca Ellen Freels – Obituary

Death came to Mrs. Rebecca Ellen DeWees, 71, at her home at 210 South Sampson Street this morning [February 14, 1940] after a two weeks’ illness. Her death follows that of her daughter-in-law, Mrs. George DeWees by just one week Mrs. DeWees was born in Havensville, Kentucky, March 17, 1858, and came to the Kittitas Valley in 1902. She has lived in her present home for 17 years. She was a member of the Miriam Rebekah Lodge here Mrs. DeWees is survived by five daughters, Mrs. Robert Kirk of Coldwater, Kansas, Mrs. Emma Sherman of Wichita, Mrs. Ina Davis and … Read more

Seaton, James A. – Obituary

James A. Seaton, 73, well-known native Fairview District farmer, passed away Sunday [January 7, 1968] at his home. Born Nov. 12, 1893, near the head of Wilson Creek in Kittitas County, he was married to Ruth Z. Wallace, July 3, 1924 at Tacoma. His wife preceded him in death, passing away June 2, 1952. A member of the Kittitas County Farm Bureau, Mr. Seaton also operated a hay baling business from 1923 to 1927. He is survived by one son, James A. Seaton, Jr., Ellensburg; one daughter, Mrs. Robert (Margaret) Paul, Ellensburg; nine grandchildren; one brother, Ralph Seaton, Ellensburg; two … Read more

Wright, Alfred Malcolm – Obituary

Al wright suddenly dies today. Pioneer businessman and civic worker passes this afternoon. Al M. Wright, pioneer Kittitas county lumberman, former county commissioner and one-time city councilman, died suddenly this afternoon [March 23, 1933] at his residence, 1005 North Water Street. He had complained of not feeling well and did not eat luncheon. Early this afternoon he went out to his workshop, and his body was found there shortly afterward. Leading a diversified life of business endeavors and civic work,. Wright had a crowded life in Kittitas County. Twenty-four years ago he operated an automobile factory on the present site … Read more

Schnebly, Marguerite Nelson – Obituary

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday [February 27, 1966] at Evanson’s Chapel for Mrs. Marguerite A. Schnebly, pioneer resident of the Kittitas Valley, who died Friday at Bernath’s Nursing Home Mrs. Schnebly, 80, was born August 8, 1885, in Copenhagen, Denmark and came with her parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. James P. Nelson. They lived in the Fairview District until 1934, when she and her husband, Frank Schnebly, moved to Ellensburg to make their home at 101 W. Eighth The Schneblys were married September 27, 1905 in Ellensburg and Mr. Schnebly preceded her in death April 12, … Read more

Olmstead, Sarah Yale – Obituary

Mrs. Sarah Yale Olmstead of 801 East Summer Street died at her home about noon yesterday [September 16, 1918]. Mrs. Olmstead was born at Saratoga Springs, New York, December 25, 1841. She moved with her family to Oregon in 1870, where she lived for four years, when she went to Seattle and later came to Kittitas Valley and settled on a farm about five miles southeast of Ellensburg. She is survived by Phil Olmstead of Ellensburg and two granddaughters, the Misses Berdie and Leta Smith. The funeral services will take place at the residence Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock, Dr. … Read more

McGranahan, Anna Friel – Obituary

Mrs. T. McGranahan, a resident of Ellensburg for 26 years, died here on Wednesday [March 2, 1927] of pneumonia, which developed following a relapse suffered by the deceased after a short illness with influenza. Coming here in 1901 from St. Anthony, Idaho, Mrs. McGranahan has been numbered among the pioneers of the valley. Besides her husband, and her son, C. C. McGranahan, assistant cashier of the Farmers Bank, she is survived by three brothers and two sisters in the East. Funeral services will be held at 2 o’clock. Friday from the family home, 109 W. Ninth Street, with the Rev. … Read more

Wyatt, Kenneth E. – Obituary

A former minor league baseball pitcher, Kenneth E. Wyatt, died Thursday [February 24, 1977]. He was 51. Mr. Wyatt, of 10108 East F St., was born in Kittitas. He had lived in Tacoma since 1960. Mr. Wyatt held the strike-out record In the Western International League for a few years. He played with the Spokane Indians and Salem Solons in the late 1940s. He was a travel guard at Western State Hospital. Mr. Wyatt was an Army veteran of the Second World War and a member of the Parkland Moose Lodge. He is survived by two daughters, Karen and Teri … Read more

Wright, Della Daisy Litch – Obituary

Mrs. Della D. Wright, 62, widow of the late Al Wright, died yesterday afternoon [February 26, 1943] at her home at 1005 North Water Street. She had been ill a year. Mrs. Wright was born September 17, 1880 in Missouri. She was married to Mr. Wright 35 years ago. A son born to them died when five years old [James Cuttrell Wright]. She was a member of the Christian Church. Survivors include three sisters, Mrs. Laura Schooler, Bixby, Okla.; Mrs. Mollie Barnett, Mendota, Mo., and Mrs. Margaret Gum, Green City, Mo.; and seven stepchildren, Mrs. Doris Zastron, Mrs. Roy Maryatt, … Read more

Montgomery, Sadie “Sasie” Folsom Sutherland – Obituary

The death of Mrs. Sasie F. Montgomery occurred this morning [December 1, 1922] at 5 o’clock at the family residence in the Broadview District, following an illness of a year. Mrs. Montgomery was born in Kerona, Illinois, May 21, 1858, coming to Kittitas County in 1888, where she has since made her home. She was married to James Montgomery in 1891. For several years in the pioneer days of Ellensburg, Mrs. Montgomery was employed as a teacher in the city schools, and later served on the county examining board. She has always been very much interested in school work, and … Read more

Barnhart, Thomas Henderson – Obituary

T. H. Barnhart, Old Pioneer is called, was 85 born in Tennessee, has spent many years in valley The death of T. H. Barnhart, a pioneer of this valley, occurred this morning [April 16, 1921] at the home of his son, S. C. Barnhart. He was 85 years old Mr. Barnhart was born in Tennessee, and came to this section a number of years ago. Since coming west, he has spent all of his time here with the exception of a few years in the Methow Valley For the past 19 years he has made his home with his son, … Read more

Morrison, Ica Ladd – Obituary

Mrs. A. D. Morrison of Kittitas, died at her home in that town, Tuesday [June 3, 1913] of tuberculosis after an illness of 5 months. She came to this county three years ago and secured employment in Crockett Company’s store and last September was married to Mr. Morrison. Her maiden name was Ladd. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Wright, Myrtle McVey – Obituary

Mrs. Myrtle Elizabeth Wright, wife of Wm. J. Wright, resident in the valley for the past ten years, died yesterday morning [June 13, 1920] at the general hospital at 4:30 a.m. at the age of 47. Mr. and Mrs. Wright located in the valley in 1910, from Missouri, having lived in the city since that date on their ranch four miles east of town. During the winter Mrs. Wright was taken with smallpox and in her weakened condition contracted the “flu,” from which she never had fully recovered. Besides the many friends which she has made since locating in the … Read more

Prater, Sarah Martha Hall – Obituary

Mrs. Martha Prater, 87, valley pioneer, passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Minnie Wangeman, on North Walnut Street, at 11 o’clock yesterday morning [March 11, 1934]. Mrs. Prater suffered a paralytic stroke Thursday evening and her condition gradually grew worse until her death. Conscious almost to the end, she seemed cheerful and talked to relatives present. Her last words were “All is well.” Mrs. Prater had been in unusually good health for her age and only last Monday evening visited Mr. and Mrs. Austin Mires to extend greetings on their 50th wedding anniversary. A few days later … Read more

Schnebly, Edna Emily Smith – Obituary

Edna E. Schnebly, 78, lower Taneum retired schoolteacher, died at Ellensburg Hospital, Wednesday [September 1, 1971]. Born Oct. 24, 1892 at East Stanwood, Wash., she received her early teaching training at Bellingham, taught at Willipa Harbor and Fairview for many years. She came here as a young woman and married John Henry Schnebly in 1916 in Ellensburg. She returned to teaching during the war and taught at Denmark [area around Ellensburg] and Kittitas until her retirement in 1960. She made her home in the lower Taneum District. She was a member of Episcopal Church, St. Anne’s Guild and Gallina Club … Read more

Stickney, May Briody – Obituary

Her death following that of her husband, Elmer E. Stickney, by a little more than a month, Mrs. May Stickney, 70- year-old Kittitas County pioneer, passed away at her home here last night [July 5, 1934] following a lingering illness. Mr. Stickney died on May 29. Mrs. Stickney was born February 10, 1864, at Oregon City, Oregon, and came to the Kittitas Valley in 1892. May 2 of that year she was married to Mr. Stickney. Eight children, all residents of Ellensburg, survive. They are: Earl, Henry, Fred, Mrs. Anna Miller, Mrs. Effie Kinkade, Mrs. Mabel Grimm, Mrs. Bertha Besaw … Read more

Michels, Martin – Obituary

Martin Michels, Sr., aged 80 years and a pioneer citizen of Ellensburg, died yesterday [February 14, 1917] at his home north of the city after an illness of several years. Pending the arrival of a son, J. J. Michels, from the east, funeral arrangements will not be announced until Friday. Mr. Michels was born May 2, 1837, in Germany, and came to the United States in 1855. He was married at Aurora, Ill, September, 1859, to Miss Margaret Lenhartz, and later with his family removed to St. James, Minnesota, in 1871. In 1882 Mr. Michels came to the Kittitas Valley, … Read more

Sorenson, Soren – Obituary

Soren Sorenson, prominent farmer of the Denmark District, died Tuesday afternoon [December 29, 1931] at the hospital from a heart ailment after an illness that confined him to his bed for little more than two weeks. The end came peaceably and while it was a great shock to relatives and friends was not unexpected. Soren Sorenson first entered the hospital on December 11 for the second serious illness of his entire life. He was taken there suffering from a heart ailment that terminated in a blood clot. After a bad two or three days during which time his life was … Read more

Peffers, Moses – Obituary

Moses Peffers, a pioneer of the Kittitas Valley since 1882, passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Oscar McEwen, 801 East First Street, Sunday evening [April 13, 1930] at the age of 79. He came to this valley in 1882 and resided on his ranch in the Fairview District until the time of his illness, one and one-half years ago, when he came to the city to live with his daughter. He is survived by five sons, John, Elmer, William, Burton, and Albert and one daughter, Mrs. Oscar McEwen, all residents of this city. Another daughter, Mrs. Henry … Read more