Kittitas County WA

Wippel, Leo F. – Obituary

Leo F. Wippel, 43-year-old native of Ellensburg, died Tuesday [January 18] at his home in Woldale District, apparently the victim of a heart attack. He was the second member of the same family to be taken by death this month. His father, Simon Wippel, died on January 10. Wippel was found dead in his home by his sisters who had been attending the funeral of Thomas Keeley in the Catholic church that morning. Wippel was born September 9, 1904 in Ellensburg. He was a member of the Catholic Church. He is survived by his sisters, Miss Louise Wippel and Mrs. … 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

McEwen, Vicky – Obituary

Selah—Vicky McEwen, 42, of Selah, passed away Tuesday, July 30, 1996 at her residence. She was born June 26, 1954 in Toppenish to Ralph and Barbara (Jordin) McEwen. She was raised and educated in Toppenish and had been a long-time Yakima Valley resident. Vicky enjoyed raising houseplants, flowers, and gardening. She was a people person which showed in her profession as a Certified Nurse’s Aide. Vicky very much cared for animals and the pets she adopted as her own. She is survived by her mother, Barbara Miller of Yakima; her father and stepmother, Ralph and Mary McEwen of Toppenish; a … Read more

McEwen, Jerusah Amelia Morrow – Obituary

Mrs. Amelia McEwen, aged 63 years, died at her home in this county last Saturday [October 27, 1898]. The funeral services were held from the Methodist Church in this city on Monday, Rev. Smith officiating. Deceased leaves a husband and five children to mourn her loss. Jerusah was the daughter of William McMillan and Elizabeth Wyatt. She married John Hager McEwen on August 11, 1850 in Mahaska Co., IA. Contributed by: Sheli Steedman

McEwen, Ralph Newell – Obituary

Toppenish—Ralph N. McEwen, 83, died Saturday, April 19, 2003 at his home. He was born November 20, 1919 in Ellensburg, WA to Oscar and Mary McEwen, a pioneer family of the Kittitas Valley. He served in the Army during WWII in the Pacific Theater and was a decorated veteran. He graduated from Ellensburg High School and Ellensburg Normal School (now Central Washington University) receiving his Teachers Degree. He was a teacher and principal at Buena Grade School, McKinley Grade School and Lincoln Grade School all in the Toppenish School District. He was instrumental in the implementation of Bilingual education in … Read more

Wyatt, Arthur Grundy – Obituary

Graveside services for Arthur Wyatt, 81, longtime Ellensburg resident who died Friday, Nov. 1 at Bernath Nursing Home, will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the IOOF Cemetery. The Rev. John Gaub will officiate. Born Sept. 15, 1887 in Shelton, Wyatt came to Ellensburg from Shelton in 1903. He was married to Helen Hartwell in Twin Falls, Ida., in 1918. She preceeded him in death in 1952. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Ray Martens, Sequim; two granddaughters; seven great grandchildren; two brothers, William and Otis Wyatt, Ellensburg; three sisters, Mrs. Lulu Ferrier, Spokane, Mrs. Neillie Baughman, Seattle, and Mrs. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of David Ford

DAVID FORD. – This highly esteemed citizen, a portrait of whom is placed in this history, was born in Indiana July 27,1837. After his marriage to Miss Mary Medler, October 11, 1857, he was occupied at his home until the war of the Rebellion, in which he served as a soldier in the Union army, bearing an honorable part, and making a brave record up to the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, where he received a wound which made him unfit for service. He belonged to Company A, Eighty-fourth Indiana Volunteers. In 1872 he came to Missouri, and five years later … 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

Stevens, Nell S. Wright Burnett – Obituary

Mrs. Nell S. Stevens, 77, who was injured in an automobile crash in the Teanaway District Sunday, died Monday at the Kittitas Valley Community Hospital [June 10, 1968]. Her husband, Avery, received serious injuries in the mishap She was born July 27, 1890, the daughter of pioneer residents, Mr. and Mrs. Al Wright. She was marred to Robert O. Burnett, Nov. 9, 1910, and he preceded her in death in February of 1952. She was later married to Avery Stevens, Oct. 15, 1953. They have farmed in the Woldale District since that time. She was a member of the Eastern … Read more

Morefield, Anna Marie Morrison – Obituary

After a year of suffering caused by tuberculosis, Mrs. Anna Marie Morefield, 29 years old, passed away this morning [December 2, 1920] at the home of her mother, Mrs. Catharine Morrison, in the Sunnyside Addition. Mrs. Morefield was born March 2, 1891, seven miles east of Ellensburg, and has made her home in the Kittitas valley all of her life. In 1910 she was married to W. R. [William Reecer] Morefield of Ellensburg who survives her. Mrs. Morefield is also survived by two sons, Lynn Harold Davidson, aged nine, and Leverne Morefield, aged one; her mother, Mrs. Catharine Morrison, and … Read more

Michels, Henry – Obituary

Henry J. Michels, 69, Kittitas valley pioneer and widely known Westside farmer, died at the Valley General Hospital yesterday afternoon [died October 12, 1943]. Born in St. James, Minn., he came to the valley with his parents in 1882 and had resided here 61 years. He was educated in the Ellensburg schools and was married here May 22, 1900, to Miss Anna Olding, likewise a member of an early pioneer valley family. With the exception of a few years when he was in the drayage business in Ellensburg, he operated a farm on the Westside. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. … Read more

Schnebly, Elsie Winifred Hodgson – Obituary

Elsie Schnebly, 98, passed away Sept. 6, 1994 in Ellensburg. She was the daughter of Thomas and Anna (Schwartz) Hodgson. Mrs. Schnebly was born in Zillah on Feb. 8, 1896. She moved with her family to Roslyn later that year and in 1900 the family moved to Ellensburg. She graduated from Ellensburg High School in 1913 and attended the Normal School. She taught in rural schools in Kittitas County: Tarpiscon School in 1914-15 and the Sunset School 1915-1916. She taught at the Fairview School 1916-17. On June 5, 1917, Elsie married Frank B. Schnebly and they ran a cattle ranch … 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

Whitson, Nellie Cooke – Obituary

Mrs. Nellie R. Whitson, 78, who first came to Yakima as a child in 1865 and was a member of one of the first white families to settle in the valley, died in St. Elizabeth’s hospital last night [January 2, 1939]. She was taken to the hospital Saturday for treatment for injuries received in a fall in her home. She lived with a daughter, Mrs. George W. Clark, wife of the city commissioner, at 602 South Eighteenth Avenue. Born in Polk County, Oregon, Mrs. Whitson came to the valley with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Cooke and settled … 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

Gage, Reese Boyn – Obituary

R. B. Gage, a well known farmer of East Kittitas, died Monday, Nov. 1 [1909], after a lingering illness of several weeks. The funeral services were conducted at the home Wednesday at 10 a.m. and burial at 1:30 p.m. in IOOF Cemetery. Mr. Gage was well and favorable known in this city and valley where he has lived for the past ten years. He came from Texas to this valley. Reese was the son of Jeremiah Gage and Mary Cheney. He married Miranda America German. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Cooke, Ada Rich – Obituary

Ada C. Cooke, 89, formerly of 103 S. Clark in Kittitas, died Friday at Haven House Nursing Home [died May 22, 1981]. She was born in Lincoln, Neb. on Aug. 3, 1891. She came to Ellensburg from Cle Elum in 1905 with brother Orval and her father, A. E. Rich. The family worked first for the Barnharts and later rented the property northeast of Ellensburg known as the Smyth Panhandle Ranch. She and Edward V. Cooke were married in 1908. They worked for his grandmother, Mrs. Charles Cooke until 1918 when they moved to Yakima. They returned to Ellensburg in … Read more

Covey, Harry – Obituary

Harry George Covey, 88, died this morning at the Sorensen Memorial Hospital, where he has been receiving treatment for the past six years [died March 28, 1953]. Covey was born August 7, 1864, at Poplar Grove, Ill. He lived there until 1885, when he moved to Montana, and came to Washington following the death of his wife, Mrs. Bertha Covey, in 1907. Covey had lived in Kittitas County for more than 25 years, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ward Simons, in Ellensburg, and with his son, Harry O. Covey, in Cle Elum. Other survivors are three daughters, Mrs. … Read more

Kinkade, Rawlin Madison – Obituary

R. M. Kinkade, Pioneer, dies. Farmed in valley over Half-Century. Rawlin Madison (Roll) Kinkade, 86-year-old long-time Kittitas Valley resident and the last surviving son of a pioneer valley family, died last night [February 16, 1955] in Sorensen Memorial Hospital here. In ill health for some time, he had been hospitalized 12 days Kinkade came to the Kittitas Valley with his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. David Kinkade, in September, 1882. He farmed here more than half a century before retiring in 1940. He was born in Denver, Ill., Nov. 4, 1868, and the family came here from California Kinkade … Read more

Seaton, Ruth Z. Wallace – Obituary

Mrs. James Seaton, Sr., 54, a widely known Kittitas Valley resident, died at 10 o’clock Monday morning [June 2, 1952] at the Ellensburg General Hospital after a long illness. She had been hospitalized for the past six weeks. Mrs. Seaton was born Sept. 24, 1897, in Mt. Carmel, Illinois. She came to the Kittitas Valley in 1902 and had lived here since. She was married to James Seaton July 5, 1924 [Tacoma, WA]. They had lived in Fairview District since their marriage. Mrs. Seaton was a member of Miriam Rebekah Lodge, Chapter 105 of the Order of Eastern Star the … Read more