Kittitas County WA

Dixon, Olive V. O’Rear – Obituary

Mrs. F. M. Dixon dies of Heart Failure, succumbs at North Yakima Wednesday at age of 32, Funeral Tomorrow here. Succumbing to an attack of heart failure, Mrs. Olive Dixon died at North Yakima Wednesday evening January 1, 1917. She was the wife of F. M. Dixon, whose brothers, Elwood and James, are residents of Ellensburg, as is also his father, John Dixon. Elwood Dixon is the mail carrier on R.F.D. No. 2. Both the deceased and her husband had been residents of Ellensburg for several years, he having been born in this city. Mrs. Dixon was Olive O’Rear before … 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

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

Wright, Bertha Rose Georgia – Obituary

Mrs. Bertha Wright, wife of A. M. Wright, died at her home on the north side early last Monday morning [September 30, 1901] of typhoid fever. She had been sick for a couple of weeks but as her friends had all long hoped for her early recovery, her death came as a great shock. The high esteem in which Mrs. Wright was held was evidenced by the many sincere expressions of sympathy and the presence of so many at the services on Tuesday afternoon at the home. Besides the grief-stricken husband, she leaves six children, who are thus deprived of … Read more

Packwood, Harvey – Obituary

Harvey Packwood, 74, member of a pioneer Kittitas Valley family, died Tuesday in a Seattle Hospital. He had been in ill health for the past year. Packwood was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Packwood who came to the Kittitas Valley in 1874. He and his twin brother, the late Harry Packwood, were born here in April 1882. Harry Packwood died at Pe Ell in 1937 [died November 18, 1940]. [Obit says Perry]. Harvey Packwood lived here until 1907. He resided in California and Kennewick before moving to Seattle in 1930. He made his home there with … Read more

Biography of Capt. J. D. Dammon

CAPTAIN J.D. DAMMON. – This pioneer of the Kittitass valley was born in Seabeck, Maine, June 22, 1825. In 1843 he removed to Wisconsin, then a territory, living in Dane and Monroe counties. In the spring of 1859, he went with others to Colorado. Denver was then a small place of a few tents and log huts. At Arrapahoe and on Clear creek he engaged in blacksmithing; then with his partner, R.S. Kingman, he bought the Bob Tail Lead in Gregor’s gulch, from which millions of dollars have since been taken; but his partner sold it for $300 during Mr. … Read more

Carver, Rosetta Curtis – Obituary

Mrs. G. Carver, Valley Pioneer, Expires Today. Resident here since 1876; passes at age of 77 after a long illness. Mrs. George W. Carver passed away at her home at 9 o’clock this morning [November 14, 1930] following a long illness and after being bedfast for more than three months, at the age of 77 years. Mrs. Carver was one of the earliest pioneers of the Kittitas Valley, coming here in 1876. Rosetta Curtis was born in Macomb County, Michigan, January 3, 1853. She was married to George W. Carver at Cottonwood Springs, Nebraska on March 6, 1869. Mrs. Carver … Read more

Hall, Margaret Olding – Obituary

Mrs. A. M. Hall Dies On Sunday. Was Born In Valley, Parents Being Pioneer Olding Family. Mrs. Margaret V. Hall, wife of a. M. Hall of the Fairview District and daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John G. Olding, pioneer residents of the valley, died here Sunday morning December 19, 1932 at 10 o’clock. She was born in this valley August 16, 1882. Her father and mother came here in 1871 and settled on the homestead, six miles north of Ellensburg where Mrs. Hall was born and died. Her parents came here by ox team, driving from Walla Walla. … Read more

Bailes, Andrew Jackson – Obituary

Death came here early this morning September 18, 1943 to an early and widely known Kittitas Valley pioneer, Andrew Jackson Bailes, 83. Born in Springfield, Mo., November 4, 1859, he came to the valley in 1878 and resided in the Fairview District most of his life. At the time of his death, he resided at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Clarence Houser, in Ellensburg. He was a charter member of the Ellensburg Christian Church. Besides Mrs. Houser, he is survived by three other daughters, Mrs. E. R. Edwards and Mrs. Ray Ayers of Ellensburg, and Mrs. H. M. Shephard … Read more

Olmstead, Phil – Obituary

Phil Olmstead Valley Pioneer Called–Resident of Valley for 61 Years Passed Wednesday From Heart Attack–Had Distinguished Ancestors Philip S. Olmstead, 73-year-old resident of the Kittitas Valley for nearly 62 years, died suddenly at his farm home Wednesday morning [March 23, 1938] from a heart attack. Death came to him without warning about 9:30, shortly after he had conferred with D. W. Brunson, local auctioneer, about a sale which he was contemplating next week, after which he planned to retire from active farming. Mr. Olmstead was born in Ottawa, Illinois, the 14th day of February in 1865. He came to the … Read more

Morrison, Rose Dorothy Davis – Obituary

Rose Morrison, 86, longtime Ellensburg resident, died Wednesday August 28, 1985 at Royal Vista Care Center. She was born in Missoula, Mont., on Aug. 16, 1899, and moved to the Ellensburg area at age 8 with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Quincy A. Davis. She attended local schools and started to work for the Ellensburg Telephone Co. when she was 15. She was a telephone operator during World War I and handled the emergency created by the flu epidemic then. Her telephone-operating career was interrupted by her marriage in 1919 to Abraham B. Morrison. They settled in the Badger Pocket … Read more

Phelps, Odie N. – Obituary

Services at the IOOF Cemetery will take place at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday for Odie N. Phelps, former Ellensburg resident who died Friday March 13, 1959 in Seattle. He has lived in Seattle for the past 16 years. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth of Seattle, a son, Frank Phelps of Ellensburg, a brother, Gilbert of Seattle and four grandchildren. Odie was the son of William B. Phelps and Mary Smith. He was married to Bessie Lee Ferguson.

Cooke, Cora Parmeter – Obituary

Mrs. Cora Cooke, 80, died Saturday in a local rest home. Born July 1, 1890 in Ohio, she was married to Henry D. Cooke on June 17, 1911 at Ellensburg. They farmed in the Fairview District for many years. He preceded her in death on July 2, 1951. She made her home at 1007 E. 8th Ave., prior to entering a nursing home 10 years ago. Survivors include two brothers-in-law, Carl and Ed Cooke of Ellensburg; two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Margaret Gillis of Kittitas and Mrs. Susan Huss of Ellensburg; a number of nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held … Read more

Hayes, Clarence – Obituary

Clarence R. (Bud) Hayes, a son of pioneer Kittitas Valley parents, died at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Yakima Monday at the age of 65. He had been hospitalized for three weeks and had been in failing health for about a year. Hayes was born at the family home in the Denmark district Dec. 13, 1891, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. James T. Hayes, who settled on the ranch in 1883. He lived in the Denmark area until five years ago, when he moved to Yakima. He was married Jan. 23, 1913, at Ellensburg to Leza Louise Blair. … Read more

Meagher, Agnes – Obituary

Agnes Meagher, 85, formerly of 608 E. 5th Ave., Ellensburg, died Sunday [August 31, 1980] in Cheyenne Mountain Nursing Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. She was born in Ellensburg, Aug. 8, 1895, a daughter of the late Michael and Mary Heraty. She attended Ellensburg Normal School for one year, business college in Tacoma for two years, and worked as a legal secretary in Seattle for a number of years. She married Martin Meagher in Seattle, Aug. 21, 1929. He preceded her in death June 29, 1951. Mrs. Meagher was a member of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church. She is survived by … Read more

Barnhart, Olive A. Brisson – Obituary

Mrs. Olive A. Barnhart, former Ellensburg resident, died Tuesday, Jan. 24 [1961] at the home of her son Fred G. Barnhart in San Diego, Calif., at the age of 76 years. Mrs. Barnhart was born August 15, 1884 in Flint, Mich., and was married to P. Fred Barnhart in Wenatchee, June 1903. Following their marriage they moved to Ellensburg where he farmed for several years in the Fairview District before moving into town when Mr. Barnhart began working for the N. P. Railway. In 1917 they were moved to Pasco by the railroad and Mrs. Barnhart lived there until 1952, … Read more

Barrett, Rosa Palmer – Obituary

Funeral services for Mrs. Walter C. Barrett, 78, who passed away last evening at the Valley General Hospital following a recent stroke, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday [died February 4, 1959] at the Evenson Chapel. Burial will follow in the Terrace Heights Cemetery in Yakima Mrs. Barrett, the former Rosa Palmer, was born in Virginia in 1881. She was married to Walter C. Barrett on Feb. 2, 1902, and they moved to Ellensburg in 1910. Barrett preceded her in death in 1953 Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Lester J. (Lula) Ferguson of Alderwood Manor, Wash., and Mrs. Walter … 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

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

McEwen, Sarah Agnes Banister – Obituary

Following a long illness, Mrs. Sarah Agnes McEwen, age 91, died early Saturday morning, Jan. 27, 1962, in the Ellensburg General Hospital. Mrs. McEwen was born March 28, 1870 in Clark County near Vancouver, Wash., the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel N. Banister [mother was Martha Dixon]. When she was a small child, the Banister family first came to the Kittitas Valley. They spent one winter here, then moved to Walla Walla because of the Indiana scare. In the fall of 1884 they returned here to make a permanent home. Sarah Banister was married Jan. 3, 1884 to James … Read more