Kittitas County WA

Harrison, James – Obituary

James Harrison, 35, an Ellensburg resident for the past 10 years, died here Monday afternoon. Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at the Honeycutt chapel at 3 o’clock, with the Rev. Floyd Brown in charge. Mr. Harrison is survived by his widow, Lucille; two children, Betty Jean, 6, and Jimmie, 4; his mother, Mrs. Lottie Harrison of La Veta, Colorado; four brothers, including Henry of Ellensburg and Ray of Kelso; and two sisters. Taken from a newspaper obituary; Ellensburg Cap., August 27, 1937. James Harrison Dies on Monday. Death came to James Harrison, 35, an Ellensburg resident for the … Read more

Cooke, Virinda Wheeler

Mrs. Ward Cooke, of East Kittitas, and who has been seriously indisposed for some time, died Thursday forenoon. The funeral takes place in the forenoon at the residence and the burial at 1 p.m., Saturday, in the I.O.O.F. cemetery. The grief stricken husband and family have the sympathy of a wide circle of friends. Virinda was the daughter of Charles Wheeler and Mariah Fry. She was born February 23, 1861 in Yelm, WA and died August 2, 1906. Virinda married Edward Ward Cooke in 1878. She was the mother of 12 children.

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

Pickup, Cleora Lester – Obituary

Lifelong Ellensburg resident, Cleora L. Pickup, 81, passed away Saturday, August 13, 1994 at Royal Vista Care Center. She was born on November 6, 1912 in St. Maries, Idaho to Edward V. and Ada C. (Rich) Cooke. Cleora was married to Roland H. Pickup on November 5, 1934 in Yakima, WA [May 5, 1932]. He preceded her in death in 1973. After raising their three children, Cleora obtained her drivers license and attended CWSC studying in Home Economics. She was proved a livelihood by her joys in quilting and sewing. She owned and operated her own quilting shop located in … Read more

Biography of Walter J. Reed

WALTER J. REED. – A view of this gentleman’s residence in North Yakima, Washington, his hotel (the Reed House in Cle-Elum), together with portraits of himself and his estimable wife, is placed among the illustrations of this work. Although not a pioneer of Washington Territory, he has been a great factor in the development of Yakima and Kittitass counties. He built the first two-story business house in North Yakima, and is the founder of the town of Cle-Elum, in Kittitas county. He has also advanced a great many matters of substantial interest in both counties, and is one of the … Read more

Lee, Geneva Hodges – Obituary

Geneva Lee, native Ellensburg resident, died at Bernath Nursing Home, Monday, Jan. 20, 1969, at the age of 81. She was born here July 11, 1887, and moved to Waterville as a small child, she later returned to Ellensburg to make her home. She was married to William Mack Lee, Oct. 5, 1904 in North Yakima. He preceded her in death in 1949. They farmed here in the Valley and were the owners of racehorses. They made their home at 804 E. 4th St., were members of the Christian Church. She is survived by one son, Melvin Lee, Seattle; a … Read more

Milns, Anna Katherine Mueller – Obituary

Long-time Ellensburg resident Anna K. Milns died early Wednesday at a local rest home.She was 89. Born November 26, 1880 at St. James, Minn., she came to the Ellensburg area with her family when she was 2. In 1909 she was marred to Martin Wippel. He died in 1915. In 1930 she married Frank Milns and they moved to Auburn where they resided for 10 years. Following his death in 1941, she returned to Ellensburg where she has since made her home. She was a member of St. Andrews Catholic Church, Altar Society and the Golden Age Club. Rosary will … Read more

Morrison, Abraham – Obituary

A son of one of the Kittitas Valley’s earliest pioneer families, Abraham David Morrison, died in the Ellensburg General Hospital at 10:30 a.m. today [March 28, 1953], at the age of 69. He had been seriously ill for the past two months and entered the hospital Friday. He was one of seven children of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Morrison, who came to the valley in 1870. He was born on the original Morrison homestead, one mile northeast of the town of Kittitas, and attended the Denmark district school. He married Rose Dorothy Davis of Ellensburg, here, May 18, … 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

Barnhart, Matilda Bailes – Obituary

Death Comes To Valley Resident Matilda Barnhart Succumbs Sunday Mrs. Matilda L. Barnhart, 87, pioneer Fairview District resident, died yesterday at the Ellensburg General Hospital, where she had been confined since March 1 with a broken hip died June 19, 1950. A resident of the Kittitas Valley for 73 years, Mrs. Barnhart was born in Salem, Ore., on August 26, 1862. She came to this area with her family in 1877. She was the widow of F. C. Barnhart, who died December 23, 1932 Mrs. Barnhart was a daughter of Keithley Bailes, one of the pioneer ministers of the Kittitas … 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

Hayes, Lydia Montgomery – Obituary

Mrs. Geo Hayes Passes Today At Broadview Home Mrs. Lydia Hayes wife of George Hayes, passed away at her home in the Broadview district this morning [August 1, 1934]. She had been ill for several months but her death comes as a great shock to her family and many friends. She was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Montgomery and was born September 3, 1887. With the exception of about 13 years, Mrs. Hayes spent her entire life on the home farm where she passed away, eight of which were spent in the Yakima Valley. She … Read more

Sorenson, E. Peter – Obituary

E. Peter Sorenson, 65, pioneer Denmark District farmer, died suddenly Tuesday evening [October 12, 1937] of a heart attack. Mr. Sorenson was born near Aarhus, Denmark, on April 7, 1872, and came to Minnesota in 1888 where he joined his brother, the late Soren Sorenson. They came together to the Kittitas Valley in the fall of that year. Active in enterprises connected with the development of the valley, he worked and farmed near Ellensburg until 1892, when he obtained land in the Denmark District where he has resided ever since. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Ann Sorenson, a … Read more

Covey, Rosa Mae Zumbrunnen – Obituary

Rosa Mae Covey, 84, of Cle Elum died Thursday [died April 30, 1998]. Mrs. Covey was born in Ellensburg and was raised in the Nanum area. She worked at various locations in the Kittitas Valley as a domestic, cared for sick people and was retired from KCAC Survivors include a son, Joseph O. Covey of Kent; a daughter, Bertha Mae Covey of Ellensburg; a sister, Bertha Morrison of Ellensburg; a brother, Fred Zumbrunnen of Ellensburg; five grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Cascade Funeral Home, Cle Elum Contributed by: Sheli … 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, 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

Biography of S. R. Geddis

S.R. GEDDIS. – Mr. Geddis, a portrait of whom, together with a view of his beautiful home farm, appears in this history, is a leading and wealthy citizen of Kittitass county. He is one of the men whose success in life has been mainly achieved in the county in which he now lives by the exercise of economy, industry and business integrity, guided by intelligent financial ability. He is now a rich man, while but a few years ago he came to the Kittitass valley with nothing but an unblemished reputation as his entire capital. Mr. Geddis was born in … Read more

Hayes, George – Obituary

George Hayes Dies At Pasco, Valley Pioneer Passes Thursday George H. Hayes, 75, a Kittitas Valley pioneer, died Thursday afternoon at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Pasco following an illness of two weeks [died May 31, 1956]. He had made his home in Pasco with a daughter, Mrs. Helen Rombough, for the past year. Hayes was brought to the valley by his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. James T. Hayes. He farmed for many years in the Edgemont District before his retirement. He was a past master of the Kittitas Grange, a charter member of the Ellensburg Moose … Read more

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

Lee, William M. – Obituary

William M. (Billy) Lee, 68, widely-known Ellensburg resident, died at 8:45 p.m. last night [May 23, 1949] at the Morris Sorensen Memorial Hospital. He had been in the hospital for five days, but had been in failing health for some time. He had been a resident of Ellensburg nearly all his life. A native of Walla Walla, he is survived by his wife, Mrs. Geneva Lee, a son, Melvin Lee of Seattle; two half brothers; six half sisters and other relatives in this area. Funeral arrangements have not been completed. [Burial was in the IOOF Cemetery]. William was the son … Read more