Kittitas County WA

Erickson, Mary Elizabeth Dixon Shelton – Obituary

M. Elizabeth Erickson, 82, died Wednesday [August 27, 1975] at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. Born July 29, 1892 in Ellensburg, she was the daughter of pioneer parents Mr. and Mrs. Elwood Dixon who came to Ellensburg from Walla Walla in 1879. She was married to William F. Erickson, Dec. 25, 1919 in Ellensburg. They farmed north of town, in the Badger Pocket and later on the west side. He preceded her in death Aug. 7, 1970 and a short time later she moved to Ellensburg and made her home at 502 E. 3rd Ave. She was a member of the … Read more

Dawes Laurin T. – Obituary

Laurin T. Dawes, 70, died at his Fairview District ranch on Sunday [December 5, 1976]. He was born February 21, 1906 at Silverton, Ore. He came to Ellensburg from Portland in 1930. He was married to Edna Cooke in 1933 and was a carpenter for many years prior to moving to his ranch in 1945. He is survived by his wife Edna and one brother, Walter Dawes of Portland, Ore. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Evenson Chapel. The Rev. Don Meekhof will officiate. Entombment will follow at the IOOF Mausoleum. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Hayes, Milo Francis – Obituary

Milo Francis Hayes, 63, who nearly a quarter of a century ago made his home here, died suddenly [April 27, 1937] at the home of his sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Sheldon of Wendell, Idaho, yesterday. He was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Sanford P. Hayes. He made his home in the Kittitas Valley for many years before moving to Nampa, Idaho, in 1913. In addition to his sister, he is survived by two brothers, William and Samuel Hayes of Ellensburg. Funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock at the Honeycutt … 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

Gage, Tami – Obituary

Tami Gage, 34, passed away April 12, 1997 at Levan, Utah. She was a frequent visitor to Ellensburg. As a teenager, she was very active in 4H and FFA; show her sheep here on many occasions. She attended the University of Utah and received her Master’s degree in biology and animal research from there. She is survived by her parents, Fred Gage of Tonasket and Linda Pauly of Levan, Utah; brothers Marty (Tara) of Levan, Utah and Stacy (Crystal) of Tonasket; uncles, Cliff, Bob and Seth of Ellensburg and Harrell of Dufur, Ore.; aunts Tressa, Esther, and Ellen, of Ellensburg, … 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

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

Wyatt, Lester Jay – Obituary

Lester Jay Wyatt, 27, teacher and head basketball coach of Hanford High School, died Tuesday [November 1, 1982] 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 1977 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. … Read more

Fortney, Jefferson S. – Obituary

Jefferson S. Fortney, 85, former valley resident, died Sunday [December 17] at Yucaipa, Calif. He was born Aug. 29, 1893, east of Kittitas in an area known as Warm Springs. He is the son of the late Levi and Julia Hayes Fortney. He married Alice Anderson in Ellensburg in 1913. He was employed by the Milwaukee Railroad in 1915 and worked as a section foreman and superintendent of the Extra Gang. He moved to Tacoma in 1930 and retired in 1958. He was preceded in death by his wife, July 23, 1962 in Tacoma. He moved to California in 1968. … Read more

Morrison, Lillie Dell Ferguson – Obituary

Marking the passing of another of Kittitas Valley’s pioneers was the death Sunday of Mrs. Lillie Morrison at the age of 75 March 6, 1960. She was born in Ellensburg, Jan. 1885, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Ferguson, who had come to the valley in 1871. Lillie Ferguson was married to Thomas Morrison July 3, 1903, at Ellensburg and they made their home one half mile north of Kittitas. Here they resided until Mr. Morrison died in 1953. Mrs. Morrison moved to the home of her daughter, Mrs. (Gladys) Clarence Sisk on Route 2 and where she led … 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

Rader, Hilda G. Brunn – Obituary

Former Ellensburg area resident Hilda G. Rader, 90, died Monday [January 16, 1984] following a short illness in Modesto, Calif. She had been living in California with her son and daughter-in-law since 1980 She was born in Freeport, Ill., on Jan. 3, 1894, one of eight children of Christian and Marie Brunn. Her father emigrated from Sweden in the early 1880’s and her mother, Marie Horz [Hertz], was a native of Germany. The Brunn family moved to the Kittitas Valley shortly after the turn of the century Mrs. Rader was graduated from Ellensburg Normal School and taught in public schools … Read more

Schroder, Ada Tinkham Poskey – Obituary

Mrs. Ada Viola Schroder, 83, of Ellensburg, died at 8:30 a.m. Friday [May 2, 1952] in Ellensburg General Hospital. She was taken to the hospital 12 hours before following a stroke. Mrs. Schroder was born in Kansas and came to Seattle from there 64 years ago. She moved from Seattle to Ellensburg 11 years ago with her husband, August Schroder, who died here April 11, 1947. They were married in Seattle, Sept. 16, 1910. The Schroders lived most of the time here since 1941. Recently, Mrs. Schroder had made her home with a daughter, Mrs. A. O. (Mary) Page. Mrs. … Read more

Smathers, Martha Etlidge – Obituary

Mrs. Martha [Etlidge] Smathers, 85, a resident of Ellensburg for the past 50 years, died in Yakima Friday evening [June 20, 1947]. It was learned here today. A native of Nashville, NC, Mrs. Smathers came here from Goldendale before the turn of the century. She is survived by three sons, Ed and Lee Smathers, both of Omak and John Smathers, Ellensburg A granddaughter, Mrs. George Minton of Ellensburg, and six great grandchildren also survive her. Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Honeycutt-Evenson chapel followed by interment at the IOOF cemetery. The Rev. Paul Deane … Read more

Taylor, John – Obituary

Passing of John Taylor With the burial of John Taylor upon the old home ranch at Bristol last Saturday afternoon, there passed over the Great Divide another Kittitas county’s honored pioneers. He was born in Wise county, West Va., in 1851 and died at his home at Bristol station December 12, 1917, of cancer. When but a small boy he removed with his parents to Dassel, Minn., and in 1868 was married to Elizabeth Hutchins who still survives him. To this union were born nine children, seven of whom are now living; L.W. Taylor of Cle Elum, Elmer Taylor of … Read more

Banister, Sam L. – Obituary

Sam L. Banister, 55, former Ellensburg resident who had resided for several years in Kirkland, died Thursday in Maynard Hospital, Seattle, following a lingering illness. Born in Tieton Aug. 28, 1913, Banister resided in Ellensburg until 1943 when he went to work for Boeing Aircraft Company. He is survived by his wife, Helen at the family home in Kirkland; two sons, Paul and Perry Banister, both in the U.S. navy; a brother, George Banister, Seattle; an aunt, Mrs. Belle Lewis, Yakima; and four cousins, Bertha Longerbeam, son, Cora McEwen and Mrs. Pat Jordin, all of Ellensburg. Funeral arrangements are pending. … 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

Morris, John “Casey” – Obituary

Fatality results in Mine Accident: John Morris, 65, Dies Under Trip Car Wheels John Morris, 65, known familiarly throughout Roslyn as “Casey” died under the wheels of a string of trip cars in the 12th east parting of the Northwestern Improvement Company’s No. 9 mine at Roslyn shortly before noon yesterday. He had been an employee of the company for 31 years. The fatal accident, which leaved the dead miner’s six children – all under 21 years of age – fatherless, is being investigated today by a state mine inspector. There were no witnesses to the accident, Harr Boyle, resident … Read more

Schnebly, Joseph Henry – Obituary

J. Henry Schnebly, 78, Thorp area rancher and member of a pioneer Kittitas Valley family, died Saturday [April 8, 1967] at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. He was born Feb. 17, 1889 in the Schnebly Fruitlands District, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Pointer Schnebly. [His wife, Edna Emily Smith, died September 1, 1971. Interment in IOOF Cemetery] Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Biography of C. A. Sander

C.A. SANDER. – This is one of those redoubtable men from Prussia who have helped to make our country great. He was born in 1840. At the age of twenty-five he came to America. He first engaged in milling in Florida. He followed the same business in New York and Kansas. He followed the same business in New York and Kansas. In 1868 he was in Arizona at work in the quartz mines for about fifteen months. He was next prospecting in British Columbia in the Peace river country. He then came down to The Dalles in Oregon, and worked … Read more