Kittitas Valley Washington

Erickson, William F. – Obituary

Long time Denmark District farmer William F. Erickson, 81, died Friday August 7, 1970 at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. Born April 3, 1889 at Wheaton, Minn., he moved to the Kittitas Valley from Beverly, Wash., in 1919. He farmed in Badger Pocket and Fairview districts before moving to the Denmark District 30 years. He was married to Elizabeth Dixon on December 25, 1919 in Ellensburg. He served in the Army during World War I, was a member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, World War I veterans, and the Farm Bureau. He is survived by his wife; … Read more

Barns, Absalom – Obituary

Absalom Barns, better known as ‘Pet’ Barns, a well-known rancher of the west side and a Kittitas Valley pioneer of 45 years ago, died yesterday morning at the home farm after a long illness from acute Bright’s Disease Mr. Barns was born in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, 69 years ago. At the age of four his family moved to Dodge County, Wisconsin, where he lived until grown. He then moved to La Crosse, Wis., and from there came to Kittitas County, taking the train to San Francisco, the boat from there to Portland, and making the rest of the distance on … Read more

Harrell, Thomas Andrew Jr. – Obituary

Thomas Andrew Harrell, 71, died today March 2, 1959 at the Valley General Hospital. He had been seriously ill for a week but has been in failing health for some time. He was born in Rogersville, Tenn. And came to the Kittitas Valley where he has been a rancher since 1904. He married Miss Maxie Taylor here in 1908. Following her death, he subsequently married Miss Alice Poskey who has also passed away. He is survived by his present wife, Mrs. Esther Harrell and by a daughter, Mrs. Louise Fleming now a resident of Ellensburg formerly of Seattle. He leaves … Read more

Cowell, Thomas – Obituary

Well Known Badger Pocket Farmer Dies Of Heart Attack Thomas E. Cowell, 65, widely-known Kittitas valley farmer died suddenly this morning [November 21, 1945] at his home in Badger Rocket, presumably from a heart attack. A resident of the valley since the early part of the century, he was married to Ida Cook, who survives him, in 1910. They have resided in the Fairview and Badger Pocket districts since that time. Besides his wife he is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Clara Charlton of Ellensburg; a son, Elwin, recently discharged from the Army; two grandchildren; a brother, Willis Cowell of … 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

Huss, Elisha Harvey – Obituary

Harvey Huss died at his home in the Fairview District Tuesday [January 27, 1920] at the advanced age of 80 years. Mr. Huss had been a resident of Kittitas Valley since 1885 and was well known in this community. Mr. Huss was born in Ohio in 1840. In 1863 he married [Dorcas] Jane Graham, who survives him. In 1865 he crossed the plains by ox team and settled in Grant County, Oregon, coming to this valley in 1885 and settled upon the ranch where he died, which is located about 12 miles northeast of Ellensburg. Besides his widow, Mr. Huss … Read more

Hayes, Mae Etta Noland – Obituary

Mrs. May Hayes, the wife of Harry Hayes who has lived in the valley for many years, recently being employed by the county, died Tuesday morning [December 1, 1925] from pneumonia, having been ill less than two weeks. Mrs. Hayes was born and raised in the Okanogan country. Besides her husband, she is survived by two small children, Homer, aged five years and Juanita, aged three years. Her mother, Mrs. Etta Vaughn is living in the Okanogan country. She also leaves her father, Barney Noland of Wenatchee and several brothers and sisters. Funeral services were held this afternoon from the … 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

Harrell, Herbert – Obituary

Herbert Harrell, 39, former valley resident, died at Laramie, Wyoming, Wednesday, September 14 [1938]. Born at Rogersville, Tenn., August 5, 1899, he came west with his parents in the spring of 1909. Her parents settled in the Kittitas Valley and he received his education in the Ridgeway and Thorp schools. He was married to Eula Mundy April 27, 1917. The family moved to California in 1923, residing there until 1933 when they moved to Wyoming. He is survived by his widow, three daughters, Juanita, Louise and Bernadine; seven sisters, Mrs. W. T. Rutledge, Mrs. J. R. Morefield, Mrs. Jesse Cates, … 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

Harrell, Thomas Andrew Sr. – Obituary

T. A. Harrell, Sr., dies Sunday. Well known Valley farmer passes away at age of 82, leaves many relatives. . Thomas A. Harrell, Sr., 82, well known in the valley where he has farmed for 16 years, passed away early Sunday morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Jessie Cates. Mr. Harrell had been in poor health for a year, but his illness became serious only within the last week. Mr. Harrell was born in Tennessee in December, 1843, and he lived in that state until 16 years ago this spring when he came to Kittitas valley where he … Read more

Grunden, John William – Obituary

John W. Grunden, 94, an Ellensburg native, died Saturday June 26, 1982 at the Goldleaf Nursing Home where he had lived for the past 10 years. He was born on Oct. 12, 1887 in rural Ellensburg, a son of the late Elof and Selma (Jacobsen) Grunden. He served in the army during World War I. Mr. Grunden had worked in the hay baling business as a pressman and foreman of the bailer crew. With the exception of 10 years in Toppenish, he had spent his entire life in the Kittitas Valley. Survivors include a brother, Glenn Grunden of Ellensburg; and … Read more

Huss, Rose Rader – Obituary

Mrs. Rose Huss, Pioneer, Passes. Widely Known Valley Resident Taken By Death Today. Mrs. Rose Huss, 73, widely known Kittitas Valley pioneer, died at her home here this morning [March 12, 1946]. Mrs. Huss traveled with her parents to this area by covered wagon over the Old Oregon Trail when a girl of seven, in 1879. She was born Rose Rader, a daughter of the late A. J. and Margaret Rader, October 9, 1872, near Hollister, Cal. She was the youngest member and last survivor of the sturdy Iowa family which moved into the Northwest in pioneer days. Their first … Read more

Barns, Malinda Anna Geddis – Obituary

At her home on the West side, Feb. 26, 1903, Mrs. A. Barns, aged 43 years. Mrs. Barns was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. R. Geddis, pioneers of this (Kittitas) Valley and county. She was born in Linn County, Oregon, in 1860. She was married to A. Barns Feb. 2, 1879. She leaves a family of seven children and a husband, besides a host of warm friends to mourn her departure. She had been ill a long time with dropsy, which finally terminated in death Malinda was the daughter of Sylvanna R. Geddis and Emily Christine Tureman. She … Read more

Bull, John Alva – Obituary

John Alva Bull, 78, died suddenly at his home on Route 5, Saturday [September 20]. Bull was born at the family farm, September 10, 1891 to Walter A. and Rebecca Bull and spent his entire life in the Kittitas Valley. He graduated from the local school and attended the University of Washington where he studied law. On Dec. 24, 1915 in Salt Lake City, he married Margaret Porter whom he had met while both where students of the University. Since their marriage they have made their home on Route 5 on the farm his mother, Rebecca Nelson [Bull], had homesteaded. … Read more

Dixon, Elwood J. – Obituary

Resident Here Since 1882, Former Mail Carrier Dies Sunday. Death came to another pioneer resident of the Kittitas valley here Sunday when Elwood J. Dixon, 82, died at the Ellensburg General hospital following a major operation [died May 9, 1937]. A resident of this valley since 1882, and one of the earliest rural mail carriers here, Mr. Dixon was widely known throughout this section. He was born in Fulton County, Illinois, on October 3, 1854 and came west to Vancouver, W., with his parents [John Wesley Dixon and Sarah E. Smith] when he was 24 years old. The family came … 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

Montgomery, William Thomas – Obituary

Valley Pioneer, Tom Montgomery, Succumbs today. Death follows a three months Illness; funeral to be held her on Thursday. W. T. Montgomery, 74, Kittitas Valley pioneer, passed away at the home of his daughter Mrs. Leta Bates, 200 N. Sprague Street early this afternoon [December 22, 1931]. Mr. Montgomery’s death followed an ailment of three months duration, which confined him to bed. His passing marks the end of another pioneer life vividly reminiscent of long treks over the plains in covered wagons. His entry to the Kittitas Valley was from California in 1861 when he made the trip in a … Read more

Morrison, Catherine Wheeler – Obituary

The death of Mrs. Catherine Morrison, aged 69, who has lived in the Kittitas Valley for 55 years, occurred today September 24, 1928. Mrs. Morrison leaves a number of friends and relatives in the valley. She is survived by her sons, T. J. Morrison, William Morrison, Abe Morrison, Grant Morrison; her sister, Mrs. Samantha Curtis; her brother, Abe Wheeler, and 11 grandchildren. The funeral will take place on Wednesday at 2 o’clock at the Baptist Church with the Rev. Mr. K. E. Burke, presiding. Burial was in the IOOF Cemetery.

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