Kittitas Valley Washington

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

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

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

Hayes, Samuel – Obituary

Sam Hayes, 73, former long-time resident of the Kittitas Valley, died last night October 30, 1949 at a Yakima hospital. Hayes had been a farmer in the Kittitas Valley for the greater part of his life until he retired and moved to Yakima about 10 years ago. A native of Colorado, Hayes came to the Kittitas Valley 65 years ago with his father, the late Sanford Hayes, a pioneer of this area. Hayes is survived by a sister, Mrs. W. S. Sheldon of Twin Falls, Ida., a grand nephew, James Hayes of Ellensburg, and numerous other nieces and nephews in … Read more

Morrison, Thomas Jefferson – Obituary

Tom Morrison Taken By Death, Pioneer Family Member Passes. Thomas Jefferson Morrison, a son of one of the Kittitas Valley’s earliest pioneer families, passed away this morning in the Valley General Hospital at the age of 75 years [April 11, 1953]. He had been in ill health for several years and entered the hospital last Wednesday. He was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Morrison, who came to the Kittitas Valley in 1870. His grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wheeler, who came to the valley in the same year. William Morrison, who was a Civil War … Read more

Ferguson, Elizabeth McEwen – Obituary

Death Comes To Mrs. Ferguson/Valley’s Oldest Pioneer Passes Only four months short of attaining her 100th birthday, Mrs. Elizabeth (Grandma) Ferguson, who was the oldest pioneer woman living in the Kittitas valley, died this morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lottie Ferguson Harris, at 302 E. Fourth street here [March 24, 1951]. She died at 2:10 a.m. She was a daughter of a pioneer family, as well as being a pioneer herself. She came across the plains in 1860 with her family, making the six-month trip when a girl 9 years old. Grandma Ferguson was born Elizabeth McEwen … 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 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

Grimm, Jacob – Obituary

Jake Grimm, former Kittitas Valley farmer, died at his home in South Tacoma last night July 2, 1973, according to word received by relatives here today. He lived in the valley all of his life before moving to Tacoma 15 years ago. He farmed in the Broadview District. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Rose Carver Grimm; two sons, William and Archie Grimm; three brothers, Bird and John Grimm of Ellensburg and Harry Grimm of California, and two sisters, Mrs. Jesse Poland of Sumner and Mrs. Charles Walker of Ellensburg. Funeral arrangements have not been completed, but are tentatively … Read more

Barnhart, Mary Magdalene Letterman – Obituary

Mrs. Barnhart of the Methow, mother of Frank Barnhart of this valley; died at her home Tuesday, and the remains were brought to this city for interment today Mary was the wife of Thomas Henderson Barnhart. She was born in Indiana in 1837. She married Thomas in Missouri on November 8, 1855. Mary died August 5, 1902 and is buried in the IOOF Cemetery Contributed by: Sheli Steedman

Byam, Susan Mariah Yocom – Obituary

Mrs. Susan Yocum [Yocom] died at the home of her son, Alva, three miles west of town at the advanced age of 79 years, Sunday [December 25, 1909]. She had lived in the valley since 1876. She was loved and esteemed by a host of friends. The following appeared about three months later: IN MEMORY OF GRANDMA YOCUM On Christmas Day, 1909, this good pioneer woman died. She was born on the other side of the continent in hearing of the restless flow of Atlantic’s wave; born in the very heart of education, culture, and refinement; born in the city … 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.

Cooke, Henry Daniel – Obituary

Henry Daniel Cooke, 69, descendant of two pioneer families of this area, died at his home in Fairview district at about 1 a.m. today [July 2, 1951]. He had lived in Kittitas valley most of his life and farmed at the present Cooke place in the Farview district for the past 16 years. He was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. E. [Edward] Ward Cooke. His grandparents were the pioneers, Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Cooke and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wheeler. Henry Cooke was born here December 4, 1881. In the fall of 1887, his parents built … 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

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

Gore, Etta McEwen – Obituary

Rev. Floyd Brown of the First Baptist church conducted funeral services Tuesday afternoon for Mrs. Etta McEwen Gore, who passed away Friday after a short illness. Mrs. Gore was born here on March 6, 1873, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. McEwen and third white child born in the valley [Kittitas Valley]. In 1888 [10-13-1889] she married William Lee and after some years wed Wilfred A. Gore, who died in 1916 [7-27-1918]. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Harry T. Logsden of Texas City, Tex.; her sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Ferguson of Ellensburg and Mrs. A. L. Wheeler [Laura]. Etta divorced … Read more

Smathers, Willie Smith – Obituary

Mrs. Willie F. [Smith] Collins Smathers, 31, died Thursday [January 3, 1952] in Seattle at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Charles L. Miles. She had been ill a short while and went to Seattle three weeks ago. She came to the state of Washington from West Virginia in 1902 with a previous husband and two children. They settled in the Kittitas valley, and she had since made her home here. She became the wife of John E. Smathers of Ellensburg who survives her. Mrs. Smathers is also survived by a son, Frank Collins of Seattle, and five daughters, Mrs. … Read more

Banister, Martha Elizabeth Dixon – Obituary

Mrs. Martha Elizabeth Banister died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. E. J. Dixon, 500 Capital Avenue, this morning at 8 o’clock at the age of 86 years October 7, 1918. Mrs. Banister was born March 31, 1841, in Illinois, coming to Kittitas Valley 34 years ago. She is survived by her husband, Newell Banister, and three daughters, Mrs. Elwood Dixon and Mrs. Sarah McEwen of Ellensburg and Mrs. Belle Lewis of Cowiche and a son, Lyndon Banister, of Tieton The funeral services will be held at the home of Mrs. Elwood Dixon tomorrow afternoon at 2:30. Rev. Young … Read more

Curtis, Samantha Wheeler – Obituary

Mrs. Samantha Ann Curtis, 79, valley pioneer, passed away at the home of her brother, Abe Wheeler, near Kittitas, last night [died March 12, 1934]. Mrs. Curtis came here in 1871 and has resided since that time in the valley with the exception of a few years spent at Okanogan. She was married to Mr. Curtis here in 1875 but was widowed in 1923 by his death. She leaves four children, Mrs. Etta Vaughn, Mrs. Mae Goldberg, Wesley Curtis, all of Brewster, and Mrs. Tillie Hayes, Kittitas. There are 27 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held … Read more

Carver, George Washington – Obituary

George W. Carver Civil War Veteran Died Monday Night George W. Carver, died Monday night at the family residence, 209 South Pearl, from cancer of the bladder. Mr. Carver was born in Licking County, Ohio, June 15, 1840. He served three years in Company E. of the 94th Illinois during the Civil War and remove d to the Kittitas Valley in 1876. He had lived here since that time on the old homestead three and a half miles southeast of town until recently, when he moved to the present family residence. He is survived by his widow and six children, … Read more