Pierce County WA

Zelten, Walter Jr. – Obituary

Walt was born in Akron, OH on Feb. 5, 1930 to Bessie and Walt Zelten Sr. and passed away on May 26, 1997. Along with his family at age 12, he moved to the Tacoma area in the summer of 1942. He completed his elementary education in Akron, and attended Gault Jr. High and Lincoln High School here in Tacoma. After school, he was stationed in Korea with the Army during that war. He was a lifetime member with the Ray C. Roberts VFW Post #969. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Jacobson, Vernon Z. “Vern” – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Vernon Z. “Vern” Jacobson, 85, a retired Baker City manager, died Nov. 18, 2004, at Baker City. His memorial service was Saturday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor Susan Barnes of the First Presbyterian Church officiated. A graveside inurnment will be in the spring at the Prairie City Cemetery. Vern was born on June 16, 1919, at Alder, Wash., to Arnt and Elizabeth Jacobson. He spent his young life in Washington before serving in the U.S. Army as a captain in the 2nd Armored Division during World War II. Vern graduated from … Read more

Swearingen, Vernise Augustus – Obituary

Vernise A. Swearingen, 43, former Ellensburg resident, died Friday in a Tacoma Hospital from injuries received earlier last week in an accident at the Seattle-Tacoma shipyards where he was employed as a rigger. Plant officials reported that he was crushed while unloading steel plates when he slacked off on a safety line too soon and the plates tipped over on him. A veteran of World War I, Swearingen had enlisted for service in this war WWII, but was discharged because of a physical disability. He was awarded the Silver Star, Order of the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, and … Read more

Hallock, Ahlma Rose MacDonald – Obituary

Ahlma R. MacDonald, 99, a resident of Tacoma the past 64 years, died Monday [January 7, 1985]. Mrs. MacDonald was born in Heppner, Ore. She was a retired librarian who had worked in Portland and New York City. She was a former member of the Ladies Musical Club, pro America, Tacoma County & Golf Club and Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Herrick (Beatrice) Allen of Tacoma, and two grandchildren. Buckley-King Downtown is in charge. Tacoma News Tribune, January 9, 1985 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Saunders Phyllis Jane – Obituary

Cove, Oregon Phyllis Jane Saunders, 80, of Cove, died Aug. 12 at her home of natural causes. A funeral service will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St., La Grande. Phyllis was born Sept. 9, 1926, to Clyde and Virgie (Bell) Robinson in Tacoma, Wash., one of eight children. She was raised and educated all over the Northwest. Her father worked for Pacific Fruit and traveled throughout the Northwest, so she attended several schools. She eloped with Grant Saunders on Oct. 23, 1944, to Weiser, Idaho. After Grant returned from the Air Force and got … Read more

Hart, Charles Leroy – Obituary

Charles L. Hart, 77, of 6810 South J St., a former McChord Air Force Base employee, died Friday [February 29, 1980]. Born in Colfax, Mr. Hart had resided in Tacoma since 1932. He had been a boiler plant operator at McChord and had been employed at Weyerhaeuser Co. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Steve (Michelle) Hull of Gig Harbor; two sons, Duane L. of Grey Eagle, Calif., and James A. of Bend, Ore., a brother, Ira of Santa Rosa, Calif.; five grandsons and five granddaughters. Mountain View Funeral Home is in charge. Tacoma News Tribune, March 1, 1980 Contributed by: … Read more

Biography of Rev. John F. Devore, D. D.

REV. JOHN F. DEVORE, D.D. – Doctor Devore was a native of Kentucky, being born near Lexington, December 7, 1817. He was of French descent, as the name indicates, and owed very much to the pious example of religious parents, who urged him with their last words to be “faithful to his God.” The “Life of Bramwell” fell into his hands at an early date, was read with great relish, and had much to do in molding the shape of his after life. Entering the ministry, he joined the Rock river conference in 1842, Bishop Roberts presiding. He was ordained … Read more

Wyatt, Kenneth E. – Obituary

A former minor league baseball pitcher, Kenneth E. Wyatt, died Thursday [February 24, 1977]. He was 51. Mr. Wyatt, of 10108 East F St., was born in Kittitas. He had lived in Tacoma since 1960. Mr. Wyatt held the strike-out record In the Western International League for a few years. He played with the Spokane Indians and Salem Solons in the late 1940s. He was a travel guard at Western State Hospital. Mr. Wyatt was an Army veteran of the Second World War and a member of the Parkland Moose Lodge. He is survived by two daughters, Karen and Teri … Read more

Biography of Francis H. Cook

FRANCIS H. COOK, – Mr. Cook was born in Marietta, Ohio, in 1851. He went with his parents to Iowa at the age of twelve. His father was a farmer, and have his attention to agriculture and to sawmilling; but it was decided to make a printer of the boy. He was accordingly apprenticed to work at the cases in the office of the Harrison County Union, a paper owned and edited by Judge Henry Ford, who was also sitting on the bench of the northwest district of Iowa. The journal changed proprietors quite frequently, young Cook remaining through the … Read more

Biography of Mrs. Julia A. McCarver

MRS. JULIA A. McCARVER. – Julia A. McCoy was born November 19, 1825, in St. Charles county, Missouri. Her parents died before she was three years old; and she was brought up by her grandfather and grandmother. At an early age she was married to Garrett Buckalew, and thereafter lived in the State of Illinois until the spring of 1847, when, with her husband and two children, and the families of eighteen neighbors, she started across the plains for Oregon. At St. Joseph, Missouri, they joined a host of other emigrants, the combined party including ninety families, who continued their … Read more

Rogers, Norma Ellen – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Norma Ellen (Erickson) Rogers, 85, died March 25 at her home in Elgin. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Elgin Church of the Nazarene, 11th and Birch. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Mrs. Rogers was born Jan. 17, 1922, to Lawrence and Emma I. (Bickford) Hawes in La Grande. She graduated from La Grande High School and in 1941 married Manuel Erickson in Idaho. The marriage ended in divorce, and in 1947 she married Ernest Rogers in La Grande. He preceded her in death in 1992. Mrs. … Read more

Biography of Rev. Cushing Eels, D. D.

REV. CUSHING EELS, D.D. – Dr. Eells was born at Blandford, Massachusetts, February 16, 1810, and was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Warner) Eells. He was descended from Samuel Eells, who was a major in Cromwell’s army, and who came to America in 1661. Cushing Eells was brought up at Blandford, became a Christian when fifteen years old, prepared for college at Monson Academy, Massachusetts, entered Williams College in 1830, and graduated four years later. The distance from his home to college was forty-five miles. Twice he rode the entire distance, – when he entered and after he graduated, … Read more

Bratton, Sophia R. – Obituary

Bratton Rites Set Saturday Funeral services for Sophia R. Bratton, 56, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Ellensburg. Mrs. Bratton, a former Ellensburg resident, died Wednesday in Seattle. She was born January 16, 1909 in Tacoma and spent her childhood years in Ellensburg. She had lived in Seattle and Tacoma the past 43 years. She is survived by a son, Frank Frost of Chicago, Ill., a brother, W. R. Johnston, Tacoma; a sister, Mrs. Fred Lundstrom of Ellensburg; two half sister, Mrs. Margaret Hinkle of grand Coulee and Mrs. Dorothy Buroker, Renton; a granddaughter, Miss Deborah Frost, Seattle; and … Read more

O’Farrell, Owen E. – Obituary

Owen E. O’Farrell, 74, Rt. 13, Box 650, died at his home Sunday. O’Farrell, a grocer, had lived in Pierce County all his life, having been born at Orting. He was a member of the St. John of the Woods Church and the Clover Creek Grange. He is survived by his wife, Anna; daughter, Mrs. Leo Fanning, Tacoma; sister, Mrs. William Swain, Tacoma, and three grandchildren. Gaffney’s will announce arrangements. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Harmon, Janet Logan Simpkins – Obituary

Mrs. Janet Harmon, 416 South L Street, died in a local hospital Friday [October 5]. She was born in Scotland and was a pioneer resident of Tacoma. Mrs. Harmon was a member of the first Tacoma Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star and belonged to the Holy Communion Church. Survivors are two sisters, Miss Charlotte Simpkins of Tacoma and Miss Nellie Simpkins of Juneau, Alaska; also two brothers, George of Juneau and Hector of Tacoma. The funeral announcement will be made by Buckley-King upon arrival of the sister from Alaska. Tacoma News Tribune, October 7, 1944 Contributed by: Shelli … Read more

Bleakman, Owen Neal – Obituary

Owen Neal Bleakman, 88, a longtime Baker City resident, died May 3, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. There will be no burial service. Inurnment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel. Owen was born Aug. 9, 1916, at Hardman to Bertrum Percy Bleakman and Hatty May Emery. He attended schools in Hardman and Heppner. When Owen was 18, he moved to Bates, where he worked at the Bates mill as a carpenter helper for one year. While in Bates, he met his wife-to-be, Katherine Taylor. They were married … Read more

Fix, Earl George – Obituary

Earl George Fix, 50, of 1417 So. 44th St., died Friday [March 25] en route to a local hospital. He was born in Steilacoom and had lived in Tacoma for 23 years. He was a carpenter and a member of Carpenters’ Union No. 470. In addition to his wife Alice R., he is survived by a daughter, Linda Jane; three sons, Leslie W., Randal R. and Dennis W., all of the home, and his mother, Mrs. Olive A. Fix, Sumner. Services will be held Monday at 1 p.m. in the C. C. Melinger memorial Funeral Church, Charles Summers officiating. Burial … Read more

O’Farrell, Daniel – Obituary

Daniel O’Farrell, a resident of the State of Washington for the last 43 years, died Monday morning [March 2, 1914] at 4 o’clock in the Puyallup Hospital. He was 79 years old and was well known throughout the state. Mr. O’Farrell was born in Ireland. In 1870 he came to Washington, settling in the Puyallup valley at the junction of the Puyallup and Stuck rivers. The funeral will be held Wednesday morning at 10 o’clock in the Puyallup Catholic Church. The body will be brought to Tacoma for interment in Tacoma Cemetery by the Spurr & Dunlap Company. Mr. O’Farrell … Read more

Grimm, Mable Claire – Obituary

Mable C. Grimm, 88, of Puyallup, died August 14, 1990. Graveside services will be Monday, August 20, 1 p.m., Woodbine Cemetery. Arrangements by Hill Funeral Home, Puyallup. [Mable was the daughter of May Briody and Elmer E. Stickney. She was born in Kittitas Co., WA. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Biography of Gen. Morton Mathew McCarver

GEN. MORTON MATHEW McCARVER. THE FOUNDER OF BURLINGTON, IOWA, SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA AND TACOMA, WASHINGTON,- General McCarver was born near Lexington Kentucky, January 14, 1807. Of an independent, roving spirit, determination, courage and enterprise that knew no bounds, he quit his home at the age of eighteen years and went to Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, and not finding anything congenial to his tastes returned and settled in 1830 at Galena, Illinois, where he was married to a Miss Mary Ann Jennings. He served in the Black Hawk war, and after the surrender of the great chief of the Sacs and Foxes, … Read more