Pierce County WA

Gray, Nellie Frances – Obituary

Nellie Frances Gray, 91, formerly of Union County, died Tuesday, May 25, 1993, of natural causes in Spanaway, Wash. A funeral service will be held Wednesday at Unger Funeral Chapel in Silverton. Interment will follow in Belle Passi Mausoleum in Woodburn. Mrs. Gray was born Sept. 25, 1901, in Lenox County, Iowa, to George Washington and Alice Mae Wiley Lemon. The family moved to Lynden, Wash., when she was very young. Her father died there when she was six, and her mother moved the family to Union, where she received her education. She married Ernest Merrell Gray on May 28, … Read more

Lee, Robert Edward – Obituary

Robert Edward (Bob) Lee, manager of the Tacoma office of the General Electric Company and prominent in business, civic, and sports circles, died late Wednesday night [October 23, 1940] at his home, 825 North Yakima Avenue, of a heart attack. He appeared to be in good health during the afternoon and ate a hearty dinner Wednesday night. Following dinner, he sat down in his living room and fell into a sleep from which he never awakened. He had been at his office as usual Wednesday. About three years ago he suffered a slight stroke, from which he seemed to have … 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

Bowman, Arthur – Obituary

Arthur W. Bowman, 79, of 8726 Newgrove Ave. S.W., died in a local hospital Monday. He was born in Trempealeau, Wis. Mr. Bowman had lived here 43 years. He was a retired Tacoma Transit Co. employee. Mr. Bowman was a member of the Motor Coach Employees’ Union. He leaves two daughters, Mrs. Mary Gordon of Tacoma and Mrs. Ida Wakefield of Parkwood; three sons, Charles R. of Coulee Dam and George and Arthur of Tacoma; nine grandchildren and a brother, George of Pierre, S.D. Services will be announced by the Mountain View Funeral Home. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Biography of Boyd Elias Pollom

The men who came to Shawnee County in 1871 were of necessity patient plodders, content to await the rewards of a developing civilization. There were no short cuts to fortune such as fired the zeal of the argonauts of ’49, but there existed sane and practical opportunities for the man to whom labor was a beneflcent and necessary festure of his existence. To such a class belonged William Pollom, father of Boyd Elias Pollom, the latter one of the successful agrienlturists and substantial citizens of the vicinity of North Topeka. William Pollom was born in Ohio, in 1838, a son … Read more

Bunce, Kenneth LeRoy – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Kenneth LeRoy Bunce, 79, of Baker City, died Aug. 22, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. There will be a Celebration of Life service at 2 p.m. Thursday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor Robin Harris of the Cornerstone Baptist Church at North Powder will officiate. Friends are asked to join the family for an ice cream social at Settlers’ Park Assisted Living Facility, 2895 17th St., after the celebration. Visitations will be from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday at Gray’s West & Co. Ken was born to Vern C. Bunce of … Read more

Allen, Ella L. – Obituary

Funeral Services will be held Thursday, Feb. 28, 1991, at 2 p.m. at Bollman Funeral Home for Ella L. Allen. Burial will follow in the Lostine Cemetery. Miss Allen died Tuesday, Feb. 19, 1991, at a Gresham nursing center from causes related to age. She was 93. She was born near Lostine, on Jan. 30, 1898, the youngest child of Wallowa County pioneer parents, William H, and Annie B. Allen. She was a graduate of Lostine High School and Oregon State University (then Oregon Agriculture College) in 1921. She taught home economics in Joseph, Wallowa and Elgin and in Tenino, … Read more

Briggs, Edwin J. – Obituary

Edwin J. Briggs passed away on October 2, 2001. He was born in Perry, Oregon on August 23, 1912, the son of Willie J. and Harriet Watson Briggs, both deceased now. He was raised in LaGrande, Oregon, and it was at college there that he met and married his first wife, Helen Teed. They were married 56 years. Helen died in 1990. Ed entered active military service in September, 1940 as a 2nd Lt. with Co. E., 186th Infantry Regiment, 41st Division. He served in New Guinea during the first Papuan Campaign. He then volunteered for service in Burma with … Read more

Hardesty, Noah – Obituary

Noah M. Hardesty, 84, of 2509 ½ S. 13th St., died Wednesday [March 28, 1968] in a local hospital. He was born in Spokane and had lived in Tacoma seven years. He was a retired plumber. Surviving are a sister, Mrs. Joe Lyons of Tacoma; and several nieces and nephews. Services were held Thursday under the direction of Cassedy and Allen Mortuary. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Biamont, Robert Thomas – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Robert Thomas Biamont, 54, of Portland and formerly of La Grande died Aug. 11. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Friday Aug. 18 at Grace Christian Fellowship, 7325 N. Bank Road in Portland. Mr. Biamont was born Dec. 17, 1951, in Tacoma, Wash. He lived in La Grande from 1974 to 1987, and married Carolyn June Livingston in 1991. He worked for Pizza Hut and Vinnie’s and lived in Portland most of his life. Survivors include his wife; his mother, Barbara Biamont; children, James P. Sarkis, Tracie Thompson and Kellie Hornych; a brother, Kenneth Biamont, … Read more

Pease, Edgar Bishop – Obituary

Edgar Bishop Pease died Sunday afternoon [August 10, 1930] at a local hospital at the age of 65 years. His home was at 6301 South Alder Street. He was a foreman at the Northern Pacific shops and had lived 31 years in Tacoma. He was a member of Afifi Temple of the Shrine; of Clover Lodge, F. & A. M., and of Whote Clover Chapter, O. E. S.; of Keystone Chapter No. 37, Royal Arch Masons and of the P. O. S. of A. and Northern Pacific Veterans’ Association and M. W. A. Surviving him are his wife, Mrs. Mattie … Read more

Lee, Mary O’Conner O’Farrell – Obituary

This community was saddened on Christmas day when the news reached here of the passing of Mrs. Mary C. Lee [December 25, 1926], at the home of her son in Tacoma. She had made her home for the past few years with her son Daniel. Mrs. Lee was born in Ireland and spent her early life in Melbourne, Australia, being married in New Zealand. In September she met with an accident and broke a hip and since that time had been confined to her home and with her advanced age, she soon grew weaker, quietly passing in the great beyond, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Wilhelm Otto Roesch

WILHELM OTTO ROESCH. – The brewery of Pendleton, Oregon, is operated by Mr. Roesch, a man who has had long experience in all the processes of manufacturing the beverage. Born in Germany in 1855, he came to America in1870, working in a brewery. He followed the same business in San Francisco in 1874; at Steilacoom in 1886; at Portland until 1888. At Port Townsend he built a brewery for himself, running it two years. At Heppner, in 1880, he operated his own brewery one year. In 1882 he returned to Germany, marrying Miss Anna Rapps. Returning to Oregon, he is … Read more

Stalcup, Susie L. Clay – Obituary

Mrs. Susie L. Stalcup, 86, of 1012 So. 4th St., died Monday in a local hospital. She was born in Shelbina, Mo., moved to Cle Elum, Wash., in 1901 and resided here 29 years. She was a member of the First Christian Church. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Winnie Feyko, Seattle; one son, S. R. Stalcup, Tacoma; five sisters, Mrs. Mittie Barry, Los Angeles, Mrs. Grace Daniels, and Mrs. Callie Bryan, both of Shelbina, Mrs. Lucy Cunningham, Austin, Ind., and Mrs. Jessie Scearce, Tacoma; four grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. Funeral services will be announced by Tuell’s. Contributed by: Shelli … Read more

Simonton, Rolvin David – Obituary

Colonel R. D. Simonton, one of the best-known railroad men in the Lewiston Country, died this morning [December 30, 1915] at 2:20 o’clock at the family home, 9223 Twenty Fourth Street from hemorrhage of the brain with which he was stricken last May. Colonel Simonton had been in failing health since first stricken and for the past month his condition was critical. It was known for several days that the end was near. Colonel Simonton would have been 74 years of age on January 24, 1916. He was employed by the Northern Pacific 27 years and was relieved from duty … Read more

Baxter, Roy John – Obituary

Roy John Baxter, 89, formerly of Baker City, passed away on Wednesday, June 11, 2003. At his request, a private family graveside service was held at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park. Roy was born May 31, 1914, in Telocaset, the son of Susie (Briggs) and William Barnes Baxter. He attended High School in Union, and graduated in 1932. Roy joined the Oregon National Guard in 1938, 41st Infantry, Fort Lewis, Wash. He was called to active service Sept. 16,1940. Roy was wounded in August, 1944 in New Guinea and returned to the states on Dec. 8, 1944. He was a recipient … Read more

Curtis, Norman Samuel – Obituary

Norman S. Curtis, 56, a lifetime resident of Winlock, died Friday [Jul 25, 1969] at his home following a short illness. He was born Sept. 2, 1912, in Winlock and was an employee of Weyerhaeuser Company at the time of his death. Survivors include his widow, Vernice, at the Winlock family home; two sons, Norman D., Winlock; Archie F., San Francisco, Calif.; two daughters, Mrs. Sandra Jorgensen, Minneapolis, Minn.; Mrs. Lorraine Petersen, Longview; two brothers, Glen, Hoquiam; Vern, Aberdeen; and one sister, Mrs. Dorothy Schlitz, Delano, Calif. Services will be Wednesday, 1 p.m., at the Cattermole Funeral Chapel, Winlock, with … Read more

Zelten, Bessie Pedersen – Obituary

Mrs. Walter Zelten, 77, of 1001 E. 32nd St., died Wednesday [February 4, 1981]. Mrs. Zelten was born in Ellensburg and moved to Tacoma in 1942. Survivors include a son, Walter, Jr. of Tacoma; a daughter, Mrs. Irene Aylett of Tacoma; two sisters, Mrs. Mary Henry of Tigard, Ore., and Mrs. Louise Durland of Portland; four grandchildren and a great grandchild. Buckley-King at Brookside is in charge. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Biography of Peter Dewar Forbes

PETER DEWAR FORBES. – In the gentleman whose name heads this brief memoir, and whose portrait appears in this history, we have one of the very earliest settlers of Tacoma, as well as one of her prominent business men and capitalists. Mr. Forbes was born in St. Johns, New Brunswick, February 18,1845, and is the son of William and Jesie Dewar Forbes. After his school days were passed, Peter learned the trade of a carpenter and shipbuilder, becoming a master mechanic. In 1868 he came to the United States, locating in Minneapolis, where he became a well-known architect and builder, … Read more

O’Farrell, James R. – Obituary

James R. O’Farrell, 80, a native of Orting and a former Pierce County commissioner, died Friday night [September 25, 1953] at his home in Orting. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert O’Farrell, were pioneers in area, taking up a 120-acre homestead in the Puyallup Valley in 1870. Mr. O’Farrell was the last of four sons of the pioneers. He married Lena Bruce of Tacoma in 1898 and they set up housekeeping in Orting. For many years he was active in community and political affairs. He served at various times as mayor, councilman and school director in Orting and from 1916 … Read more