Lottie Anna McEwen Lyon, aged 60, passed away at her home on March 19, 1934. Born on November 10, 1873, in Manhattan, Kansas, she moved to Washington with her family in 1888. She married John Charles Lyon in 1890 and was involved in the Royal Neighbors and the Renewal Society. Lottie is survived by three daughters, six sons, four grandchildren, a sister, and three brothers. Funeral services were held at Odd Fellows Hall, followed by burial at Toledo Cemetery.
Henry C. Layton, a pioneer of Lewis County, passed away suddenly on August 3 at age 64 after becoming ill while picking blackberries. Born on May 26, 1857, in Toledo, he is survived by his wife, Amanda, three children, his mother, and several siblings. A member of Eden Prairie Grange, he was honored with the naming of Layton Prairie, where he will be interred. Funeral services are scheduled for Sunday at Sticklins Chapel.
Merle Alta Layton, a lifelong resident of Lewis County, passed away at the age of 70 on May 8, 1966, in a Chehalis hospital. Born January 19, 1896, in Clatskanie, Oregon, she is survived by her three daughters, a son, and numerous half-sisters, stepsisters, grandchildren, and extended family. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at Fir Lawn Funeral Chapel in Toledo, with interment to follow at the Toledo Cemetery.
Mrs. Cora A. Champ, aged 78, passed away at her Winlock home on October 13 after a brief illness. A resident of the community for 64 years, she was born in Minnesota and moved to Washington Territory in 1879. Cora married John H. Champ in 1881, and they had ten children, with three surviving: Wallace, Bertha Van Curen, and Erma Kotoski. She was a long-standing member of the Order of Eastern Star. Funeral services are scheduled for Friday.
Mrs. Francis M. Gowen, a prominent pioneer of Lewis County, passed away on July 8, 1927, at her Silver Creek home at the age of 56. Born Sophronia Ellen Thomas in March 1871 in Iowa, she moved to Toledo at 16 and married Francis Gowen in 1896. The couple had seven children and lived in Silver Creek since 1902. She is survived by her husband, children, four brothers, and a sister. Services were held on July 10, with burial at Mt. View Cemetery.
Mrs. Lulu M. Layton, 77, of Toledo, passed away on April 3, 1952, in a Chehalis hospital after a brief illness. Born on October 13, 1874, in Vermillion, S.D., she had lived in Toledo and Lewis County since 1889. She is survived by seven daughters, one son, a brother, and numerous grandchildren. Funeral services will take place at Toledo Presbyterian Church on Sunday at 3 p.m., followed by interment at Lone Hill Cemetery in Layton Prairie.
Lora Myrtle Eells, known as Polly, died on August 1, 1958, at the age of 77 in Chehalis, where she had lived her entire life. Born on January 28, 1881, in Toledo, she is survived by her grandson, Gordon Anderson, in California, and a nephew, Wallace Champ, in Winlock. Her funeral services took place at Boone Chapel, led by Rev. Fred T. Lucas, with burial at Winlock Cemetery.
Marie Belle Layton, aged 101, passed away on March 23, 2007, in Toledo. Visitation is scheduled for March 30 from 1 to 7 p.m. at Fir Lawn Funeral Chapel, which will also host the funeral on March 31 at 11 a.m. She was the wife of Oren Layton and will be interred at Lone Hill Cemetery. The obituary was contributed by Shelli Steedman and published in The Chronicle on March 26, 2007.
Daniel E. McEwen, a respected 64-year-old resident of Rose Valley and a prominent figure in the logging community, passed away at his home in Kelso after a two-week illness. He had lived in Lewis and Cowlitz counties for 48 years and was an active member of the Grange, serving as its master for two years. He is survived by his wife, nine children, two brothers, and a sister. His funeral is scheduled for Thursday at the IOOF Hall in Toledo, with burial at Fir Lawn Cemetery.
Grant Kirkendoll passed away at his home on Silver Lake after a long illness. Born on December 25, 1865, in Iowa, he moved to Kelso as a child and spent his life as a rancher in Cowlitz and Lewis counties. Services will be held on Sunday at the Methodist Church, with burial at Whittle Cemetery. He is survived by five children: Mrs. Otto Disque, Mrs. Jennie Stange, Mrs. Gladys Leichhardt, and sons Leo and Mark Kirkendoll.