Walla Walla Washington

Johnson, James “Mike” – Obituary

Wallowa native, James “Mike” Johnson, 69, died October 2, 1988 at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Walla Walla, Washington. He had been a patient there since May. He was born September 12, 1919 at Wallowa, the son of Charles and Mabel (Fields) Johnson. Johnson attended schools in Wallowa, graduating in 1937. He attended Abilene Christian College in Texas for one year. He served in World War II as a flight navigator on a B-29 in the Army Air Corps. He married Helen Moffit in Wallowa, They divorced. He married Vesta Tippett. They later divorced. Johnson was a logger and … Read more

Cerato, Mildred Elva – Obituary

Joseph, Oregon Mildred Elva Cerato, 88, of College Place, Wash., died Dec. 11, 2003, on her birthday at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Walla Walla, Wash. She was born on Dec. 11, 1915 in Santa Ana, Calif. to George W. and Mary Ella (Pearce) Todd. In 1937, she married John A. Cerato and the couple lived and raised a family in California. After her husband died, Mrs. Cerato moved to Joseph in 1992 to be near her daughter. She was an active member of the Joseph Baptist Church, doing mission work, serving for a time as president of the women’s … Read more

Childers, Minnie M. (Bailey) – Obituary

The funeral for Minnie M. Childers will be 10 a.m. Wednesday in the chapel at Burns Mortuary of Hermiston with burial to follow at the Hermiston Cemetery. Mrs. Childers, 93, of Hermiston, died Sunday, July 14, 1996 at her home. She was born Feb. 21, 1903, at Tillamook, to John and Elvira Parrish Bailey. She grew up in Wallowa County and lived there until her marriage to Howard B. Childers. The couple moved to Walla Walla. She came to Hermiston in 1953. Mrs. Childers enjoyed playing cards, fishing and quilting. Survivors include her son, H. Jay Childers of Prosser, Wash.; … Read more

Coverdale, Marion – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Marion Coverdale was found dead in his cabin near the river in Joseph on Wednesday of last week, July 12, 1922. He had been in poor health for some time and had been receiving care from Miss Mayme Peterson, county nurse. He lived alone. Mr. Coverdale had lived in the county for upwards of 40 years and was a rather picturesque character. He was fond of the mountains and canyons and trapped and hunted for a living much of his time. He was born in Walla Walla, Feb 16, 1864, and came with his parents to … Read more

Loney, Aletha C. – Obituary

Aletha C. Loney, aged four months, the infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Loney, who lives at Dry Creek died yesterday morning [July 31, 1902] at 8 o’clock at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. John Baxter, 329 Craig Street. Death resulted from stomach trouble. The little child was brought to this city Sunday for medical treatment. The funeral will occur this afternoon at 3:30 o’clock from the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Baxter, Rev. Mr. Armsfield, of Dixie, officiating. Walla Walla Union, July 31, 1902 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Hayes, Walter Hartwell – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Walter Hartwell Hayes, 85, of Baker City, died April 1, 2006, at St. Elizabeth Care Center, where he had lived the past 9 years. There will be a memorial service this summer at Mount Hope Cemetery when family members can return from Europe and the Middle East. Walt was born at Baker City on April 22, 1920, to Walter Dutton Hayes and Junia Philbrick Hayes. He spent almost his entire life in Baker County. The “lay-in home” where he was born is still standing on Spring Garden Avenue, not but a block from where his … Read more

Sample, Lois L. – Obituary

Wallowa County, Oregon Lois L. Sample died at St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla, Wash., July 9, 1987. She was 65. No funeral services were held at her request. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children or the Elks Eye Clinic through Munsell-Rholdes Funeral Home Chapel in Milton-Freewater. Sample was born in Wallowa to Cecil and Thelma (Crow) Childers, on April 29, 1922. She attended schools in Lostine and Joseph, completing high school at Enterprise in 1940. She moved to Weiser, Idaho following high school graduation and attended the National Youth Business College. She … Read more

Baxter, Rex D. – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon Rex D. Baxter, of Dayton, Wash. died Nov. 16, 2006. He was 55. Mr. Baxter was born Oct. 15, 1951. He graduated from Enterprise High School. He was employed as a Fishery Biologist and worked for the Army Corps of Engineers in Walla Walla, Wash. He is survived by his wife Debbie, daughter Emily, son Steven, mother Marjorie M. Baxter of Enterprise, brothers Greg Baxter of Bend, Gary Baxter of Troutdale and Terence Baxter of Walla Walla, Wash. plus other relatives and friends. A memorial service will be held at Dayton, Wash. on Nov. 25, 2006. Wallowa County … Read more

Ross, Doris – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Doris Ross, 80, of La Grande died Nov. 18 at her home. A memorial service begins at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Mrs. Ross was born Sept. 7, 1926, in Pasco, Wash., to William D. and Lucille C. Skeen Reinhardt. While in high school she was in a violin ensemble that won first place in the state of Washington.She graduated from Pasco High School in 1944. The following year she married Donald C. Ross at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Walla Walla, and … Read more

Biography of Lulu May Coverdale

A Short History of the Coverdale Family from 1859 to 1959 by Lulu May (Coverdale) Holmes in 1959. One hundred years ago Zedoc Jackson Coverdale and Rachel Elizabeth Morrison were married in the state of Iowa. He was commonly called “Jack” by everyone except Rachel, to whom he was always “Zed”. Rachel Morrison was born in Monroe, Wisconsin. Her father was a Methodist minister. He died, leaving a young widow, Rebecca Elizabeth, with two small children, Rachel and her brother John James. Both were just old enough to remember how concerned they were when a few days after their father … Read more

Loney, Evelyn L. Paul – Obituary

Age 60 years. Home was in Greenacres. Lived there six years. Survived by two sisters, Mrs. Ida Thompson of Spokane and Mrs. Dr. Ridgeway of Olympia; two half sisters, Mr. J. A. Howard of Garfield and Mrs. Louisa Estes of Vancouver, B. C. Funeral Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. from Hazen & Jaeger’s Chapel, the Rev. Dr. S. J. Chaney officiating. The body will be sent to Walla Walla for interment. Spokane Review, February 26, 1930 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Biography of Philip F. Castleman

PHILIP F. CASTLEMAN. – Those who now make the trip in the palatial car across the continent from the populous cities and thickly settled districts of the union, and view the Pacific Northwest in its present development, can but faintly realize the dangers and privations the sturdy pioneers experienced in reaching here, nor yet understand the troubles they had with the red man who then roamed its confines at will, and knew no law save what pleased the savage heart the best. They often meet among its residents not a few upon whom the snows of many winters have fallen, … Read more

Kent, Guy W. – Obituary

Guy W. Kent, 79, 527 Washington St., died yesterday [May 13, 1974] at St. Mary Community Hospital. Kent, the son of Frank and Mattie Kent who were farmers in the Sudbury area for years, was born Aug. 6, 1894, in Walla Walla. He attended schools in Sudburg and later farmed with his father. He later moved to Franklin County near Washtucna and farmed there for a few years. Kent moved back to Sudbury and married the late Minnie Loney in 1917. During this time he was active in the Farm Bureau and was manager of the Sudbury Ball team. He … Read more

Biography of Edwin F. Guyon, M. D.

Edwin F. Guyon, M. D., who has become known as county physician of Bear Lake county, Idaho, assistant surgeon for the Oregon Short Line, member of Idaho and Oregon State Medical Associations and of the American National Medical Association, and as author of the law to prohibit illegal medical practice in Idaho and coauthor with Dr. C. J. Smith of the law to prevent illegal medical practice in Oregon, is one of the leading physicians in Idaho and is doing much to elevate his profession and augment its usefulness throughout the northwest. Dr. Guyon began the practice of medicine in … Read more

Biography of Orley Hull

ORLEY HULL – The experiences of the early pioneers were severe almost beyond belief; and, were it not for the fact that their hardships were intermitted by times of peace and plenty, it would have been scarcely possible for them to have gotten through. Mr. Hull is a pioneer of 1850, and in crossing the plains, and in the early days of Southern Oregon and Northern California, saw times and circumstances as hard as were to be found. He was born in New York in 1821, and when a young man went to Missouri, but was deterred from making a … Read more

Darr, George – Obituary

Elgin, Union County, Oregon Funeral Services for George Darr To Be Saturday Funeral Services for George Darr, who was born in Elgin in 1892, will be held Saturday, March 20, at 10:30 a.m., at the Elgin Nazarene Church. Mr. Darr died March 16 at the Veterans Hospital at Walla Walla Wash., at the age of 72. He had been in poor health for several years. Rev. Leonard Gallivan will officiate at the services, and interment will be at the Island City Cemetery. Pallbearers are Charles Whittemore, Tom Williams, Earl Moore, Bob Wiles, Jr., Dalles Harwood, and Delmer Galloway. Honorary pallbearers … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Joseph Truesdale

JOSEPH TRUESDALE. – The name Truesdale is so well known throughout Oregon as designating the captain of the plains as to need little introduction here. The son Joseph was born in Illinois in 1850, and two years later made the journey to California with his father and mother, the latter of whom died the same year; while the former returned to Illinois in 1855, taking the boy with him. Marrying again in 1856, the Captain brought an ox-team across the Rocky Mountains in 1862 to form a settlement in the Grande Ronde valley. In 1865 young Truesdale went to the … Read more

Biography of Hon. John B. Allen

HON. JOHN B. ALLEN. – “I think Walla Walla is destined to be the central and commercial city of that large area of country in Eastern Washington lying south of the Snake river, and of much of Eastern Oregon. Probably no city of its population in the Northwest equals it in wealth. It is just now emerging from years of transportation extortions, which few other regions could have borne. Competitive systems will infuse new life to every industry, and stimulate the developments of resources heretofore lying dormant.” This is the horoscope of the young city as cast by Mr. Allen; … Read more

Svetich, Corinne Josephine – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Corinne Josephine Svetich, 78, of Walla Walla, died June 29 at her home. A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at Skyview Memorial Park in Pendleton. Burns Mortuary of Pendleton is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Svetich was born Jan. 4, 1928, to Charles and Francis Butler in Sacramento, Calif. She grew up in North Port, Wash., and graduated from La Grande High School in 1946. She took business courses at Eastern Oregon Normal School for two years. On March 10, 1950, she married Matthew Svetich in Pendleton. She worked as a teller at U.S. … Read more

Bryson, Elmer D. – Obituary

Elmer D. Bryson, 605 Boyer, died Saturday afternoon at a local nursing home. H was 59 years old and was a resident of this region for 40 years. Bryson was a woolgrower and for 25 years, secretary of the Wenaha Wood Growers association. He graduated from the Weston normal school and the Portland Business college. He had been in the wool business 31 years and was born December 1, 1881 near Weston. Surviving him are his wife, Charlotte; a daughter and son Blanche and Howard, both of Walla Walla, and two sisters, Mrs. Daisy Scott of Enterprise, Ore. And Mrs. … Read more