McEwen, Melvin E. – Obituary

Melvin E., 62, 412 S. Pacific Ave., Kelso, died April 2 at home. He was born April 5, 1907 in Winchester, Wash. He had lived in this area for 42 years and worked as a bartender. He was a World War II veteran and was a member of the American Legion. Survivors include one son, Shirley McEwen; three brothers, Wilbur of Kelso, Elmer of Oakland, and Dan of Centralia; two sisters, Mrs. Laura Timberman of Vancouver, and Mrs. Alta Rasmussen of Battle Ground; several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Ditlevsen-Moore Chapel with … Read more

McEwen, John Hager – Obituary

J. H. McEwen, formerly known as “Grandpa McEwen,” was born Bartholomew County, Feb. 4, 1832. When but an infant his parents moved to Decatur Co., Ind., where they resided until 1848, when with their family they moved to Fremont, Mahaska County, Iowa, where their son, J. H. was married to Miss Jerusha Amelia Morrow, Aug. 11, 1850. With his wife and young family, McEwen left Iowa in 1860, making his way across the great plains with an ox team. After a long and perilous journey they arrived at the Dallas, Ore., from which point the family were sent by boat … Read more

McEwen, Martha Grewell – Obituary

Old Pioneer of Valley dies at Toppenish. Mrs. Martha McEwen passes away after lingering illness of several months. Mrs. Martha Grewell McEwen, an old pioneer of this vicinity, passed away at Toppenish Sunday morning at 7 o’clock after a lingering illness which confined her to her bed for the past several months [died December 22, 1918] Mrs. McEwen was born February 22, 1860, in Iowa, and three years later crossed the prairies in an ox team with her parents, settling at Vancouver, Wash. When she was 13 years old she moved to this vicinity where she has since made her … Read more

McEwen, Vicky – Obituary

Selah—Vicky McEwen, 42, of Selah, passed away Tuesday, July 30, 1996 at her residence. She was born June 26, 1954 in Toppenish to Ralph and Barbara (Jordin) McEwen. She was raised and educated in Toppenish and had been a long-time Yakima Valley resident. Vicky enjoyed raising houseplants, flowers, and gardening. She was a people person which showed in her profession as a Certified Nurse’s Aide. Vicky very much cared for animals and the pets she adopted as her own. She is survived by her mother, Barbara Miller of Yakima; her father and stepmother, Ralph and Mary McEwen of Toppenish; a … Read more

McEwen, Harvey – Obituary

Harvey McEwen Dies In Seattle Pioneer Valley Resident Came To Ellensburg In 1871 Harvey McEwen, 79-year-old former Ellensburg resident and one of the Kittitas Valley’s earliest pioneers, died in Columbus Hospital in Seattle yesterday afternoon [June 9, 1937]. He had made his home at Wapato for many years, and died while in Seattle on a visit. Mr. McEwen came to the valley in 1871 and lived near Ellensburg for 40 years. In 1921 he went to Wapato to farm, later retiring. He is survived by four sons, Oscar and Ernie McEwen of Ellensburg; Carl McEwen of Seattle, and Clarence McEwen … Read more

McEwen, Sarah Agnes Banister – Obituary

Following a long illness, Mrs. Sarah Agnes McEwen, age 91, died early Saturday morning, Jan. 27, 1962, in the Ellensburg General Hospital. Mrs. McEwen was born March 28, 1870 in Clark County near Vancouver, Wash., the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel N. Banister [mother was Martha Dixon]. When she was a small child, the Banister family first came to the Kittitas Valley. They spent one winter here, then moved to Walla Walla because of the Indiana scare. In the fall of 1884 they returned here to make a permanent home. Sarah Banister was married Jan. 3, 1884 to James … Read more

McEwen, Catherine Chambers – Obituary

Near Oakland, Mason County, Oct 16, 1876 of heart disease, Mrs. Catherine McEwen, aged 87. Catherine was the daughter of William H. Chambers and Mary Ann Perry. She was married to the Rev. James McEwen. Catherine was the mother of John Hager McEwen. Her son John was a well-known pioneer of Oakland and Ellensburg. Catherine was buried in the Oakland Cemetery. The grave is no longer marked. A memorial headstone has been placed in the Shelton Memorial Cemetery.

McEwen, Martha Grewell – Obituary

Old Pioneer Of Valley Dies At Toppenish Mrs. Martha Mcewen Passes Away After Lingering Illness Of Several Months Mrs. Martha Grewell McEwen, an old pioneer of this vicinity, passed away at Toppenish Sunday morning at 7 o’clock after a lingering illness which confined her to her bed for the past several months [died December 22, 1918]. Mrs. McEwen was born February 22, 1860, in Iowa, and three years later crossed the prairies in an ox team with her parents, settling at Vancouver, Wash. When she was 13 years old she moved to this vicinity where she has since made her … Read more

McEwen, Martha Anne – Obituary

Martha Annie McEwen, 89, died Saturday evening at her home in Wingville after a long illness. She was born Dec. 27, 1883, in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, the daughter of William A. and Lucinda Elliott. She moved to Auburn with her parents in 1884, and later came to Baker Valley where she lived the remainder of her life. She was married in August, 1879, to John Behan, and to them were born four daughters, one of whom preceded her in death. She was married to March 18, 1904, to Willliam McEwen. Survivors are three daughters, Mrs. Addie Thomason, Mrs. Leilath Boyce … Read more

Grewell, Vincent M. – Obituary

Capt. Vincent M. Grewell, a pioneer of Ipava, Ill., died Dec. 16, 1902, aged nearly 81 years.  Mrs. Jane Grewell, Dec. 28, 1902, aged 77 years.  There were just 14 days difference between the deaths of this aged couple, who had lived together for 52 years.  They had relatives in this valley:  E. D. Grewell, Clay, and Stanley Grewell, Mrs. Harvey McEwen [Martha Jane Grewell], and Mrs. William [Mary Grewell] Taylor. Contributed by:  Shelli Steedman

McEwen, Wilbur D. – Obituary

Wilbur McEwen, 77, 120 Vision Drive, Kelso, died July 4, 1992, at Community Hospice. A Washington native, he was born March 24, 1915 to Daniel and Lena (Owens) McEwen. Mr. McEwen, a former Weyerhaeuser Co., International Woodworkers of American Wood Worker, had lived in this area since 1929. He was a member of the Kelso American Legion Post 25 for 44 years. He was also a member of the Disabled American Veterans Evergreen State Chapter 11. He enjoyed his family and family gatherings. He is survived by his sister, Laura Timberman of Vancouver; two brothers, Daniel L. McEwen of Centralia … Read more

McEwen, Daniel E. – Obituary

Daniel E. McEwen, well-known resident of Rose Valley for the last years, who had lived in Kelso since last December passed away quietly at his home at 207 South Sixth Street west Kelso this morning at 6:45 o’clock after a two weeks illness. He was 64 years of age at the time of his death and had been a resident of Lewis and Cowlitz counties for the last 48 years. He was well known among logging and mill men and it is said of him by his friends that he was highly respected and upright in all his dealings. He … Read more

McEwen, Mary Louise Hyde – Obituary

Toppenish—Mary Louise McEwen, 81, of Toppenish passed away at the Providence Hospital, Toppenish, on Friday, November 27, 1998. She was born on January 24, 1917 in Ashley, ND, the daughter of John and Mary Hyde. When she was three-years-old, the family moved to Quilcene, Washington, where she was raised and educated. She moved to Granger in 1945. She married Ralph McEwen [son of Oscar McEwen and Mary Peffers of Ellensburg]on March 25, 1978. Mary’s hobbies included crocheting, feeding the animals and spending time at Liberty where she and Ralph had a summer home. She was an avid traveler and had … Read more

McEwen, Oscar – Obituary

Death Take Well-Known Resident Oscar Mcewen Oscar (Ott) McEwen, well-known Ellensburg resident, died Sunday at the Kittitas Valley Memorial Hospital. He was 89 years old [died June 4, 1967]. McEwen was one of the last true cowboys in the northwest, and the familiar scene of McEwen astride his horse, riding through town, was a common-place occurrence. He was for many years a rider at the Ellensburg Rodeo and participated in many of the early events at the rodeo. He still made an annual appearance at the show. He was born October 6, 1877 in a frontier home three and one … Read more

McEwen, Cora Belle – Obituary

Cora B. McEwen, 95, retired Ellensburg school teacher, died Sunday [June 30, 1990] in Auburn where she had lived for the past four years. She attended Ellensburg Normal School and Central Washington College of Education. She worked for Dr. Pinckard for a number of years before beginning her 30-year teaching career. Following retirement she served as a private tutor in her home. She was a member of the First Baptist Church and was active in youth groups for more than 80 years. Survivors include three great nephews, Clair Schnebly of Kittitas, and Ted Schnebly and David Leickum, both of Renton. … Read more

McEwen, Ernie D. – Obituary

McEwen Dies from Crash. Ernie D. McEwen, 55, died at Ellensburg General Hospital at (paper damaged) today [July 12, 1981], without recovering consciousness, after suffering fatal injuries in a collision of his pickup truck with a logging truck early Wednesday. The hospital yesterday after-noon reported McEwen’s injuries of a basal skull fracture, punctured lung and seven broken ribs. McEwen’s death is the seventh from traffic accidents in Kittitas County this year and the (paper damaged) from accidents occurring off a (paper damaged) highway. Fatalities number five and six were the deaths of two children, Earl Ray Bougher, the (paper damaged) … Read more

McEwen, Edward Jesse – Obituary

Ed McEwen, jockey killed in a race, former Ellensburg boy thrown by horse; was born here and parents were pioneers of the Kittitas Valley.. Walla Walla, June 5-Ed McEwen, Walla Walla, jockey for Geo. Drumheller, was killed during the annual Waitsburg racing matinee yesterday afternoon [June 4, 1920]. The fatal accident occurred during the three-eights mile handicap next to the last race, when his horse threw him from the saddle breaking his neck. Eddie McEwen, who was the son of Harvey McEwen, a well-known horseman of this valley, was a native of Ellensburg. His father and grandfather were pioneers of … Read more

McEwen, Jerusah Amelia Morrow – Obituary

Mrs. Amelia McEwen, aged 63 years, died at her home in this county last Saturday [October 27, 1898]. The funeral services were held from the Methodist Church in this city on Monday, Rev. Smith officiating. Deceased leaves a husband and five children to mourn her loss. Jerusah was the daughter of William McMillan and Elizabeth Wyatt. She married John Hager McEwen on August 11, 1850 in Mahaska Co., IA. Contributed by: Sheli Steedman

McEwen, Mary Ellen Grunden – Obituary

The body of Mrs. E. J. McEwen who died in Seattle on Monday [May 23, 1916] after a long illness with pulmonary tuberculosis, arrived in Ellensburg last night and was taken to the parlor of M. L. Bridgham where it will lie until funeral arrangements can be made. Mr. McEwen is in Montreal, and will not be able to get here until Sunday or Monday. Mrs. McEwen, formerly Miss Mary Grunden, was born in Ellensburg and had lived here nearly all of her life, having attended the public schools here. She was 20 years of age, and was married in … Read more

McEwen, Ralph Newell – Obituary

Toppenish—Ralph N. McEwen, 83, died Saturday, April 19, 2003 at his home. He was born November 20, 1919 in Ellensburg, WA to Oscar and Mary McEwen, a pioneer family of the Kittitas Valley. He served in the Army during WWII in the Pacific Theater and was a decorated veteran. He graduated from Ellensburg High School and Ellensburg Normal School (now Central Washington University) receiving his Teachers Degree. He was a teacher and principal at Buena Grade School, McKinley Grade School and Lincoln Grade School all in the Toppenish School District. He was instrumental in the implementation of Bilingual education in … Read more