Washington

Champ, Mary Layton – Obituary

Death came to Mrs. Champ, 87, Wednesday [November 22, 1944] at her home, 802 South Gold Street, in Centralia. She was born on Layton Prairie, March 18, 1857, and had resided here the past 16 years. Surviving are five children, 12 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren. The children are James Champ and Mrs. Louisa Gowen, Centralia; Mrs. Catherine Snodgrass and Mrs. Viola Lampitt, in California, and Mrs. Dora Baker, in Arizona. Funeral services have been set for Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Pontious-Cattermole chapel. The Rev. Erle Howell will officiate, and burial will be in the Winlock Cemetery. Contributed by: … Read more

Anderson, Lora Myrtle Eells – Obituary

Lora (Polly), 77, Chehalis, passed away August 1 [1958] in a local hospital. She was born in Toledo on January 28, 1881, and had been a resident of Lewis County for her entire lifetime. Surviving is a grandson, Gordon Anderson, in California; a nephew, Wallace Champ, Winlock. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the Boone Chapel with Rev. Fred T. Lucas officiating. Interment in Winlock Cemetery. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Anderson, August – Obituary

Gus Anderson, 65, one of southwest Washington’s best known hop growers, died at his home at Klaber Saturday evening [January 4, 1936]. Mr. Anderson was born in Hallsberg, Sweden, November 4, 1870. He came to the United States in 1893 as a young man and had resided in this section 26 years. For many years he was superintendent of the hop yard of the Herman Klaber Company at Klaber, rated the largest in Washington, and was a real expert in the growing and handling of that crop. Previously he worked at the hop game at Chehalis for Carl Motter 5 … Read more

Layton, Marie Belle – Obituary

Marie Belle Layton, 101, Toledo, died Friday, March 23, 2007. Visitation will be from 1 to 7 p. m. Friday at Fir Lawn Funeral Chapel, Toledo, which is in charge of arrangements. Funeral will be held at 11 a. m. Saturday at Fir Lawn Funeral Chapel. [Wife of Oren Layton. Interment Lone Hill Cemetery] The Chronicle, March 26, 2007 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Grewell, Purdy Thomas – Obituary

Purdy T. Grewell, 68, York, died Sunday [January 24, 1971] at St. John’s Catholic Hospital following an extended illness. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Haglers Funeral Chapel with burial in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Grewell was born August 9, 1903 in Mabton, Wash. and attended schools there. He was employed as a heavy equipment operator on airports and general construction for several years. He resided in York since 1953 and was a member of Operating Engineer Local No. 400. Survivors include his widow, Elnora [Smith] , three sons, Tom and Clayton of Helena and John of … Read more

Spalding, Minnie Elizabeth Bonner – Obituary

Longtime Helena resident Minnie E. (Peg) Spalding of 912 Park Lane, died early today [March 30, 1981] at St. Peter’s Community Hospital. She was 74. She came to Helena in 1925. Mrs. Spalding had worked for the Internal Revenue Service and the State Department of Income Tax. She retired in 1962. She was born on December 28, 1906 in Alhambra to Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Bonner. She attended schools in Townsend and graduated from high school at Spokane, Wash. She married Charles A. Spalding on July 3, 1926 in Boulder. Mrs. Spalding was a member of the Josephine Hepner Chapter … Read more

Basse, Wilhelmina Isaacson Jacobson – Obituary

Funeral rites for Mrs. Wilhelmina Basi [Basse] were held last Saturday, November 30, in the Finnish Lutheran Church at Centerville, conducted by Rev. C. J. Sacarisen, of Portland. The organist was Charles Isakson, and singers were Mrs. Kenneth Nelson and Miss Louise Hoikka. Pall bearers were Frank Sarsfield, Jack Mulligan, Ernest Mattson, Hilmer Erickson, Otis Anderson, and Walter Lande. Interment was in the Centerville Grange Cemetery. Mrs. Basi, wife of Wilhelm Basi, passed away Thanksgiving morning in the Goldendale General Hospital, at the age of 74 years and ten months. She was born in Kuttanen, Sweden and came to America … Read more

Wiidanen, Charles – Obituary

Funeral services were conducted at the Phillips Funeral Home Monday afternoon for Charles Wiidanen, pioneer Centerville resident. Interment was made in the Centerville Grange Cemetery with committal services by the Centerville Grange. Rev. J. A. Dunn was officiating minister at the rites. Wiidanen was born April 21, 1877 in Calumet, Michigan and died at the Klickitat Valley Hospital, November 28 at the age of 75. He was the oldest son of Andrew and Amanda Holm Wiidanen and was six months old when he and his parents arrived in the Klickitat Valley. They came by train to California and by boat … Read more

Sisk, Audrey Leville Swan – Obituary

Mrs. Audrey L. Sisk, daughter of a pioneer valley resident died last night at the Valley General Hospital after being hospitalized 13 days. She was born April 1, 1882 in Olympia and came here in 1898 with her father Thomas Swan who crossed Snoqualmie Pass by horse-drawn wagon. The family homesteaded the ranch in the Reecer Creek area which is now the Dunbar-Marriott ranch. She was married to Charles T. Sisk, July 17, 1901, and they moved to the Wenas District where they ranched until 1922 when they returned to the Kittitas Valley. Sisk preceded his wife in death, Feb. … Read more

Schnebly, Philip Dorse – Obituary

Philip Dorse Schnebly, 84, longtime Fairview District rancher and member of a pioneer Kittitas Valley family, died Wednesday [April 17, 1968] in Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. He was born July 19, 1883, in the Fairview District, the son of pioneer residents, Mr. and Mrs. Philip Henry Schnebly. He attended the Fairview and Nanum grade schools, a prep school in Ellensburg and continued his studies at Washington State College. On June 19, 1919 in Bellingham, Mr. Schnebly was married to Gertrude Mosier, who preceded him in death on Jan. 22, 1953. He had operated and resided on his Fairview ranch the … Read more

Paul, Jean Eliza Schnebly – Obituary

Native Ellensburg resident Jean E. Paul, 95, died Wednesday [November 3, 1982] at Gold Leaf Nursing Home where she had lived for the past seven years. She was born Feb. 14, 1887-a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. P. H. Schnebly. She attended local schools, Ellensburg Normal School and obtained a registered nursing degree from Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland, Ore. She and John H. Paul were married in Ellensburg on Sept. 3, 1912. Except for seven years, when they homesteaded in Alberta, Canada, the couple made their home in the Ellensburg area, Mr. Paul died May 19, 1975. … Read more

Grunden, John William – Obituary

John W. Grunden, 94, an Ellensburg native, died Saturday [June 26] at the Goldleaf Nursing Home where he had lived for the past 10 years. He was born on Oct. 12, 1887 in rural Ellensburg, a son of the late Elof and Selma (Jacobsen) Grunden. He served in the army during World War I. Mr. Grunden had worked in the hay bailing business as a pressman and foreman of the bailer crew. With the exception of 10 years in Toppenish, he had spent his entire life in the Kittitas Valley. Survivors include a brother, Glenn Grunden of Ellensburg; and three … Read more

Wyatt, Lester Jay – Obituary

Lester Jay Wyatt, 27, teacher and head basketball coach of Hanford High School, died Tuesday [November 1, 1982] at his home in Richland. He was born in Ellensburg on Dec. 31, 1954, the only son of Marvin and Kathryn Wyatt of Ellensburg. He graduated from Ellensburg High School in 1973 and from Central Washington University in 1977 with a degree in education. Mr. Wyatt taught and coached for one year at Tonasket High School. Since 1979 he had been a teacher and coach at Hanford High. Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Wyatt of Ellensburg; a sister, Mrs. … Read more

Wright, Ems Walter – Obituary

Funeral services will be held at the Shaw & Sons Funeral Home in Yakima, Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. for Ems Walter Wright, 52, Yakima barber and a former Ellensburg resident. Interment will be in Terrace Heights Cemetery there. Wright was found dead in his automobile Sunday about 36 miles north of Yakima on the Wenas Road. Yakima County Corner Dr. Ralph W. Shirey said the death was a suicide caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. A garden hose was attached to the car’s exhaust and looped into a window. A fisherman, John Jackson of Ellensburg, spotted the car parked in brush … Read more

Fortney, Jefferson S. – Obituary

Jefferson S. Fortney, 85, former valley resident, died Sunday [December 17] at Yucaipa, Calif. He was born Aug. 29, 1893, east of Kittitas in an area known as Warm Springs. He is the son of the late Levi and Julia Hayes Fortney. He married Alice Anderson in Ellensburg in 1913. He was employed by the Milwaukee Railroad in 1915 and worked as a section foreman and superintendent of the Extra Gang. He moved to Tacoma in 1930 and retired in 1958. He was preceded in death by his wife, July 23, 1962 in Tacoma. He moved to California in 1968. … Read more

Cates, Jesse – Obituary

Jesse Cates, 79, well-known Ellensburg resident for a quarter of a century, died at the Valley Hospital last night. He was born in Campbell County, Tennessee, August 27, 1858, and was married to Nannie Harrell of Rogersville, Tenn., February 28, 1904. For many years he was a federal revenue inspector in Tennessee. He had lived in the valley since 1913, residing at 301 Washington Street. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Nannie Cates; a daughter, Mrs. Fannie Baker of Knoxville, Tenn., a grandson, and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at … Read more

Bull, John Alva – Obituary

John Alva Bull, 78, died suddenly at his home on Route 5, Saturday [September 20]. Bull was born at the family farm, September 10, 1891 to Walter A. and Rebecca Bull and spent his entire life in the Kittitas Valley. He graduated from the local school and attended the University of Washington where he studied law. On Dec. 24, 1915 in Salt Lake City, he married Margaret Porter whom he had met while both where students of the University. Since their marriage they have made their home on Route 5 on the farm his mother, Rebecca Nelson [Bull], had homesteaded. … Read more

Bradshaw, Pearl Catlin – Obituary

Mrs. Frank H. Bradshaw, 59, passed away at her home at 408 North Kittitas Street last evening of a heart attack following a protracted illness. Pearl Catlin Bradshaw was born in Ellensburg, November 16, 1873, and on June 9, 1905 was married to Frank H. Bradshaw, who survives her. She leaves five children, all of whom are present except John F. Bradshaw, who is an assayist for a gold mining company in Baguio, Philippine Islands; Charles A. and Paul R. of Ellensburg; Maud, a teacher in Montesano; and Mrs. Dennis Dinchen of Sedro Woolley and a brother, Claude. Funeral services … Read more

Rader, Margaret Chance – Obituary

On Sunday Oct. 26th the gentle spirit of Margaret Rader passed to the land where pain is not, neither sorrow nor death, age 73. She was the mother of ten children, seven of whom are still living, two sons in the Methow Valley, one of whom had just been down to see her, one daughter in California. Her husband died about two years ago and from that day on never saw a well day. After his death, she made her home with Mrs. Rose Huss, but when able she visited around a week or two with each of her children … Read more

Wippel, Frederick – Obituary

Fred Wippel, 72, a Kittitas Valley resident since 1901, died Monday [December 9, 1940] from a heart ailment. Fred Wippel was born in Sunman, Indiana in 1868, and spent his early years in that state. He married Kathryn Renyer in Topeka, Kansas, in 1901 and came to Ellensburg shortly afterwards. He joined his brothers, Simon P. and Peter Wippel in the operation of a creamery for six years when he retired to farm on his present Woldale property which he has operated since that time. Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons, Clarence Wippel of Ellensburg and Rev. … Read more