Washington

Bratton, Sophia R. – Obituary

Bratton Rites Set Saturday Funeral services for Sophia R. Bratton, 56, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Ellensburg. Mrs. Bratton, a former Ellensburg resident, died Wednesday in Seattle. She was born January 16, 1909 in Tacoma and spent her childhood years in Ellensburg. She had lived in Seattle and Tacoma the past 43 years. She is survived by a son, Frank Frost of Chicago, Ill., a brother, W. R. Johnston, Tacoma; a sister, Mrs. Fred Lundstrom of Ellensburg; two half sister, Mrs. Margaret Hinkle of grand Coulee and Mrs. Dorothy Buroker, Renton; a granddaughter, Miss Deborah Frost, Seattle; and … Read more

Nicol, Leva – Obituary

Leva Nicol Is Taken By Death Mrs. Leva Nicol, 71, wife of Robert W. Nicol of 815 E. Ninth Avenue, died this morning in Valley General Hospital. Mrs. Nicol, was born Nov. 22, 1884 in Ottawa, Quebec, and came to Ellensburg 56 years ago. She was married in Ellensburg 34 years ago and lived on a Wilson Creek ranch for 22 years. She and her husband moved from the Wilson creek ranch to their Ninth Avenue home in 1942. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Nicol is survived by a son, William Johnston of Tacoma, and four daughters, Mrs. Rose … Read more

Blair, Sophia Mrs. – Obituary

Kittitas Woman Dies Here This Morning Mrs. Sophia Blair of Kittitas passed away this morning at the Youngberg hospital at the age of 67 years of pneumonia. Mrs. Blair was born at Buckingham, Canada, and came to Ellensburg in 1900, shw was the wife of Lewis Blair, who died here in 1910. They are survived by their children, Mrs. Ira Stillwell, Mrs. Jens Jensen, Mrs. G. R. Johnston, Mrs C. T. Hayes, Lewis Blair all of Ellensburg and Kittitas and Mrs. Joseph Larson of Montlaurier, Canada. The funeral will take place tomorrow from the Bridgham Undertaking parlors at 2:30. The … Read more

Hall, Zumbrunnen Bertha Annen – Obituary

Bertha Zumbrunnen Hall, 91, of Rt. 5, a long-time Kittitas Valley resident, died Monday at Royal Vista Care Center. Mrs. Hall, who was born in Switzerland on Nov. 15, 1892, came to the United States in 1912. On March 16 in that year, she and Victor Zumbrunnen were married on the ranch north of Ellensburg where she spent most of her life. Mr. Zumbrunnen died in January of 1935. In 1942, she married Evert Hall in Yuma, Ariz. They lived for a time in California, Friday Harbor and Aberdeen before returning to the original family ranch north of Ellensburg to … Read more

Uebelacker, Frank – Obituary

Last Sunday afternoon about two o’clock Frank Uebelacker passed away. Mr. Uebelacker was born in Germany 44 years ago, came to America, stopping at Streator, Ills., in 1882; came to Kittitas valley and married Miss Anna Michel, July 16, 1888. To this union nine children were born, eight of whom are living. The funeral was held from St. Andrews church Wednesday at 10 a.m. Frank was born September 1860 and died December 22, 1904. He is buried in Ellensburg in the Holy Cross Cemetery. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Wheeler, Wesley – Obituary

Wesley Wheeler Taken By Death. Wesley Wheeler, 63, died at his home, four miles north of Ellensburg, late this morning, apparently the victim of a heart attack. Wheeler, a native of Ellensburg, had spent his entire life in this area as a farmer. He is survived by his widow, Zelma, a son and two stepsons. His mother, Mrs. Al. L. Wheeler of Ellensburg, and two sisters, Mrs. John Harder of Ellensburg and Mrs. Phil Moran of Seattle, also survive. There is one grandchild. Wheeler’s mother is believed to be the oldest living Kittitas county pioneer. Funeral arrangements are being handled … Read more

Wyatt, Helen Hartwell – Obituary

Mrs. Helen Hartwell Wyatt, 68, a Kittitas valley resident for 31 years, died here Thursday [January 3, 1952] evening at 9 o’clock in the Airway Nursing Home. She had been ill for the past 18 years and had been at the nursing home for the last four years. She is survived by her husband, Arthur Wyatt of Kittitas, whom she married January 12, 1918 at Twin Falls, Idaho. Other surviving relatives include a daughter, Mrs. Lucille Martens of Montesano; three sisters, Mrs. Louie Welles of Los Angeles, California, Mrs. Caroline Patrick of Rogerson, Idaho, and Mrs. Dorothy Gish of Benicia, … Read more

Zumbrunnen, Victor – Obituary

Victor Zumbrunnen, well-known Kittitas valley farmer and stockman, died at his home in the Nanum district last night after a short illness. Born in Switzerland 55 years ago, Mr. Zumbrunnen has been a resident of this valley for the past 34 years, most of that time in the district, where he resided at the time of his death. Surviving are his widow, Bertha; a son, Fred J.; two daughters, Rose and Bertha; and his mother and a brother in Switzerland. Funeral services will be held at the Honeycutt chapel at 1:30 Tuesday afternoon. Victor was born May 5, 1879 in … Read more

Morefield, Anna Marie Morrison – Obituary

After a year of suffering caused by tuberculosis, Mrs. Anna Marie Morefield, 29 years old, passed away this morning [December 2, 1920] at the home of her mother, Mrs. Catharine Morrison, in the Sunnyside Addition. Mrs. Morefield was born March 2, 1891, seven miles east of Ellensburg, and has made her home in the Kittitas valley all of her life. In 1910 she was married to W. R. [William Reecer] Morefield of Ellensburg who survives her. Mrs. Morefield is also survived by two sons, Lynn Harold Davidson, aged nine, and Leverne Morefield, aged one; her mother, Mrs. Catharine Morrison, and … Read more

Rutledge, William Thomas – Obituary

William Thomas Rutledge, 79, died yesterday [died December 13, 1938] at the family residence on North B Street here. He was born in Knoxville, Tenn., September 10, 1859, and was married September 9, 1886, to Mary Harrell, who survives him. He is also survived by two daughters, Mrs. L. E. Wyatt, Kittitas and Mrs. Earl Elmer of Ellensburg; four sons, Ernest and Oscar Rutledge of Ellensburg; Earl Rutledge of Prindle, Wash., and Edgar Rutledge of California; a brother, Rev. S. W. Rutledge of Knoxville, and a sister, Mrs. Bert Childs, of Knoxville. Funeral services will be held at the Honeycutt … Read more

Smathers, Leone Wright – Obituary

Mrs. Leone Smathers, 46, of Omak, former Ellensburg resident, died Wednesday [June 24, 1942] following an operation at Rochester, Minnesota, according to word received here. Funeral services will be held at the Honeycutt chapel here Monday afternoon, June 29, at 1:30 o’clock. Rev. Joseph Greene of the Baptist Church will officiate. Burial will be in the IOOF cemetery. Wife of Lee Smathers, Mrs. Smathers lived in Ellensburg for many years until the family moved to Omak six years ago. In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sisters, Mrs. George Ferguson of Ellensburg and Mrs. Helen La Fan … Read more

Sorenson, Soren Albert – Obituary

Death Takes Al Sorenson, Civic Leader, Veteran Member Of County Board Succumbs Sunday May 8, 1955 Death comes to Soren Albert (Al) Sorenson, 60-year-old member of the Board of Kittitas County Commissioners and one of the county’s most prominent citizens, Sunday afternoon in Sorensen Memorial Hospital here. He had suffered a heart attack Wednesday afternoon. A Kittitas Valley native, active in farm and community affairs throughout his adult life Sorenson was widely known throughout the state and Northwest. Mourned by friends and associates he was eulogized by them as having “always given his best efforts to the interests of Kittitas … Read more

Morrison, Abraham – Obituary

A son of one of the Kittitas Valley’s earliest pioneer families, Abraham David Morrison, died in the Ellensburg General Hospital at 10:30 a.m. today [March 28, 1953], at the age of 69. He had been seriously ill for the past two months and entered the hospital Friday. He was one of seven children of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Morrison, who came to the valley in 1870. He was born on the original Morrison homestead, one mile northeast of the town of Kittitas, and attended the Denmark district school. He married Rose Dorothy Davis of Ellensburg, here, May 18, … Read more

Parsel, Ada Florence Grewell Anderson – Obituary

Mrs. Ada Parsel, 80, at 505½ North Poplar, Ellensburg, died Sunday, Nov. 5 [1972], in Gold Leaf Convalescent Center. Mrs. Parsel was born in Ellensburg, daughter of pioneer parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Clayt Grewell. She and Harry Parsel were married in 1920 at Ellensburg. He died in 1971. She was a member of Thorp Christian Church. Survivors include a son, Harry T. Parsel of Ellensburg; two daughters, Mrs. Cleo McCotter of Thorp, and Mrs. Dorothy Wallace of Sunnyside; seven grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren; a brother, Byron Grewell of Pasco, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins in the … Read more

Sisk, Gladys Morrison – Obituary

Gladys B. Sisk, 84, a lifetime resident passed away on Wednesday, July 27, 1994 at Lakeridge Care Center of Moses Lake, Washington. She was born on August 9, 1909 in Ellensburg, the only daughter of pioneer parents Tom and Lillie (Ferguson) Morrison. Gladys attended Kittitas schools and was on all the girls athletic teams-basketball, baseball, tennis, etc. After graduation in 1928, she enrolled in Success Business College in Seattle. After 7 months at school, she was called home to take care of her ill mother. September 16, 1929 Gladys married Clarence C. (Irish) Sisk and they made their home in … Read more

Smathers, Martha Etlidge – Obituary

Mrs. Martha [Etlidge] Smathers, 85, a resident of Ellensburg for the past 50 years, died in Yakima Friday evening [June 20, 1947]. It was learned here today. A native of Nashville, NC, Mrs. Smathers came here from Goldendale before the turn of the century. She is survived by three sons, Ed and Lee Smathers, both of Omak and John Smathers, Ellensburg A granddaughter, Mrs. George Minton of Ellensburg, and six great grandchildren also survive her. Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Honeycutt-Evenson chapel followed by interment at the IOOF cemetery. The Rev. Paul Deane … Read more

Thomas, James H. – Obituary

James (Tiny) H. Thomas, 5, Rt. 3 Box 88, Ellensburg, died Wednesday at his home following an extended illness [February 2, 1977]. He was born in Ellensburg Feb. 1, 1902, a son of the late W. R. and Bessie Cleveland Thomas. During most of his adult life, he farmed on the home ranch in the Nanum and Wilson Creek area. As a young man, he performed in rodeos in Canada, New York, Chicago and the Northwest and later worked for the McWhorter and Coffin Brothers sheep operation. He shod horses for many years for farmers, ranchers and individuals in the … Read more

Morrison, Thomas Jefferson – Obituary

Tom Morrison Taken By Death, Pioneer Family Member Passes. Thomas Jefferson Morrison, a son of one of the Kittitas Valley’s earliest pioneer families, passed away this morning in the Valley General Hospital at the age of 75 years [April 11, 1953]. He had been in ill health for several years and entered the hospital last Wednesday. He was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Morrison, who came to the Kittitas Valley in 1870. His grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wheeler, who came to the valley in the same year. William Morrison, who was a Civil War … Read more

Phelps, Bessie McEwen – Obituary

Bessie L. Phelps, 87, lifetime Ellensburg area resident, died Monday [November 8, 1976] at a local nursing home. She was born in Ellensburg, Sept. 15, 1889, a daughter of the late James E. and Elizabeth McEwen Ferguson. She attended Dysart School No. 5 in the Fairview district. She and Odie N. Phelps, were married in 1914 (correct date was August 30, 1911) and they operated the Palm Café and Candy Store on Pearl Street for a number of years in partnership with the late Dan Bates. The Phelps lived in Lewiston, Ida. And Portland, Ore. For a time during the … Read more

Smathers, Willie Smith – Obituary

Mrs. Willie F. [Smith] Collins Smathers, 31, died Thursday [January 3, 1952] in Seattle at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Charles L. Miles. She had been ill a short while and went to Seattle three weeks ago. She came to the state of Washington from West Virginia in 1902 with a previous husband and two children. They settled in the Kittitas valley, and she had since made her home here. She became the wife of John E. Smathers of Ellensburg who survives her. Mrs. Smathers is also survived by a son, Frank Collins of Seattle, and five daughters, Mrs. … Read more