Washington

Thomson, Colin P. – Obituary

Death Comes To Colin P. Thomson Colin Petrie Thomson, 58, logger, died at the Ellensburg General hospital last night after an illness of several months [May 4, 1944]. He lived at the Webster hotel. He was born at Ottawa, Canada, May 11, 1885. He is survived by two brothers, James H. of Renton and George of Edmonton, Canada, and a sister, Mrs. Maggie Klock of Ottawa. Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock at the Honeycutt chapel. Burial will be in the I.O.O.F. cemetery. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Cooke, Glen W. – Obituary

Glen W. Cooke, 66, a lifetime resident of Ellensburg, died Friday, September 11, 1992 at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Yakima, after a long illness. Mr. Cooke was the youngest child of Guy and Catherine (Shotwell) Cooke. He lived most of his life within a few miles of his birthplace, on Naneum Road. As a boy he was active in 4-H and FFA. He attended grade and middle school in Kittitas and graduated from Ellensburg High School in 1944. After graduation he served as a aviation cadet in the U. S. Air Force. He then returned home to ranch with … Read more

Hayes, George – Obituary

George Hayes Dies At Pasco, Valley Pioneer Passes Thursday George H. Hayes, 75, a Kittitas Valley pioneer, died Thursday afternoon at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Pasco following an illness of two weeks [died May 31, 1956]. He had made his home in Pasco with a daughter, Mrs. Helen Rombough, for the past year. Hayes was brought to the valley by his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. James T. Hayes. He farmed for many years in the Edgemont District before his retirement. He was a past master of the Kittitas Grange, a charter member of the Ellensburg Moose … Read more

Huss, Edward – Obituary

The funeral of Ed Huss, who was killed by the accidental discharge of his .22 special rifle [May 4, 1917] while shooting magpies on his farm at Fairview yesterday morning at 6 o’clock, was held from the Christian church this afternoon under the direction of the Odd Fellows’ Lodge. A service was held at the home at 1:15 to which all friends of the family and decease were welcomed. The Rev. F. E. Billington read the funeral service at the church. Mrs. Lee Purdin, of London, Oregon, and Mrs. James Roche, of Centralia, sisters of the late Mr. Huss, came … 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

Banister, Sam L. – Obituary

Sam L. Banister, 55, former Ellensburg resident who had resided for several years in Kirkland, died Thursday in Maynard Hospital, Seattle, following a lingering illness. Born in Tieton Aug. 28, 1913, Banister resided in Ellensburg until 1943 when he went to work for Boeing Aircraft Company. He is survived by his wife, Helen at the family home in Kirkland; two sons, Paul and Perry Banister, both in the U.S. navy; a brother, George Banister, Seattle; an aunt, Mrs. Belle Lewis, Yakima; and four cousins, Bertha Longerbeam, son, Cora McEwen and Mrs. Pat Jordin, all of Ellensburg. Funeral arrangements are pending. … Read more

Cooke, Lester Vaner

Lester V. Cooke, 96, of Ellensburg died Thursday in Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. He was born January 27, 1890, in a house on the banks of Coleman Creek north of Ellensburg. He parents were early Kittitas Valley pioneers Mode and Isabella (Fulton) Cooke. After graduating from Ellensburg High School in 1910, Mr. Cooke entered Washington State College, where he received a bachelor of science degree in agriculture in 1914. While attending school he was well known as a sprinter and competed in track events, attaining undefeated status. He married Mary B. Edwards in Drain, Oregon, in 1917, and they farmed … Read more

Hayes, Matilda Curtis – Obituary

Matilda (Tillie) Hayes, 92, died at a local nursing home Friday. She was the daughter of valley pioneers Mr. and Mrs. James Curtis. Born November 16, 1879, at the site where Kittitas now stands, she married James J. Hayes, January 29, 1899, and she lived in the Denmark-Badger Pocket area until five years ago when she moved to Ellensburg to live with her daughter, Mrs. Velma Casey, 105 S. Ruby. She is survived by a son, James A. Hayes, Ellensburg, two daughters, Mrs. Hazel Indermuhle and Mrs. Casey, both of Ellensburg, seven grandchildren, twenty-four great grandchildren, ten great-great grandchildren, and … Read more

Maxson, Thelma Ferguson – Obituary

Thelma Ferguson Maxson, 80, of Ellensburg, died Monday at Royal Vista Care Center following a lingering illness [died February 13, 1990]. She was born in Ellensburg on October 23, 1909, one of two daughters of George H. and Mayme (Wyatt) Ferguson. She and John Maxson were married in Tacoma in 1935. they lived in various locations throughout the United States until 1983 when they returned to Ellensburg to make their permanent home. Survivors include her husband, John Maxson, of Ellensburg; and her sister, Phyllis Gage, of Ellensburg. No public service is planned. Family suggests memorials to charity of donors’ choice. … 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

Cooke, Daniel R. – Obituary

Daniel R. Cooke, 32, died Dec. 28, [1991] in Youngstown, Ohio. He was born May 26, 1959 in Seattle. He attended grade and middle schools in Ellensburg, graduating from Kittitas High School in 1977. He played baseball and football on the KHS teams. Since graduation he has been driving moving vans for Mayflower and United Van Lines. He was a member of Grace Episcopal Church. He is survived by his daughter, Diana Allemand; and his parents, Glen and Sally Cooke, all of Ellensburg; a sister Glenda Sederstrom, his sister and brother-in-law Mary and Bill Pettit, three nieces and one nephew, … Read more

Hayes, Nancy Fortney – Obituary

Mrs. Nancy Hayes, Pioneer, Passes/Valley Resident For 59 Years Dies; Many Descendents Mrs. Nancy E. Hayes, 83-year-old Kittitas valley pioneer, died at the Valley hospital yesterday [died March 19, 1941]. She was the widow of the late James T. Hayes, and had lived in the Kittitas valley since 1882. Mrs. Hayes was born in Missouri, March 14, 1858. She was married in 1876. She leaves 64 descendents. She is survived by seven children: J. J. Hayes of Badger Pocket; George Hayes of Sunnyside; Abe Hayes of Kittitas; and Mrs. Lou Bender, Mrs. H. P. Willis, C. P. Hayes and H. … Read more

Hayes, Lydia Montgomery – Obituary

Mrs. Geo Hayes Passes Today At Broadview Home Mrs. Lydia Hayes wife of George Hayes, passed away at her home in the Broadview district this morning [August 1, 1934]. She had been ill for several months but her death comes as a great shock to her family and many friends. She was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Montgomery and was born September 3, 1887. With the exception of about 13 years, Mrs. Hayes spent her entire life on the home farm where she passed away, eight of which were spent in the Yakima Valley. She … Read more

Michels, Henry – Obituary

Henry J. Michels, 69, Kittitas valley pioneer and widely known Westside farmer, died at the Valley General Hospital yesterday afternoon [died October 12, 1943]. Born in St. James, Minn., he came to the valley with his parents in 1882 and had resided here 61 years. He was educated in the Ellensburg schools and was married here May 22, 1900, to Miss Anna Olding, likewise a member of an early pioneer valley family. With the exception of a few years when he was in the drayage business in Ellensburg, he operated a farm on the Westside. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. … Read more

Cooke, Charles P. – Obituary

Charles P. Cooke, 80, native Fairview district farmer and stockman, died Tuesday at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. He was born in Ellensburg on Feb. 10, 1892. His father, Mode D. Coke, came as a small child with his parents in 1871 from the New England states, through Independence, Ore., and Yakima. They were among the first settlers in the valley. Survivors include two brothers, Lester Cooke of Ellensburg and Frank Cooke of Prescott, Arizona; one sister, Mrs. Edna Dawes of Ellensburg. Funeral services are Friday, 1 p.m. Evenson’s Chapel, the Rev. Donald Meekhof officiating. Burial in IOOF cemetery. Charles parents … Read more

Cooke, Edward V. – Obituary

Edward V. Cooke, 84, long-time Ellensburg resident, died at a local nursing home Wednesday. Born May 4, 1888 in Ellensburg, he was son of pioneer family, Father was C. P. Cooke, Mother Verenda Wheeler, whose parents were early-day settlers here in the valley. He was married to Ada Rich 1908, in the Fairview District. They moved to Yakima, where he learned the plastering trade and later went into contracting. He lived in Portland, Ore., and Stockton, Calif. and returned to Yakima and later moved back to Ellensburg, where they purchased a home o Rt. 3, and lived until his retirement. … Read more

Benz, Gladys McEwen – Obituary

Gladys Benz, 81, of 521 N. Date St., Toppenish, died Tuesday in Central Memorial Hospital. She was born Oct. 19, 1901, in Ellensburg to Oscar and Ella McEwen. Mrs. Benz was raised by Lou and Martha Evans and lived in the Toppenish area 72 years. She married Paul Benz in Seattle April 4, 1923, and they recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Mrs. Benz had been a manager for Wheeler Electric Co. for 30 years. Survivors include her husband, Paul Benz of Toppenish; a daughter, Patricia Ann Aaker of Boulder, Colo; two sons, Paul Benz Jr. of Yakima and Lou … Read more

Cooke, Cora Parmeter – Obituary

Mrs. Cora Cooke, 80, died Saturday in a local rest home. Born July 1, 1890 in Ohio, she was married to Henry D. Cooke on June 17, 1911 at Ellensburg. They farmed in the Fairview District for many years. He preceded her in death on July 2, 1951. She made her home at 1007 E. 8th Ave., prior to entering a nursing home 10 years ago. Survivors include two brothers-in-law, Carl and Ed Cooke of Ellensburg; two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Margaret Gillis of Kittitas and Mrs. Susan Huss of Ellensburg; a number of nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held … Read more

Cooke, Ella Harrel – Obituary

Ella Cooke, 96, died Saturday, April 19, 1997 at the Masonic Retirement Center in Des Moines, Wash., where she has been a resident for 9 years. She was born Jan. 1, 1901 in Hawkins County, Tenn. She came to the Ellensburg Valley with her parents, Edward and Julia Harrel, as a small child. She and her husband, Budd Cooke who preceded her in death, lived in the Colockum Pass area north of Ellensburg for over 40 years. She loved to do crafts and handiwork. Before her move to the coast, she belonged to Jolly Neighbors and to the Country Mothers … Read more

Cooke, Abraham Lincoln – Obituary

Abe L. Cooke Dies in Seattle Abe L. Cooke, 47, of Yakima, a former Ellensburg resident and a veteran of the first World War, died Wednesday in the Marine hospital in Seattle after an illness of several months. He was born April 27, 1897, at Coberg, Ore., the son of Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Cooke, Kittitas valley pioneers. The Cooke family returned to this valley while he was still an infant and he received his education in valley schools. He served with a National Guard company which was sent to patrol the Mexican border in the fall of 1916. … Read more