Washington

Cooke, Henry Daniel – Obituary

Henry Daniel Cooke, 69, descendant of two pioneer families of this area, died at his home in Fairview district at about 1 a.m. today [July 2, 1951]. He had lived in Kittitas valley most of his life and farmed at the present Cooke place in the Farview district for the past 16 years. He was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. E. [Edward] Ward Cooke. His grandparents were the pioneers, Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Cooke and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wheeler. Henry Cooke was born here December 4, 1881. In the fall of 1887, his parents built … Read more

Cooke, Morand – Obituary

Mode Cooke, 88, Valley Pioneer, Taken By Death Widely Known Fairview Farmer Resided Here 75 Years Death yesterday took Morand D. (Mode) Cooke, 88, in the Kittitas valley’s oldest pioneer in point of years and the last remaining member of one of the Northwest’s pioneer families. He died at his home in the Fairview district, where he had lived for 74 years, yesterday afternoon [died September 2, 1945]. A son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Cooke, Oregon and Washington pioneers, he came to the Kittitas valley with his parents in 1871. At his death he made his … Read more

Covey, Harry – Obituary

Harry George Covey, 88, died this morning at the Sorensen Memorial Hospital, where he has been receiving treatment for the past six years [died March 28, 1953]. Covey was born August 7, 1864, at Poplar Grove, Ill. He lived there until 1885, when he moved to Montana, and came to Washington following the death of his wife, Mrs. Bertha Covey, in 1907. Covey had lived in Kittitas County for more than 25 years, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ward Simons, in Ellensburg, and with his son, Harry O. Covey, in Cle Elum. Other survivors are three daughters, Mrs. … Read more

Curtis, Samantha Wheeler – Obituary

Mrs. Samantha Ann Curtis, 79, valley pioneer, passed away at the home of her brother, Abe Wheeler, near Kittitas, last night [died March 12, 1934]. Mrs. Curtis came here in 1871 and has resided since that time in the valley with the exception of a few years spent at Okanogan. She was married to Mr. Curtis here in 1875 but was widowed in 1923 by his death. She leaves four children, Mrs. Etta Vaughn, Mrs. Mae Goldberg, Wesley Curtis, all of Brewster, and Mrs. Tillie Hayes, Kittitas. There are 27 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held … Read more

Cowell, Thomas – Obituary

Well Known Badger Pocket Farmer Dies Of Heart Attack Thomas E. Cowell, 65, widely-known Kittitas valley farmer died suddenly this morning [November 21, 1945] at his home in Badger Rocket, presumably from a heart attack. A resident of the valley since the early part of the century, he was married to Ida Cook, who survives him, in 1910. They have resided in the Fairview and Badger Pocket districts since that time. Besides his wife he is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Clara Charlton of Ellensburg; a son, Elwin, recently discharged from the Army; two grandchildren; a brother, Willis Cowell of … Read more

Dixon, Elmer H. – Obituary

Elmer H. Dixon Dies Yesterday. Former Ellensburg Man Succumbs To Pneumonia In Yakima. Ellensburg friends and relatives of Elmer H. Dixon, 44, of Sunnyside were shocked today to learn of his death yesterday in St. Elizabeth’s hospital in Yakima of pneumonia, following a tonsil operation [died August 7, 1936]. Mr. Dixon was born on a farm near Ellensburg on January 10, 1892. He spent his boyhood and early manhood here, graduating from Ellensburg High School and the Normal school. He attended the University of Washington and Washington State College. For several years he was a teacher and athletic coach, then … Read more

Cooke, Virinda Wheeler

Mrs. Ward Cooke, of East Kittitas, and who has been seriously indisposed for some time, died Thursday forenoon. The funeral takes place in the forenoon at the residence and the burial at 1 p.m., Saturday, in the I.O.O.F. cemetery. The grief stricken husband and family have the sympathy of a wide circle of friends. Virinda was the daughter of Charles Wheeler and Mariah Fry. She was born February 23, 1861 in Yelm, WA and died August 2, 1906. Virinda married Edward Ward Cooke in 1878. She was the mother of 12 children.

Curtis, Rosetta Carver – Obituary

Mrs. G. Carver, Valley Pioneer, Expires Today Resident Here Since 1876; Passes At Age Of 77 After Long Illness Mrs. George W. Carver passed away at her home at 9 o’clock this morning [November 14, 1930] following a long illness and after being bedfast for more than three months, at the age of 77 years. Mrs. Carver was one of the earliest pioneers of the Kittitas valley, coming here in 1876. Rosetta Curtis was born in Macomb County, Michigan, January 3, 1853. She was married to George W. Carver at Cottonwood Springs, Nebraska, on March 6, 1869. Homestead on Nanum. … Read more

Dixon, Elwood J. – Obituary

Resident Here Since 1882, Former Mail Carrier Dies Sunday. Death came to another pioneer resident of the Kittitas valley here Sunday when Elwood J. Dixon, 82, died at the Ellensburg General hospital following a major operation [died May 9, 1937]. A resident of this valley since 1882, and one of the earliest rural mail carriers here, Mr. Dixon was widely known throughout this section. He was born in Fulton County, Illinois, on October 3, 1854 and came west to Vancouver, W., with his parents [John Wesley Dixon and Sarah E. Smith] when he was 24 years old. The family came … Read more

Ferrier, Ida Abbott – Obituary

Sudden Death of Mrs. E. L. Ferrier. Mrs. E. L. Ferrier died suddenly at her home in the north end on Wednesday. She had been an invalid for several years, but since coming here about a year ago, she had felt much better, but a hard cold quickly prostrated her and she passed away before it was realized how dangerous her condition was. The stricken husband and children have much sympathy in their hour of affliction. It is interesting that they obit doesn’t even give her first name, Ida. She was born September 25, 1865, Minnesota. Ida died in Ellensburg … Read more

Ferguson, George H. – Obituary

George H. Ferguson, 91, died at Haven House Monday. He was born April 30, 1882 in the Nanum district, son of James Ferguson and Elizabeth McEwen Ferguson. He was married to Marie Wright, Feb. 11, 1936 at Ellensburg and has farmed just east of Ellensburg since 1910. He is survived by his wife, Marie, three daughters, Mrs. Thelma (John) Maxson of Bellevue, Mrs. Phyllis (Clifford) Gage of Ellensburg, and Mrs. Sandra (Gary) Reppe of Fountain Valley, California; and one step son, Ace Gage of Ellensburg, seven grandchildren; a brother, Ben Ferguson of Ellensburg; and a sister Mrs. Bessie Phelps of … Read more

Gage, Asa – Obituary

Ace W. Gage [Asa], 72, of 911 E. Washington Ave., died Tuesday morning at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital [died February 19, 1985]. He was born in Ellensburg on Dec. 1, 1912. Mr. Gage attended local schools, served for a time in the Merchant Marine and worked for Twin City Foods. Before retiring in 1982, he was manager of the local Eagles Lodge. He was a member of the Eagles and Moose lodges. Survivors include his wife, the former May (Moffet) Mitchell, whom he married at Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on June 6, 1972; a grandson, LeRoy Mitchell, of Wilbur; a niece, … Read more

Hayes, George W. – Obituary

Heart Trouble Fatal To Youth, George W. Hayes, 20, Born In Ellensburg, Succumbs Last Night. George Wesley Hayes, 20, son of Mr. and Mr. J. J. Hayes, died Wednesday evening at 8 o’clock at the home of his uncle, Harry K. Hayes at 14th and Water streets. He had been ill for a year with heart trouble. The deceased leaves, in addition to his parents, two sisters and two brothers, Mrs. Martin Indermuhle of Meridian, Idaho; and Velma, Earl and James Hayes of Ellensburg. He was born in Ellensburg Feb. 15, 1904. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 2 … Read more

Ferguson, Nora Wyat – Obituary

Nora E. Ferguson, 78, well-known pioneer resident of Kittitas Valley, died Tuesday [January 23, 1968] at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. Born Feb. 3, 1889, in Shelton, she came to the Valley as a small child with her parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Felix G. Wyatt. In 1912 (November 4) in Ellensburg, she was married to Ben F. Ferguson, who survives her. The couple farmed on the old Ferguson ranch on Ferguson Road, east of Ellensburg. In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, Budd Ferguson, Ellensburg; two daughters, Mrs. Robert Cooke and Mrs. James Thomas, both … Read more

Gore, Etta McEwen – Obituary

Rev. Floyd Brown of the First Baptist church conducted funeral services Tuesday afternoon for Mrs. Etta McEwen Gore, who passed away Friday after a short illness. Mrs. Gore was born here on March 6, 1873, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. McEwen and third white child born in the valley [Kittitas Valley]. In 1888 [10-13-1889] she married William Lee and after some years wed Wilfred A. Gore, who died in 1916 [7-27-1918]. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Harry T. Logsden of Texas City, Tex.; her sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Ferguson of Ellensburg and Mrs. A. L. Wheeler [Laura]. Etta divorced … Read more

Harris, Giles P. – Obituary

Giles P. Harris Expires Sunday, Resident of Valley for 53 years; Funeral to be held Wednesday. Giles P. Harris, age 60, who has been a resident of the Kittitas valley for 53 years died at the Ellensburg General hospital Sunday evening. Mr. Harris was born in Gilestown, Iowa, March 10, 1871. When he was small, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Thomas Harris, moved to California and about two years later moved to Oregon where they remained until they moved to Ellensburg in 1878. His father took the homestead on what is now known as the George Snodgrass place. In … Read more

Rutledge, Mary Palmer – Obituary

Mary M. Palmer Rutledge, 86, widow of the late S. C. Rutledge, died at the home of her granddaughter, Mrs. A. W. Welch, 410 Island Home, yesterday afternoon at 12:45 o’clock. Mrs. Rutledge was born in Hawkins County, Tennessee, November 23, 1839. She was converted and became a member of the Baptist Church at the age of 13 and lived a consistent life for 72 years. She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. G. A. Toomey, Miami, Fla., and Mrs. A. O. Child, Powell’s Station; three sons W. T. Rutledge, Thorp, State of Washington; John M. Rutledge, Knoxville, and S. … Read more

Ferguson, Elizabeth McEwen – Obituary

Death Comes To Mrs. Ferguson/Valley’s Oldest Pioneer Passes Only four months short of attaining her 100th birthday, Mrs. Elizabeth (Grandma) Ferguson, who was the oldest pioneer woman living in the Kittitas valley, died this morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lottie Ferguson Harris, at 302 E. Fourth street here [March 24, 1951]. She died at 2:10 a.m. She was a daughter of a pioneer family, as well as being a pioneer herself. She came across the plains in 1860 with her family, making the six-month trip when a girl 9 years old. Grandma Ferguson was born Elizabeth McEwen … Read more

Ferguson, Benjamin Franklin – Obituary

Benjamin Franklin Ferguson, 93, a lifetime resident of the Ferguson Road are east of Ellensburg, died Saturday at a local nursing home. He was born July 14, 1886, a son of the late James and Elizabeth Ferguson, who settled in the area in 1872. They came here from Shelton. He attended Dysart Rural School No. 5. He and Nora Wyatt were married March 4, 1912. She preceded him in death Jan. 23, 1968. He retired from active farming in 1977. He had been affiliated with the Baptist Church. He is survived by a son, Bud Ferguson, and two daughters, Gwendolyn … Read more

Ferrier, Jess – Obituary

Jess Ferrier, 67, well known retired Ellensburg contractor, died in a local hospital [October 6, 1948] yesterday afternoon. He had been in failing health for some time. A resident of Ellensburg nearly half a century, Ferrier came here in 1901. He was engaged in the construction and house-moving business for many years. Mrs. Ferrier died four years ago. He is survived by a sister, Mrs. Stella McDebitt of Spokane. Funeral arrangements have not been completed.