Washington

Hayes, James Thomas – Obituary

James T. Hayes, Kittitas Valley pioneer, passed away at his home Friday, May 24 [1935], at the age of 79 years and one day. He was born in Iowa, May 23, 1856, and came to this valley 52 years ago and has remained here since that time. Besides his widow to whom he was married 59 years ago he is survived by seven children, three brothers, and one sister. The children include John, George, Abe, Clarence, Harry, Mrs. Louis Bender and Mrs. Dora Willis, all of this city. The brothers are Sam and William of Ellensburg and Milo of Idaho … Read more

Godbey, Bertha Looney Brown – Obituary

Bertha M. Godbey, 95, a longtime Ellensburg resident, died Friday [September 19, 1986] evening at Gold Leaf Convalescent Home. She was born in Hawkins, Tenn., on Dec. 15, 1890, a daughter of John P. and Phoebe (Derrick) Looney. She and Bert Godbey were married in Yakima on Aug. 22, 1936. The family home was at 504 S. Pearl St. for more than 50 years. Her husband preceded her in death in 1968. Survivors include a niece, Mrs. Jim Wallace, of Wenatchee. Funeral will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at the IOOF Cemetery. Friends who wish to attend may meet at the … Read more

Godbey, Bert – Obituary

Funeral services for Bert (Bertie) Godbey, 95, longtime Ellensburg resident, who died Friday [December 27, 1968] at Bernath Nursing Home, will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Evenson Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Maurice Swisher will officiate. Interment will be in the IOOF Cemetery. Born April 13, 1893 in Kearney, Neb., Godbey was a veteran of army service in World War I. He came to Ellensburg from Nebraska in 1932 an was married to Bertha Looney Aug. 22, 1936 in Yakima. Godbey followed the cement finisher’s trade. Surviving are his wife, Bertha at the family home, 504 S. Pearl; … Read more

Fortney, Levi J. – Obituary

Levi J. Fortney Called By Death. Retired Farmer Had Been Resident Of County For 41 Years. Levi Jackson Fortney, aged 66, died last evening at his residence on East Eleventh Street. He was born in Decatur, Iowa, he came to Kittitas County 41 years ago, and had resided in Ellensburg for the past 26 years. He was a retired farmer. Mr. Fortney is survived by his wife, four daughters, Mrs. H. S. Floyd of Toppenish, Mrs. W. A. Horn of Myrtle Point, Ore., Mrs. L. B. Horn of Selah and Mrs. J. D. Shelton of Ellensburg; also a son, Jefferson … Read more

Schnebly, Blanche Lorraine – Obituary

Blanche Lorraine Schnebly, 85, of Ellensburg passed away on Monday, April 1, 1996 at Royal Vista Care Center in Ellensburg. She was born on November 4, 1910 in Ellensburg, Washington, a daughter of Joseph Jay and Elizabeth (Barnhart) Schnebly. Lorraine is a graduate of Ellensburg High School, of St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing, Spokane, Washington and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from the University of Washington, Seattle. For eight years she served as Director of the School of Nursing and Nursing Services at the British American Hospital in Lima, Peru. During World War II, she was … Read more

Schnebly, Frederick Dorsey – Obituary

Fred Dorsey Schnebly, little son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred C. Schnebly of the Fairview District, passed away at 4 o’clock this morning of pneumonia, following an illness of 10 days. The lad would have been 10 years old next Monday. He attended the Lower Nanum School. He is survived, besides his parents, by a brother, Henry, and two sisters, Wanita and Loila. Funeral services will be held from the family residence at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Rev. E. Leslie Rolls, pastor of Grace Church will officiate.

Schnebly, Elsie Winifred Hodgson – Obituary

Elsie Schnebly, 98, passed away Sept. 6, 1994 in Ellensburg. She was the daughter of Thomas and Anna (Schwartz) Hodgson. Mrs. Schnebly was born in Zillah on Feb. 8, 1896. She moved with her family to Roslyn later that year and in 1900 the family moved to Ellensburg. She graduated from Ellensburg High School in 1913 and attended the Normal School. She taught in rural schools in Kittitas County: Tarpiscon School in 1914-15 and the Sunset School 1915-1916. She taught at the Fairview School 1916-17. On June 5, 1917, Elsie married Frank B. Schnebly and they ran a cattle ranch … Read more

Schnebly, Dorse D. – Obituary

Dorse D. Schnebly, long time valley rancher, passed away early today February 21, 1967 at the Kittitas Valley Memorial Hospital. He was 81. He was born Feb. 2, 1886 in Walla Walla and came to the Kittitas Valley at the age of 2 with his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Schnebly. Mr. Schnebly married the former Stella Barnhart Nov. 16, 1910 and they made their home and ranched in the Fairview District until his retirement in 1962. He was a member of the First Methodist Church, a Charter Member of the Kittitas County Farm Bureau, and a … Read more

Robertson, Mary Virginia Morrison – Obituary

Mrs. J. W. Robertson departed this life May 1, 1903, aged 23 years, 11 months, and 19 days. Mrs. Robertson was born in Ellensburg, May 11, 1879, and lived there till June 2, 1899, when she went to Tacoma, and after a short time was married to J. W. Robertson and resided there until her death. She was a loving wife and a devoted mother, and was beloved by all who knew her. She leaves a husband, one child, four brothers, a sister, a mother and father an many friends, and relatives to mourn their loss. When our earthly life … Read more

Phelps, Odie N. – Obituary

Services at the IOOF Cemetery will take place at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday for Odie N. Phelps, former Ellensburg resident who died Friday March 13, 1959 in Seattle. He has lived in Seattle for the past 16 years. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth of Seattle, a son, Frank Phelps of Ellensburg, a brother, Gilbert of Seattle and four grandchildren. Odie was the son of William B. Phelps and Mary Smith. He was married to Bessie Lee Ferguson.

Morrison, Lillie Dell Ferguson – Obituary

Marking the passing of another of Kittitas Valley’s pioneers was the death Sunday of Mrs. Lillie Morrison at the age of 75 March 6, 1960. She was born in Ellensburg, Jan. 1885, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Ferguson, who had come to the valley in 1871. Lillie Ferguson was married to Thomas Morrison July 3, 1903, at Ellensburg and they made their home one half mile north of Kittitas. Here they resided until Mr. Morrison died in 1953. Mrs. Morrison moved to the home of her daughter, Mrs. (Gladys) Clarence Sisk on Route 2 and where she led … Read more

Morrison, Catherine Wheeler – Obituary

The death of Mrs. Catherine Morrison, aged 69, who has lived in the Kittitas Valley for 55 years, occurred today September 24, 1928. Mrs. Morrison leaves a number of friends and relatives in the valley. She is survived by her sons, T. J. Morrison, William Morrison, Abe Morrison, Grant Morrison; her sister, Mrs. Samantha Curtis; her brother, Abe Wheeler, and 11 grandchildren. The funeral will take place on Wednesday at 2 o’clock at the Baptist Church with the Rev. Mr. K. E. Burke, presiding. Burial was in the IOOF Cemetery.

Montgomery, William Thomas – Obituary

Valley Pioneer, Tom Montgomery, Succumbs today. Death follows a three months Illness; funeral to be held her on Thursday. W. T. Montgomery, 74, Kittitas Valley pioneer, passed away at the home of his daughter Mrs. Leta Bates, 200 N. Sprague Street early this afternoon [December 22, 1931]. Mr. Montgomery’s death followed an ailment of three months duration, which confined him to bed. His passing marks the end of another pioneer life vividly reminiscent of long treks over the plains in covered wagons. His entry to the Kittitas Valley was from California in 1861 when he made the trip in a … Read more

Minielly, Addie Ellen Ferguson – Obituary

Death took Mrs. Addie Ellen Minielly, 68, a native of Ellensburg, on December 31, 1949 at the Ellensburg General Hospital, following an illness of about three years. Mrs. Minielly, the daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Ferguson of Ellensburg, who survives her, was born while this area was still a part of Washington Territory. She lived here all her life. She is also survived by a daughter, Myrtle Fray of Ellensburg; a son, Stanley Minielly of Kennewick; three brothers, James, George, and Benjamin Ferguson of Ellensburg; three sisters, Mrs. Lottie Harris, of Ellensburg; Mrs. Lillie Morrison, of Ellensburg, and Mrs. Bessie Phelps … 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

Barns, Absalom – Obituary

Absalom Barns, better known as ‘Pet’ Barns, a well-known rancher of the west side and a Kittitas Valley pioneer of 45 years ago, died yesterday morning at the home farm after a long illness from acute Bright’s Disease Mr. Barns was born in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, 69 years ago. At the age of four his family moved to Dodge County, Wisconsin, where he lived until grown. He then moved to La Crosse, Wis., and from there came to Kittitas County, taking the train to San Francisco, the boat from there to Portland, and making the rest of the distance on … Read more

Bender, George – Obituary

Funeral services were held this afternoon for George W. Bender, 41, who died Friday May 3, 1957 from injuries sustained when a falling tree struck him as he was bucking logs some distance away. The accident occurred about noon Friday in the Wilson Creek area where Bender worked as a sawyer for Tucker & Jones of Selah, logging contractors for Cascade Lumber Co Conducting the services was Rev. Laurence M. Arksey. Burial was in the IOOF Cemetery. Born at Ellensburg, May 20, 1915, Bender was graduated from Ellensburg High School in 1932. He was married at Wenatchee December 9, 1944, … Read more

Barnhart, Evelyn Mildred Riegel – Obituary

Mrs. Evelyn Mildred Barnhart, 46, died last night at the Ellensburg General Hospital following a lingering illness. A resident of Ellensburg since 1918, Mrs. Barnhart is survived by her husband, Albert Barnhart; a daughter, Virginia, and a son, Darrell, and eight brothers and sisters Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock at the Honeycutt Chapel. Rev. W. H. Thompson will be in charge. Burial will be in the IOOF Cemetery Evelyn was the daughter of John F. Riegel and Martha Lange. She was born in 1895 in IA. Evelyn died May 5, 1942 Contributed by: Sheli Steedman

Hayes, Samuel – Obituary

Sam Hayes, 73, former long-time resident of the Kittitas Valley, died last night October 30, 1949 at a Yakima hospital. Hayes had been a farmer in the Kittitas Valley for the greater part of his life until he retired and moved to Yakima about 10 years ago. A native of Colorado, Hayes came to the Kittitas Valley 65 years ago with his father, the late Sanford Hayes, a pioneer of this area. Hayes is survived by a sister, Mrs. W. S. Sheldon of Twin Falls, Ida., a grand nephew, James Hayes of Ellensburg, and numerous other nieces and nephews in … Read more

Gage, Tami – Obituary

Tami Gage, 34, passed away April 12, 1997 at Levan, Utah. She was a frequent visitor to Ellensburg. As a teenager, she was very active in 4H and FFA; show her sheep here on many occasions. She attended the University of Utah and received her Master’s degree in biology and animal research from there. She is survived by her parents, Fred Gage of Tonasket and Linda Pauly of Levan, Utah; brothers Marty (Tara) of Levan, Utah and Stacy (Crystal) of Tonasket; uncles, Cliff, Bob and Seth of Ellensburg and Harrell of Dufur, Ore.; aunts Tressa, Esther, and Ellen, of Ellensburg, … Read more