Washington

Harrell, Thomas Andrew Jr. – Obituary

Thomas Andrew Harrell, 71, died today March 2, 1959 at the Valley General Hospital. He had been seriously ill for a week but has been in failing health for some time. He was born in Rogersville, Tenn. And came to the Kittitas Valley where he has been a rancher since 1904. He married Miss Maxie Taylor here in 1908. Following her death, he subsequently married Miss Alice Poskey who has also passed away. He is survived by his present wife, Mrs. Esther Harrell and by a daughter, Mrs. Louise Fleming now a resident of Ellensburg formerly of Seattle. He leaves … Read more

Grunden, Elof Arnson – Obituary

Elof A. Grunden, 75 years old and a resident of Ellensburg for nearly 50 years, passed away at his home here early Sunday morning February 11, 1934. Born in Norway, June 24, 1858, Mr. Grunden came to this county as a young man and had resided in this city much of the time since. In addition to his widow, Selma, he is survived by three daughters Mrs. Grant Nichols of Ellensburg, Mrs. Donald Dale of Portland, and Mrs. Elmer Tyson of Seattle, and by three sons, John of Toppenish and Alfred and Glenn of Ellensburg. Funeral services are to be … Read more

Bender, Abbie – Obituary

Miss Abbie R. Bender, for three months a resident of Ellensburg, died here Wednesday. She is survived by two brothers, William and Louis Bender of this city, and Frank Bender, another brother, resides at Glendale, Cal Abbie was the daughter of William W. Bender and Margaret Coughtry. She was born in 1874 in Albany Co., NY and died November 14, 1928. She is buried in the IOOF Cemetery Contributed by: Sheli Steedman

Bender, Louis Charles – Obituary

Louis C. Bender, 68, Rt. 5, died Saturday [August 21, 1982] while on a fishing trip near White Salmon. He was born in Ellensburg on Dec. 22, 1913. He was a rural mail carrier for nine years and later, from 1936 to 1972, he owned and operated the Horse Shoe Tavern He and June Molotte were married in Pasco on Feb. 15, 1948. Mr. Bender was a member of the Eagles Lodge and he was an avid fisherman and hunter. He enjoyed gardening and working in his flowers. He also was a member of the Kittitas County Field and Stream … Read more

Barnhart, Pleasant Frederick – Obituary

Pleasant Frederick Barnhart, 70, son of original pioneers of Kittitas Valley, died Wednesday night, March 28 [1951], in a Pasco Hospital. He had made his home in Pasco since 1917 Barnhart was a veteran railroad man. He had been employed by the Northern Pacific since 1906 until retirement three years ago. Death followed illness of three months He was born here [Ellensburg] on October 7, 1880, and lived with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Barnhart, on the family farm in the Fairview District until he began his railroading career. In 1906, he went to live in Pasco, returned … Read more

Barns, Malinda Anna Geddis – Obituary

At her home on the West side, Feb. 26, 1903, Mrs. A. Barns, aged 43 years. Mrs. Barns was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. R. Geddis, pioneers of this (Kittitas) Valley and county. She was born in Linn County, Oregon, in 1860. She was married to A. Barns Feb. 2, 1879. She leaves a family of seven children and a husband, besides a host of warm friends to mourn her departure. She had been ill a long time with dropsy, which finally terminated in death Malinda was the daughter of Sylvanna R. Geddis and Emily Christine Tureman. She … Read more

Bender, Maria Elizabeth Hayes – Obituary

Mrs. Maria E. Bender, daughter of one of the earliest Kittitas Valley pioneer families, died Saturday morning March 30, 1968, at Bernaths Nursing Home at the age of 82 years. She was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. James T. Hayes A Valley resident all of her life, she was married to Louis Bender June 22, 1907, at Ellensburg. He preceded her in death in 1946. She was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Moose for 40 years Mrs. Bender is survived by four sons; Bernard, Louis, Russell, and Harrell, all of Ellensburg; one daughter, Mrs. … Read more

Banister, Margaret – Obituary

Word has been received of the death of Mrs. L. N. Bannister [Banister] at her home in Yakima yesterday morning died November 4, 1925. Mr. Bannister, who made his home in Ellensburg before his marriage is a brother of Mrs. E. J. Dixon and Mrs. W. M. McEwen. Besides her husband, Mrs. Banister is survived by two sons, Sam and George Contributed by: Sheli Steedman

Barnhart, Albert – Obituary

Albert Barnhart, 79, native Ellensburg resident died at his home [September 6, 1971] at 712 E. Washington, Monday. Born August 18, 1892, he was married to Mildred Riegel in 1917. She preceded him in death in 1941 May 5, 1942. He was married to Sarah Belsaas Jaques in 1944. He farmed in Fairview District for a number of years and also worked for a number of other farmers. Member of Methodist Church. Survived by his wife, Sarah at the home, one son-Darrell of Yakima, a daughter-Mrs. Virginia Johnson, Oak Lawn, Ill., one stepson-Dale Jaques of Ellensburg, two stepdaughters-Mrs. Marcille Groenig, … Read more

Barnhart, Mary Magdalene Letterman – Obituary

Mrs. Barnhart of the Methow, mother of Frank Barnhart of this valley; died at her home Tuesday, and the remains were brought to this city for interment today Mary was the wife of Thomas Henderson Barnhart. She was born in Indiana in 1837. She married Thomas in Missouri on November 8, 1855. Mary died August 5, 1902 and is buried in the IOOF Cemetery Contributed by: Sheli Steedman

Banister, Martha Elizabeth Dixon – Obituary

Mrs. Martha Elizabeth Banister died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. E. J. Dixon, 500 Capital Avenue, this morning at 8 o’clock at the age of 86 years October 7, 1918. Mrs. Banister was born March 31, 1841, in Illinois, coming to Kittitas Valley 34 years ago. She is survived by her husband, Newell Banister, and three daughters, Mrs. Elwood Dixon and Mrs. Sarah McEwen of Ellensburg and Mrs. Belle Lewis of Cowiche and a son, Lyndon Banister, of Tieton The funeral services will be held at the home of Mrs. Elwood Dixon tomorrow afternoon at 2:30. Rev. Young … Read more

Barnhart, Matilda Bailes – Obituary

Death Comes To Valley Resident Matilda Barnhart Succumbs Sunday Mrs. Matilda L. Barnhart, 87, pioneer Fairview District resident, died yesterday at the Ellensburg General Hospital, where she had been confined since March 1 with a broken hip died June 19, 1950. A resident of the Kittitas Valley for 73 years, Mrs. Barnhart was born in Salem, Ore., on August 26, 1862. She came to this area with her family in 1877. She was the widow of F. C. Barnhart, who died December 23, 1932 Mrs. Barnhart was a daughter of Keithley Bailes, one of the pioneer ministers of the Kittitas … Read more

Bailes, William Keithly – Obituary

Grandpa Bailes Pioneer Pastor of City is dead aged couple celebrated their 68th Wedding Anniversary here, Wife is seriously ill now confined to her bed with Pneumonia – leaves 100 living descendants The death of Grandpa Keathly Bailes at the home of his daughter, Mr. F. C. Barnhart, on North Ruby Street, occurred at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday [March 17, 1915]. The funeral will take place at the Christian Church Sunday morning next, Rev. Mr. Escherman of Tacoma officiating. Death was a result of a complication of diseases, coupled with extreme age Grandpa Bailes leaves his aged wife, who is now … Read more

Dixon, Melinda Banister – Obituary

Mrs. Melinda B. Dixon, pioneer of Kittitas Valley, died at Bernath’s Nursing Home early today at the age of 91 years January 13, 1964. Melinda Banister, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Samuel L. Banister, was born Feb. 6, 1872 in Clark County, Washington and came to Ellensburg with her parents in 1870. Because of the Indian disturbance in the valley they moved to Walla Walla, returning here in 1884, making the trip in a covered wagon. She was married to Elwood J. Dixon, Dec. 18, 1890 in Ellensburg. He died here in 1937. She was also preceded in … Read more

Barnhart, Frank – Obituary

Frank C. Barnhart, pioneer sheepman of this valley, died at the Ellensburg Hospital Friday evening [December 23, 1932]at 7:30 o’clock following a brief illness. He was 74 years of age. Mr. Barnhart, a resident of the Kittitas Valley since 1878, was born in Missouri in 1858. He was married in 1879 to Miss Matilda Louise Bailes. Mr. Barnhart was an active pioneer sheepman and resided in the Fairview District until five years ago when he moved to the Denmark District. He was a member of the Christian Church and a charter member of the Odd Fellows Lodge. Besides his widow … Read more

Barnhart, Olive A. Brisson – Obituary

Mrs. Olive A. Barnhart, former Ellensburg resident, died Tuesday, Jan. 24 [1961] at the home of her son Fred G. Barnhart in San Diego, Calif., at the age of 76 years. Mrs. Barnhart was born August 15, 1884 in Flint, Mich., and was married to P. Fred Barnhart in Wenatchee, June 1903. Following their marriage they moved to Ellensburg where he farmed for several years in the Fairview District before moving into town when Mr. Barnhart began working for the N. P. Railway. In 1917 they were moved to Pasco by the railroad and Mrs. Barnhart lived there until 1952, … Read more

Brisson, Margaret – Obituary

Mrs. Margaret Brisson of 306 East Seventh Street died at her home Sunday morning at 8:45 o’clock. She had been suffering for several months with cancer of the stomach, which finally caused her death. Mrs. Brisson was born in Madrid, New York, April 24, 1860, and has lived here for the past three years with her daughter, Miss Melina Brisson Besides Miss Brisson, two daughters, Mrs. Fred Barnhart, of Pasco, and Mrs. Kramer of Grant Falls, Mont., and one son, Oliver Brisson, of Cascade, Idaho, will be present at the funeral. One daughter, Mrs. Margaret Pier of Northfield, Minn., will … Read more

Cooke, George B. – Obituary

The list of early day pioneers in this valley was thinned still more by the death Sunday evening of George B. Cooke, one of the most widely known of early valley settlers [died June 6, 1926]. He had been suffering for the past three or four years from heart trouble and since last fall his life has been a question of time. Doctors had repeatedly given up hopes for his life from week to week but the same indomitable spirit that helped him wrest prosperity from the raw lands of this valley seemed to prolong his life and he fought … Read more

Cooke, Susan Brewster – Obituary

Mrs. Susan E. Cooke, Kittitas Pioneer, Dies At Age Of 89. Was Resident Of Valley Since 1870; Crossed Plains In 1851; Funeral Monday; Deceased Came From Noted Family; Was Descendant Of Pilgrim Following a decline suffered nearly two years ago, Mrs. Susan Eliza Brewster Cooke, one of the oldest pioneers of Kittitas Valley, died last night at the family residence, 11 miles northeast of Ellensburg [died March 11, 1921]. Last Monday Mrs. Cooke celebrated her 89th birthday, having been born in Waterford County, four miles from Troy, New York, on March 7, 1832. Mrs. Cooke was a direct descendant of … Read more

Brown, Elizabeth Jane Bailes – Obituary

Oldest Valley Pioneer Passes Elizabeth J. Brown, 98 Succumbs to Heart Attack Elizabeth J. Brown, oldest pioneer resident of the Kittitas Valley, who lacked just six weeks of becoming 99 years of age, succumbed to a heart attack yesterday in her home at 108 North Ruby Street died October 24, 1949. An invalid for the past 10 years, Mrs. Brown has made the valley her home for the past 70 years, since she first came here August 6, 1879. Born December 8, 1850, in Springfield, Missouri, the daughter of Rev. Keathley Bailes and Mrs. Bailes, she and her family crossed … Read more