Washington

Dewees, Rebecca Ellen Freels – Obituary

Death came to Mrs. Rebecca Ellen DeWees, 71, at her home at 210 South Sampson Street this morning [February 14, 1940] after a two weeks’ illness. Her death follows that of her daughter-in-law, Mrs. George DeWees by just one week Mrs. DeWees was born in Havensville, Kentucky, March 17, 1858, and came to the Kittitas Valley in 1902. She has lived in her present home for 17 years. She was a member of the Miriam Rebekah Lodge here Mrs. DeWees is survived by five daughters, Mrs. Robert Kirk of Coldwater, Kansas, Mrs. Emma Sherman of Wichita, Mrs. Ina Davis and … Read more

Dixon, Frank M. – Obituary

Funeral services for Frank M. Dixon, 68, former Ellensburg resident who died at his home in Seattle last night, will be held at the Honeycutt Chapel here Monday morning at 11 o’clock. Rev. W. M. Martin will be in charge and burial will be in the IOOF Cemetery Born October 2, 1873, in Iowa, Dixon came to Ellensburg with his parents when he was nine years old. He farmed here for many years and operated a livery stable. He moved to Yakima 16 years ago and subsequently went to Seattle. He was married here to Miss Ollie O’Rear in 1903. … Read more

Curtis, James H. – Obituary

James H. Curtis, one of the early pioneers of the valley, who came here in 1873, died suddenly last Saturday at Brewster, Wash., according to work received here. He was born July 1, 1849, in McCoon County, Mich. In 1875 he was married in The Dalles, Ore., to Miss Samantha Wheeler. Four of their six children are living Mrs. Tillie Hayes and Mrs. Etta Vaughn of Ellensburg, and Mrs. May Goldberg and Wesley Curtis of Brewster are surviving children. Mrs. Rose Carver of this city is a sister. There also are 28 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. His widow, Mrs. … Read more

Dewees, Almira Jane Swett – Obituary

Mrs. George DeWees, resident of Ellensburg and a native daughter of the Pacific Coast, died at the family residence, 306 South Sprague Street this morning [February 7, 1940], after an illness that has lasted nearly four years. No arrangements have been made for the funeral, pending the arrival of members of the family Mrs. Almira Swett DeWees was born in Clackamas County, Oregon and came to the Kittitas Valley as a girl in 1885, and was married here to George DeWees, pioneer milling and grain and feed man, who also served for several years on the city council and was … Read more

Dewees, William S. – Obituary

Prominent Resident dies at home here. William S. Dewees came her 14 years ago. He was born in Kentucky and was 77 years of age. Leaves Large Family. William Shaw DeWees, aged 77 years, a resident of Ellensburg and the Kittitas Valley for the past fourteen years, died yesterday afternoon at his home on South Sprague Street after a lingering illness of six months’ duration. The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock from the home under the direction of M. L. Bridgham. Rev. Mr. Sharp will conduct the services. Interment will take place in the Odd Fellows … Read more

Dixon, Ida Cornwall – Obituary

Mrs. Ida Dixon, wife of John Dixon, deceased, died last night at the emergency hospital of pneumonia after a lingering illness died October 26, 1918 Mrs. Dixon was born in Ontario, Canada, November 3, 1871, where she lived until she was brought to this city by her parents. She was married to John Dixon in December 1891, who died about a year ago She is survived by two children, Myrtle Dixon, who is very ill at present, and Archie Dixon and her father, H. D. Cornwall, all of Ellensburg The Women’s Relief Corps, of which she was a member, were … Read more

Barnhart, Thomas Henderson – Obituary

T. H. Barnhart, Old Pioneer is called, was 85 born in Tennessee, has spent many years in valley The death of T. H. Barnhart, a pioneer of this valley, occurred this morning [April 16, 1921] at the home of his son, S. C. Barnhart. He was 85 years old Mr. Barnhart was born in Tennessee, and came to this section a number of years ago. Since coming west, he has spent all of his time here with the exception of a few years in the Methow Valley For the past 19 years he has made his home with his son, … Read more

Morrison, Ica Ladd – Obituary

Mrs. A. D. Morrison of Kittitas, died at her home in that town, Tuesday [June 3, 1913] of tuberculosis after an illness of 5 months. She came to this county three years ago and secured employment in Crockett Company’s store and last September was married to Mr. Morrison. Her maiden name was Ladd. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Michels, Clarence Benedict – Obituary

Clarence Benedict (Uncle Ben) Michels, 66, died of a heart attack at the home of his sister, Mrs. May Graaff here Tuesday [April 16, 1957]. He had been in ill health for some time. Born Jul 29, 1890, he attended Ellensburg schools, Gonzaga University and Seattle University. He was married in 1922 in Pasco to Veda Stevens, who preceded him in death in 1931. He was a member of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, and a charter member of Austin-Rees-Wheeler post of the American Legion, having served with Co., C, 18th Engineers, AEF, in France. He was past grand knight of … Read more

McEwen, Vicky – Obituary

Selah—Vicky McEwen, 42, of Selah, passed away Tuesday, July 30, 1996 at her residence. She was born June 26, 1954 in Toppenish to Ralph and Barbara (Jordin) McEwen. She was raised and educated in Toppenish and had been a long-time Yakima Valley resident. Vicky enjoyed raising houseplants, flowers, and gardening. She was a people person which showed in her profession as a Certified Nurse’s Aide. Vicky very much cared for animals and the pets she adopted as her own. She is survived by her mother, Barbara Miller of Yakima; her father and stepmother, Ralph and Mary McEwen of Toppenish; a … Read more

McEwen, Mary Louise Hyde – Obituary

Toppenish—Mary Louise McEwen, 81, of Toppenish passed away at the Providence Hospital, Toppenish, on Friday, November 27, 1998. She was born on January 24, 1917 in Ashley, ND, the daughter of John and Mary Hyde. When she was three-years-old, the family moved to Quilcene, Washington, where she was raised and educated. She moved to Granger in 1945. She married Ralph McEwen [son of Oscar McEwen and Mary Peffers of Ellensburg]on March 25, 1978. Mary’s hobbies included crocheting, feeding the animals and spending time at Liberty where she and Ralph had a summer home. She was an avid traveler and had … Read more

Lee, C. Melvin – Obituary

C. Melvin “Mel” Lee, 86, a four-year resident of Olympia, died of cancer Saturday, May 27, 1995, in Mother Joseph Care Center, Olympia. He was born Nov. 15, 1908, to William and Geneva (Hodges) Lee in Ellensburg, where he graduated from Ellensburg High School. Mr. Lee graduated from Washington State University with a bachelor’s degree in education. He married Claudia (Swenson) Lee on April 3, 1947 in Seattle. Mr. Lee was in the Army from 1943 to 1946, serving in the Philippines and the United States. Mr. Lee taught and coached athletics for several schools in Washington. He was superintendent … Read more

Bailes, Amos W. – Obituary

Amos W. Bailes, 58, died yesterday [May 25, 1932] afternoon at his home in the Fairview District following an illness of two weeks. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 o’clock Sunday afternoon at the Honeycutt Chapel with Rev. Harry Bell in charge of the services. Burial will be in the IOOF Cemetery. Mr. Bailes was born August 7, 1874 in Oregon. He is survived by a widow, Helen and six children, Glen, Lydia, Virgil, Loren, Nora and Dorothy; a brother Archie McDonald and a sister, Mrs. A. H. Berry, all of Ellensburg. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Prater, Sarah Martha Hall – Obituary

Mrs. Martha Prater, 87, valley pioneer, passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Minnie Wangeman, on North Walnut Street, at 11 o’clock yesterday morning [March 11, 1934]. Mrs. Prater suffered a paralytic stroke Thursday evening and her condition gradually grew worse until her death. Conscious almost to the end, she seemed cheerful and talked to relatives present. Her last words were “All is well.” Mrs. Prater had been in unusually good health for her age and only last Monday evening visited Mr. and Mrs. Austin Mires to extend greetings on their 50th wedding anniversary. A few days later … Read more

McEwen, Cora Belle – Obituary

Auburn—Cora B. McEwen, 95, retired Ellensburg school teacher, died Sunday [June 30, 1990] in Auburn where she had lived for the past four years. She attended Ellensburg Normal School and Central Washington College of Education. She worked for Dr. Pinckard for a number of years before beginning her 30-year teaching career. Following retirement she served as a private tutor in her home. She was a member of the First Baptist Church and was active in youth groups for more than 80 years. Survivors include three great nephews, Clair Schnebly of Kittitas, and Ted Schnebly and David Leickum, both of Renton. … Read more

McEwen, Carl Lester – Obituary

Toppenish—Carl Lester McEwen, 85, of Toppenish, died Sunday, January 31, 1988 at the St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Yakima. Carl was born on April 3, 1902 in Ellensburg, Wash., the son of Harvey an Martha (Grewell) McEwen. Mr. McEwen attended schools in Toppenish, coming to the Valley in 1910. He worked for the Wheeler Electric Co. until 1936 at which time he joined the Yakima Sheriff’s Department and worked for the County until 1939. After leaving the Sheriff’s Department he went to work for Wheeler Electric again and moved to Seattle, where he worked for the Boeing Company and also … Read more

Arps, Herman Otto – Obituary

Herman Otto Arps, 97, of Ellensburg, died Saturday, March 26, 1994, at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. He was born Jan. 2, 1897 in Nebraska, one of nine children born to Henry and Mary (Schultz) Arps. Following his education in Nebraska, Herman traveled to Montana, where he farmed. After Montana, he migrated west, where he worked as a line foreman on various jobs in Washington, Oregon and California. He came to Ellensburg in the early 1940s. He and Lena Blair were married in Albany, Ore. in October 1946. He retired in 1970. His interests included vegetable and flower gardening. He was … Read more

Bates, George Edward – Obituary

George Edward Bates, brother-in-law to Mrs. Leta Bates, Ellensburg, died July 4 [1969] in Coeur d’Alene, Ida. A resident of Spokane for the last 40 years, he is also survived by his wife, Mabel Bates; 3 sisters, Mrs. Joy Gage, Mrs. Murrel Baird both of Yakima; and Mrs. Ruth Cole, Long Beach, Calif. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Grunden, Al – Obituary – Obituary

Al Grunden, 41, dies after fall her Tuesday; Topples from Top of Tank in County Jail; Sheriff Ballard Spectator. Al Grunden, an Ellensburg boy, died in the Ellensburg General Hospital Tuesday afternoon a couple of hours after he was the victim of an unusual accident in the Kittitas County Jail. Grunden had just been committed a few hours previous to serve out a $12.50 fine and costs imposed by Police Judge Chester Thomas for intoxication and to pay for two previous suspended sentences. The accident occurred in full view of Sheriff Wayne Ballard who was standing in the door of … Read more

Hayes, Ruby Miles – Obituary

Ruby Hayes, 90, daughter of William and Rosa (Owens) Miles, died February 21 [1992] in Ellensburg. She was born in Surgoinsville, Tenn., on December 2, 1901. At the age of six, her family moved to Washington where she attended school in the Ellensburg area. She and her husband, Harry, farmed for more than 50 years in the Denmark area before moving into Ellensburg in 1972. Survivors include three sons, William Hayes of Prosser, Jerry Hayes of Yakima, and Joel Hayes of Renton; three daughters, Barbara Scenna of Oak Park, Mich., Kay McPherson and Sandra Johnson of Ellensburg, stepson Homer Hayes … Read more