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Ann Kuyper Lennartz
A hillside memorial to remember Ann Kuyper Lennartz (June 7, 1951 - Sept. 6, 2006) will be held Wednesday, May 23, at 10 a.m. on Ann’s Methow Valley property that has been donated to the Methow Conservancy.
Debora Seymour
A memorial service and potluck in honor of Debora Seymour will be held Sunday (June 24) at 4 p.m. in the Twisp City Park (or the Twisp Valley Grange if it’s raining).
All are invited to bless Debora’s ashes, say their last goodbyes, share stories and celebrate her life. Debora died Jan. 17, 2007.
Bring a potluck dish, plate, utensils and a drink. If possible, bring flowers for the circle.
For more information call Kim Claussen at 997-8050 or Therese Ohlson at 996-4019.
Estes Isaac (Lucky) Jones, 84, died May 30, 2007, in San Diego, Calif. He was born May 28, 1923, in Gromore, Wash., to Isaac and Jewell Higginbotham Jones. When Lucky was three years old, the family moved near Conconully, then to Pine Creek, where they ranched. His first school was the Fish Lake School, then later at Nespelem, where he graduated in 1941.
Lucky entered the U.S. Navy in 1943, serving during WW II. The service became a career for him and he served during Korea and Vietnam and retired as a chief petty officer. Following an honorable discharge from the Navy, Lucky held many jobs, which included owning and operating, with his wife, Jorina, The Lucky Jo Steak Inn at Conconully, serving as deputy marshal in Winthrop and as a member of the sheriff’s posse, and probably some jobs he doesn’t want told about.
Lucky’s wife Jorina (Jo) preceded him in death after 43 years of marriage. Ten years later, he married
Suzie Klinkert and she preceded him in death. He married
Becky Fullerton and they recently moved from the Methow to San Diego.
Lucky was a member of both the Okanogan Masonic Lodge #169 and the Methow Valley Lodge #240. He also served as deputy to the grand master of Washington, the Scottish Rite, the Okanogan County Shrine Club and the El Katif Shrine. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion, both of which he served as commander. His dedication to the Shrine Club and helping children gave Lucky credit for aiding at least 151 kids, possibly a feat never before or since equaled.
Lucky is survived by his wife Becky of San Diego; son Michael of Spokane; grandsons Steve and Jeff and five great-grandchildren.
In addition to two of his wives, he was preceded in death by his parents and one sister.
Masonic and military graveside services will be held on Sunday (June 24) at 10 a.m. at the Conconully cemetery, followed by a memorial service at 1 p.m. at the Winthrop Barn, with a potluck reception following the service.
Memorials may be made to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, P.O. Box 2472, Spokane, WA 99210-2472.
Jerry Nicholas Darwood, 67, was called to heaven by his "potato wagon" June 16, 2007, in his family home in Twisp, surrounded by family. He was born Feb. 4, 1940, to Stan and Edna Louis Darwood in Twisp. He grew up in the Twisp area, where he married
the love of his life, Rose Wallace, on Dec. 14, 1961.
Jerry was proud of the work he did at the Wagner Mill and on the Methow Valley Irrigation District as the best ditch master.
He is survived by his wife, Rose, in Twisp; daughter Edna (Choco) of Everett; sons Billy (Ruth) of East Wenatchee and Tim (Tarrie) of Twisp; his grandchildren, Shalya, Bryan, Jeremy, Shavawna, Rebecca, Carter and Rian; one great-grandchild, Joshua; two brothers, Stanley (Junior) and Bud Darwood; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his son Jerry Nicholas, Jr. (Jerrico); his parents; his brother Don and two sisters, Leatha and Effie Mae.
Graveside services will be at Beaver Creek cemetery in Twisp at 2 p.m. on Saturday (June 23). A potluck will follow at the Methow Valley United Methodist Church between Twisp and Winthrop. Viewings will be held at Prechts Methow Valley Chapel in Twisp Friday (June 22) from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday (June 23) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, a donation jar will be set up at the reception for a headstone.
Larry Laughlin worked hard, played hard and loved the Methow Valley, living all but a handful of his 1, 038 months here, peacefully leaving it for the last time on June 1, 2007. He was 86.
As a boy, he rode out the Depression on the back of horse, wandering all over the Libby Creek area. A graduate of Twisp High School, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a hardhat diver in England. While on leave in Washington, D.C., he met Jo, fell head over heels in love, married
her and brought her home to raise a family.
After the war, Larry drove a fuel truck, then learned the roofing trade and started his own business, Valley Roofing, operating it until retiring in the 1980s.
He loved nature, knew a lot about it and loved to hunt upland birds, rarely missing out on a day of open season. An expert in trap and skeet, he was a founding member of the Twisp Trap Club and often broke 100 straight like it was nothing at all. Besides knowing his way around a Winchester Model 12, Larry was deadly with a pool cue, maybe one of the best who ever sank an eight-ball in the Methow.
He was a good man who knew how to have fun, honest and good to his word, a great friend and a loving father.
He is survived by his daughters Dawna (and son-in-law Nick) Fowler of Whidbey Island and Jennifer Laughlin (and son-in-law Patrick McGann) of Twisp; and his granddaughter, Cyra Schutten, of Seattle.
He was preceded in death by his father, Cyrus, a Carlton cattle buyer; his mother Olive; his sisters Mary Williams and Lucile Bower; and his wife, Josephine Allegra.
At his request, there will not be a service. There will be a get-together to share stories and memories. Time and place will be announced.
Hazel R. Hutson, 88, a long-time resident of Okanogan County, passed away June 9, 2007, at the home of her daughter in Eureka, Calif.
Hazel was born Oct. 26, 1918, in Grainfield, Kan., to Russell (Jennings) Benett and Maude (MacCalmant) Benett. At the age of eight, she moved with her family to Washington state.
Hazel married
Charles Hutson, who preceded her in death early in their marriage. She married
Elmer "Pat" Hutson and celebrated 50-plus years of marriage before Pat died in 1994.
She is survived by one daughter, Norm Kelly, of Eureka; two sons, Charles (Rosalie) Hutson of Twisp and Rocky (Myrna) Hutson of Okanogan; her sister, Cleoria (Dan) McGilvra; 10 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her two husbands; her parents; a son, Larry; a daughter, Alice Russo; four brothers; three sisters, a grandson and a granddaughter.
Hazel’s wonderful, genuine smile and gentle, loving, gracious personality will be greatly missed.
A memorial will be held Sunday, July 8, at 12:30 p.m. at the New Life Centre in Okanogan.
Grace Lora Sproston, 85, of Prosser, passed away June 9, 2007, at Sun Terrace in Prosser. She was born Jan. 3, 1922, in International Falls, Minn., to William and Lucy (Lambert) Ward. She was raised and educated in Cumberland, Wash.
Grace married
Norbert Brooks in 1937. They had four children. Grace later moved to California, where she met her future husband, John Earl Sproston. They married
in Seattle on March 15, 1968. They lived in California, Seattle and Moses Lake before making Prosser their home in 2000.
Grace loved working as a bartender. She also worked at the Lighthouse in Seattle, making neckties for the blind, and she worked at an egg factory. She enjoyed traveling, fishing and hunting.
Grace is survived by her four children, Willard Brooks of Twisp, Barbara McMullen and her husband Clint of Prosser, John Brooks and his wife Rene of Twisp, and Debra Brooks of Lind; eight grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband John in 2002, her great-grandson, four brothers and five sisters.
Graveside services were held at the Prosser cemetery June 14.
Laverna A. Meredith passed away peacefully on Aug. 2, 2007, at the age of 89.
She was born Nov. 9, 1917, to Edward and Alice Edson. She was raised and lived in the greater Methow Valley for much of her life. She married
William R. Meredith and they were blessed by their only daughter, Loretta. Laverna loved her grandchildren and her garden. She enjoyed having breakfast with friends and reading novels.
Laverna was preceded in death by her husband and daughter. She is survived by her son-in-law, Chuck Casey; her three grandchildren, Teresa, David and Quin; and four great-grandchildren, Kelsey, Kristen, Rebecca and Loryn.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Loretta Casey Memorial Citizenship Award/Scholarship, c/o Methow Valley Education Foundation, attention Susan Peterson, P.O. Box 697, Winthrop, WA 98862.
Ruby Mae McMillan passed away Aug. 6, 2007, at her home near Twisp, in the presence of her loving children. She was born June 5, 1917, in Chandler, Okla., to William Owen Taylor and Nancy Pauline Stevens Taylor, the 11th of 11 children.
Ruby married
Roy Lee McMillan on Dec. 24, 1930. They lived in Oklahoma, Arizona, California and Nebraska before moving to Bridgeport, Wash., in 1951, where Roy worked as a mechanic for Chief Joseph Dam. After leaving Bridgeport, Ruby and Roy lived in Twisp, Chelan, Selah, Inchelium and Colville. In 1996 they returned to Twisp to be near their son James.
Ruby devoted her entire life to her husband and family. Some of her great loves in life were gardening and canning, and her lifelong passion was quilting. She made quilts for her four children, each of her 15 grandchildren and many others. Ruby also enjoyed reading and music, and she seldom missed listening to a Mariner’s game.
Ruby will best be remembered as a cherished mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother and friend. She was well known for her love of children, and everyone called her "Grandma, "relative or not. She was also well known for her compassion and empathy for others and for her love of a good joke even if it was on her. She was renowned for her buttermilk buscuits; her recipe has been passed from here to Finland.
Ruby is survived by her son James McMillan and his wife, Rosalie, of Twisp; daughter Gaile Johnson of Ellensburg; son Phillip McMillan of Sacramento; daughter Jeanne Smith and husband, Gary, of Colville; as well as 15 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.
Ruby was preceded in death by her husband, Roy, her parents and her siblings. Ruby’s passing ends the final chapter of a great love story of 75 years.
There will be a memorial service for both Roy and Ruby on Sept. 22, 2007, at 1 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church in Twisp; a reception will follow. Memorials may be made to Home Health and Hospice of Okanogan County, P.O. Box 1248, Omak, WA 98841.
James Clifford Gilmore, 56, passed away at his home in Twisp on Aug. 24, 2007, with his wife and two very close friends, Billy and Lavina Smith of Concrete, at his side.
Jim was born June 6, 1951, in Everett, Wash. He attended school in Everett. For a few years, he was a mechanic at the Tyee Bowling Lanes. The rest of his life he spent as a glazier out of Local 188 in Seattle.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing and crabbing with his friends.
In 1989, Jim and his wife moved to Twisp, where they resided for the past 18 years.Jim was preceded in death by his father, Clifford S. Gilmore.
He is survived by his wife, Gayle, of Twisp; his son, Major Clifford W. Gilmore, USMC (and his wife, Debra) of North Carolina; his mother, Ruth Gilmore of Everett; his sister Anne Nielson of Marysville; and nephews and nieces and their families in Oregon. Jim is also survived by Gayle’s children and grandchildren in Cle Elem and Minnesota.
At Jim’s request, there will be no services. Memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.
Dr. John T. Davis
In a quiet Vancouver neighborhood in the early morning of Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007, Dr. John T. Davis, 60, lost his long battle with cancer, and those of us he left behind know we have lost a great man. He will be remembered and respected as a father, a teacher, a historian, a collector, a smokejumper, and a friend.
From Neah Bay, Wash., to Storrs, Conn., John left a legacy as a man among men. Long after we are gone a museum in Tacoma will proudly display his world famous Edison light bulb collection, a high school library in Hockinson bearing his name will remind its patrons of the man who brought their school to life, and hundreds of his former students will pass on the wisdom, generosity, and work ethic that he imparted to them with every lesson.
John was born in Winthrop to Richard (Slug) and Joy Bell Davis Feb. 26, 1947. He graduated from high school there in 1965, and after a near-catastrophic smokejumping injury in 1966, he went on to Eastern Washington University to achieve a B.A. and master’s in education. His degrees and hard work eventually led him to Goldendale, Wash., where he became the principal of Goldendale Middle School.
An admiring teacher introduced him to Sheila Catterall, whom he married
on the eve of the Mt. St. Helens explosion in 1980. Ever ambitious, John, Sheila, and their four children moved to Storrs, Conn., in 1982. It was an adventure around every corner in the northeast, literally and figuratively, as John and Sheila spent nearly every weekend exploring the twisting back roads of their new home, filling the trunk of their little Ford Falcon with antiques from Maine to Maryland. In the spring of 1985, Mr. Davis became Dr. Davis, graduating with a Ph.D in education from the University of Connecticut.
Armed with this new, documented proof of his intelligence and hard work, Dr. Davis moved to Kelso, Wash., where he served as the assistant superintendent of schools for nine years. From there he moved to a superintendent of schools position in a sleepy little K-8 district in Hockinson, Wash. That school board didn’t know what they were in for when he took over that front office until six years later, after negotiating with and impressing the Gates Foundation, Hockinson High School was born. The school is a work of art. From the biology books to the basketball hoops, it represents the vision Dr. Davis had for a quality educational institution. John retired from Hockinson in 2001, and this past Sept. 13, the school dedicated the beautiful new library to him.
John is survived by his children, Damon (Sabrina) Hess of Portland, Tobin (Gladys) Hess of Seattle, Mignon (James) Heggen of Missoula, Mont., and Carson (Nicole) Davis of Vancouver; his grandchildren, Ethan, Owen, Madeleine, Miles, Nathaniel, Quinn and Piper; his sisters Charlotte Davis of Seattle, Carolyn Longanecker, Cindy Davis and Lori Davis Bailey of Spokane; his brother Rick (Kathy) Davis of Everett; nephews Don Waller, Sam Longanecker, Skyler Longanecker, and Daniel Swartz; niece Joy Longanecker; and cousins Willie and Donna Kemper of Twisp and Don and Betty Milam of Bothell.
John was preceded in death by his parents Richard (Slug) and Joy Bell Davis of Winthrop and his grandparents Foster and Cora Davis of Winthrop and Frank and Ruby Pemberton of Winthrop.
Memorial services were held Sept. 25 at Hockinson High School and another will be held Sunday, Oct. 14, at the Winthrop Barn. John requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Prostate Cancer Foundation at (800) 757-2873 or online at www.prostatecancerfoundation.org .
Daniel P. Vail, 48, passed away Sept. 19, 2007, in Spokane. He was born in Everett on Sept. 4, 1959, to James (Pat) and Bette Vail.
Dan was raised in Twisp and graduated in 1978 in Tonasket. He owned and operated 4 Seasons Auto Center in Spokane Valley until 1999, and went on to be an asbestos removal inspector and worked commercial food sales and service until the time of his passing.
He is surivived by his parents, James (Pat) and Bette Vail of Spokane; his sons, Daniel Patrick of Mukilteo and Gregory Patrick of Rockford, Wash.; sisters Debbie (Bob) Helfrecht of Pendleton, Ore., Debbie Vail of Siver City, New Mexico, Patti (Tim) Cato of Deer Park and Deanna (Riley Vail-Moe) Vail of Spokane Valley; his grandfather Frank Carr of Spokane; and his significant other, Marilu Garcia and family of Spokane Valley.
Dan is also survived by many nephews and nieces, cousins, aunts and uncles and special childhood friends.
Dan was preceded in death by his infant son of 72 days, DJ, and three grandparents.
Services will be announced at a later date.
John Andrist, 75, of Omak, died at his home on Sept. 25, 2007. He was the former owner and publisher of the Omak Chronicle.
John was born Dec. 25, 1931, to John and Edna Mae Andrist of Santa Barbara, Calif. There was a graveside service on Sept. 29 at the Okanogan City cemetery in Okanogan, followed by a memorial service at Omak Presbyterian Church.
Thomas Lee Riste, 71, of Twisp, died at his home on Sept. 24, 2007. Tom was born Feb. 14, 1936, in Oroville to Arthur and Alice Riste.
Tom started life in upper Okanogan County attending both Oroville and Molson schools. He even played football for Molson when he was still in grade school. He moved to Wenatchee for awhile and had fond memories of the adventures he and his cousin Dick Bryant had hiking up Saddle Mountain.
Tom graduated from Naches High School in 1954 and went on to attend Washington State College (Now WSU). He joined the Navy, where he served on a mine sweeper and was mostly stationed in Guam. When he was discharged, he came home to Naches and married
Tommie Jones in 1958.
Tom spent his life around his family, horses and construction. He loved the outdoors! He had a restless nature and "got bored if he stayed with one thing too long." As a young man he and his friend, Bill Pope, started a business of putting chains on vehicles going over White Pass.
For some time, Tom lived and worked at Indian Creek Corrals with his parents and his sister. Tom and his dad also ran the horse packing station for Mt. Rainier for many years. When they sold the corrals, they bought a ranch outside Naches near the confluence of White and Chinook Passes and he worked on the ski patrol on White Pass and Crystal Mountain. He also worked on installing the power lines here in the northwest and even did a turn at logging.
He worked at many construction-related jobs including pole building, building houses, underground utilities, campgrounds and trails, but he had a special fondness for the bridges he built. Among his many businesses he had Selah Building Supply, Duo Construction, Riste and Scurlock, American Campgrounds Inc., and Valley Construction.
Tom was a member of various construction unions, the Eagles, Elks and the Methow Valley Rodeo Association, of which he was a past president.
Tom is survived by his loving wife Tommie of Twisp; daughters, Tammy Riste (Karla) of Twisp and Shari (Kip) Fletcher of Yakima; grandchildren Erica and T.J. (Heather) Fletcher of Yakima; and great-grandchild, Hudson Mathew-Fletcher of Yakima. Tom is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins who held a special place in his heart.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Art and Allie Riste and his sister, Jerry Treise.
A memorial will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 7) in the Winthrop Barn. A potluck will follow. Bring your favorite story of Tom and help celebrate his life. For more information regarding the potluck, please call Fae Graves at 996-2373. In lieu of flowers please feel free to donate to the Methow Valley Rodeo Club or the Methow Valley Senior Center in Twisp. Precht’s Methow Valley Chapel of Twisp and the Okanogan County Crematory in Okanogan are entrusted with caring for Tom and his family.
