In Memoriam A monthly supplement to The Daily World
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Saturday, January 18, 2020
The Daily World
Table of Contents Timothy Lee McDonald
Page 3 William “Bill” Peter Erickson
John Wesley Woods
Page 4
Richard Eugene Gillham Sr.
Traute Helene Bale
Gloria M. Proctor
James R. Wills
Darrel C. Bales
Ralph Irwin Thomas
Patricia Ann Sund
Ruth Marie Frafjord
Cheri Linn (Ensley) Woods
Susan May Maloney
Laila Sigrid Walli Silva
Page 8
Eugene R. “Gene” Warne Page 5 Ray L. Phillips
Jonice (Toots) Flanigan Stoppleworth
Charlene Rose Izzi
Lloyd “Big Gulp” Preston Todd Jr.
Ronald Darrin Hale
Marlene A. Thele
Daniel Wayne Gripp
Larry Vandervort
Page 9
Page 6 Renee Joellyn Peterson Walker
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Page 14 Freddi Jean Ginther
Sandra Kay (Mirek) Raphoon
Michael D. Carson
Page 11 Jeffrey Harold Olsen
Barbara Lee Call
Keeta Marie Zepp
Page 13
Michael Ward Bessey
Page 7
Jeanne E. (Madtson) Parker Therese Abbi Williams
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ON THE COVER Bagpiper and Worcester, Massachusetts, police officer Sean Lovely plays “Amazing Grace” as daughter Stella stands by during Memorial Day exercises at Hope Cemetery on May 27. Hope Cemetery is an historic rural cemetery at 119 Webster Street in Worcester, Massachusetts. Established in 1854, it was the city’s sixth public cemetery, and is the burial site of remains originally interred at its first five cemeteries. The cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. (Photo by Christine Peterson)
The Daily World
Saturday, January 18, 2020
William “Bill” Peter Erickson
Jeanne E. (Madtson) Parker
Therese Abbi Williams
William “Bill” Peter Erickson, age 78, a resident of Ocean City for the past 49 years, died on Monday, Dec. 2, 2019, at Grays Harbor Community Hospital in Aberdeen. Mr. Erickson was born on Sept. 13, 1941, in Puyallup, Washington, to Roy and Violet A. (Nilles) Erickson. Bill was raised in Orting, where he attended Orting schools. He was a four-year letterman in football, basketball and baseball, but was a standout baseball player. In addition to school, he played in Connie Mack league in Tacoma. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates, but an injury prevented him from moving on. As a young man, he began working for his uncle doing carpentry and roofing. He would later work construction jobs in the Gig Harbor area. It was there that he met Carol Ann Cook and the couple married on Aug. 20, 1970, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. They then moved to Ocean City in 1970. Following his passion for baseball, he coached Babe Ruth teams as his sons were growing up. He also loved to hunt with family and friends. He liked spending time on the beach, whether it was digging for clams or just enjoying a cup of coffee. He also enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren in their various activities Surviving relatives include his wife, Carol Ann Erickson of Ocean City; children and their spouses, Michael and Chrissi Erickson of Hoquiam, Lori Ann Erickson-Harrison and Draven of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Mitchell Erickson of Olympia and Heidi and Martin Ross of Ocean Shores; six grandchildren, Amanda Erickson, Evan Erickson, Lorin Cox, Malia Cox, Elka Cox and Jackson Ross; and siblings and their spouses, Lee and Nona Erickson of Lilliwaup, Washington, Ken and Kathy Erickson of Ocean Shores and Gene and Debbie Erickson of Orting. In addition to his parents, two brothers, Robert Allen and Harry Richard Erickson died previously. At his request, there will be no public service. Cremation arrangements are by the Coleman Mortuary in Hoquiam. Please take a few moments to record your thoughts for the family by signing the online register at www.colemanmortuary.net.
Jeanne E. (Madtson) Parker of Montesano, Washington, passed peacefully at her home on Dec. 3, 2019. She was born Jan. 19, 1941, in Jasper, Minnesota, and moved with her family to Washington in 1954. She graduated from WF High School in Chehalis, Washington. This is where she met the love of her life, Harlow (Butch) Parker in 1957. They were married on April 23, 1960. They were looking forward to celebrating 60 years of marriage. The following year, they welcomed their “precious” bundle, a daughter, Victoria. The family lived in the Hoquiam area while Harlow worked in the logging industry. Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents, a brother and her grandson, Cody. In addition to her husband and daughter, Vicki Shetler and husband Jake, Jeanne is survived by three brothers, Jerry Madtson (Jane), Joe Madtson (Kathy) and Mark Madtson (Garcie), one sister, Sherri Wilcox, one sister-in-law, Hazel Wakefield and many nieces and nephews. Jeanne belonged to many organizations donating her time and talents. She belonged to the Elks, VFW, Moose and FOE. Jeanne joined the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Aberdeen in 1977. She helped in the kitchen, became an officer serving her first term of Madam President in 1980-1981. She was instrumental in creating the Ritual Team and many other functions for fundraisers. She was known for her pounds of potato salad she made from scratch and her marinated mushrooms. She achieved her goal by being installed as State Madam President in 1995. She was appointed to the Hall of Fame for Washington State in 2010 and her home Auxiliary, Elma #1440, in 2013. She was for “People Helping People.” Jeanne loved to do crafts and with the help of many helping hands, created beautiful gifts and items for auctions and raffles. She made beautiful baskets that she donated to fundraisers. An Eagle Tribute and memorial was held on Dec. 21, 2019, at the Elma Eagles Aerie Home at 404 W. Young St. in Elma. A potluck luncheon followed. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Elma Eagles Auxiliary at PO Box 519, Elma, WA. 98541, in Jeanne’s memory for her many projects.
Therese Abbi Williams passed away from a fatal car accident, north of Humptulips, at the age of 29, on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019. She was born on March 26, 1990, at the Hoquiam family home to Bruce Clark Williams Jr. and Madge E. Sharp Williams. Abbi was a loving and compassionate person who loved to be silly. She had the most beautiful smile that would light up your soul. Most of all she loved and adored her children; they were her world. If you were lucky enough to be present when she gazed into her children’s faces, the pure joy radiating from her would blind you. Abbi wanted nothing more for them than to have a wonderful life. Therese Abbi Williams is survived by her children, Carson James Lines and Maddison Claire Lines of the Quinault family home; her father, Bruce Clark Williams of Plaines, Montana; her companion Brian Lines of Quinault, Washington; her siblings, Michele Beth Jones of Quinault, Tina Marie Williams of Aberdeen, Jennifer Ellen Knokey of Marysville, Dustan Clark Roger Williams of Missoula, Montana, Elizabeth Anne Williams of Forks, Nathan Lowell Williams of Quinault, Jonathon Charles Williams of Quinault, Robert James Williams of Helena, Katelyn Mary Williams of Vancouver, Lacie Marie Williams of Yosemite, numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Her mother, Madge E. Williams died on Feb. 17, 2012. Abbi will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. A rosary service was held Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, at the Coleman Mortuary Chapel, 422–5th Street in Hoquiam. A memorial Mass was celebrated on Monday, Dec. 30, 2019, at the Our Lady of Good Help Catholic Church, 200 L St. in Hoquiam, Washington. A reception for family and friends immediately followed in the church social hall. Vault inurnment followed at the Satsop Cemetery. Donations may be made to memorial fund in her honor at, Stockman Bank, 3094 N Sanders., Helena, Montana 59601 Arrangements are by the Coleman Mortuary, 422–5th Street in Hoquiam. Please take a few moments to record your thoughts for the family by signing the online register at www. colemanmortuary.net.
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Saturday, January 18, 2020
The Daily World
Laila Sigrid Walli Silva
Eugene R. “Gene” Warne
Keeta Marie Zepp
Laila Sigrid Walli Silva, 93, of Hoquiam passed away on Dec. 25, 2019, in Aberdeen, Washington. A memorial was held Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, at Fern Hill Funeral Home, Aberdeen. Laila was born to Sigrid and Sam Walli on Dec. 4, 1926, at the old St. Joseph’s Hospital in Aberdeen. She attended Whitman Grade School, Miller Junior High and graduated from Weatherwax High School in 1944. She graduated from Western Michigan College in Kalamazoo, Michigan and was a registered Occupational Therapist. She worked as an activity director at Peter Pan nursing home in Centralia and Rosary Manor in Chehalis. She married Earl Edward Silva on March 27, 1948, at the Finnish Lutheran Church in Aberdeen. She lived in Aberdeen, Seattle, Centralia, Ocean Shores and for the past six years resided at Channel Point in Hoquiam. Finnish was her first language and she was proud of her Finnish heritage. At age 70 she wrote “Eastside Finns,” a booklet of local Finnish history. She enjoyed cooking, baking Finnish coffee bread and korpua, sewing, gardening and watercolor painting which she began at age 60. She made lifelong friends wherever she lived, and maintained close family ties. She became involved in her community and added her own special touches wherever she lived. As her health failed she still smiled and made every attempt to remain independent. She died peacefully with family present. She is survived by her four daughters: Susan (Ron) White of Boise, Idaho; Sally Silva of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Cynthia Taylor of Long Beach, Washington and Celia Hansen of Spokane Washington. Her grandchildren are Heather Culig, John White, Brian White, Seth Taylor, Scarlett Taylor, Andy Hansen, and Aaron Hansen. Her great-grandchildren are Holly, Charlie, Emma and Sally Culig, Jessie and Johnny White, Laila and Denny White, Skyler, Camden, Izzie and Margie Taylor, Keaton Taylor, Maysun and Malakhi Verley. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 53 years, two grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home in Aberdeen, Washington.
Eugene R. “Gene” Warne, 88, a Montesano resident, died Dec. 19, 2019, at the home he built in Montesano, Washington. Gene was born on Jan. 19, 1931, on the family farm in Larimore, North Dakota to Edwin and Lillian (Braaten) Warne. He grew up on the farm and at the age of 9, started working the farm, operating the tractors and machinery and working with the livestock. He then went to work for a contractor operating a D8 Caterpillar and other equipment. He also worked at the Air Base outside of Grand Forks, North Dakota. On Oct. 18, 1950, Gene married Marlys June Holweger in Larimore, North Dakota. In 1962, they picked up and moved to Aberdeen, Washington, where he built homes, including his own under his own business, Reliable Builders. He also opened and operated Market Street Furniture and the Waterbed Palace. He was a member of the Montesano Moose Lodge #1210, and was involved with the designing and building of the new lodge. He was a member of the Aberdeen Eagles, FOE #24 and Calvary Lutheran Church in Aberdeen. He enjoyed coin collecting, bowling, stock car racing, wood crafts, playing cards, music and traveling. Gene is survived by his wife of 69 years, Marlys Warne of Montesano, Washington; sons Jon (Kimberly) Warne, Roger Warne and Randal (Connie) Warne, all of Montesano, Washington; daughters Cheryl (Dave) Green of Waubun, Minnesota, Deborah Fry and Kristi Helms, both of Montesano, Washington, and Lizette (Colin) Baudais of Aberdeen, Washington; a brother, Ronald Warne of Elma, Washington; sisters Betty Schlaht of Montesano, Washington, Maxine Cogburn of Aberdeen, Washington, and Penny Rae Johnson of Elma, Washington; 17 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren with one on the way! Gene was preceded in death by sisters Charlotte Walberg and Marlene Willig; great-granddaughter, Danielle Hope Krulich; and two sons-in-law: Jay Helms and Stan Fry. There was a celebration of Gene’s life on Friday, Jan. 3, at the Montesano Moose Lodge, Montesano, Washington. A message of condolence or of a memory can be sent to the family at www.fernhillfuneral.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home in Aberdeen, Washington.
Keeta Marie Zepp, 68, homemaker and resident of Elma, Washington, passed away Saturday morning, Dec. 7, 2019, at Grays Harbor Community Hospital in Aberdeen, Washington. Keeta was born on July 17, 1951, in Aberdeen, Washington, to Robert and Zona (Miller) Johnson. She grew up in Oakville and graduated from Oakville High School in 1969. On November 15, 1975, Keeta moved to Satsop, Washington, and married Doug Zepp. They later divorced. Keeta was a homemaker, taking care of her family and when they moved to McCleary in 1979, she volunteered at the school while her kids attended there. In 1997, she moved to Satsop and then to Elma. She was a member of Elma Eagles and she enjoyed cooking, playing board games and attending all her kids school events and later all her grandkids events. Keeta was also the family Boggle champion, as she enjoyed board games as well as playing cards on a regular basis with family. She was well known for creating a warm welcoming home, and most notably her hospitality toward all of her children’s friends. Keeta is survived by two sons: Jason (Elizabeth) Zepp of Newnan, Georgia, and Josh (Kylie) Zepp of Elma, Washington, two daughters, Jodi (Erick) Johanson of Elma, Washington, and Trayce Kirby of Montesano, Washington, brothers, Doug Johnson of Aberdeen and Ron Johnson of Oakville, Washington; a sister, Sherri Lofton of Nogales, Arizona, nine grandchildren — Jordyn, Jacob, Maggie, Shaylee, Madalyn, Olivia, Bridget, Simon and Decker — and a great-granddaughter, Abby. There was a time of visitation and viewing for Keeta on Friday, Dec. 13, in Fern Hill Funeral Home in Aberdeen, Washington. A funeral service took place on Saturday, Dec. 14, in Elma United Methodist Church, Elma, Washington, with a reception following at the church. A private family burial took place later at The Final Rest Cemetery, Oakville, Washington. A message of condolence or of a memory can be sent to the family at www.fernhillfuneral.com Arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home in Aberdeen, WA.
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Ray L. Phillips Ray L. Phillips, 81, a servant of Jesus, went to be with Him on Dec. 5, 2019, at Grays Harbor Community Hospital in Aberdeen. Ray was born April 7, 1938, in St. Anthony, Idaho to Lee and Ella (Ellis) Phillips. As a young toddler the family moved to a cabin his Dad built on the upper part of the Smith Creek in Washington. In his early schooling, he went to Willapa Valley and Raymond school districts. In the mid-’40s the family moved to Kirby, Oregon, near Grants Pass, where he graduated high school at the Illinois Valley H. S. of Grants Pass. Sometime after graduation, he moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming where his oldest brother Dan was, and did roofing jobs and others, until heading to Fort Carson of Denver, in January of 1959, where he enlisted in the Army. Within a week he arrived at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he was in the 2nd Infantry Division. A few months later he was off to Fort Sam Houston, Texas for medical training, which he decided was not for him. In June, he was ordered to report to the 82nd Airborne which he loved. He ended with 21 jumps, five of which were particularly memorable. Also during this time it became evident he had a knack for numbers and found himself working as the payroll clerk. The only thing about that was it cut into his jump time. He was released in March of 1962 and honorably discharged Dec. 31, 1964. After release, he went back to visit family and then to Jackson, Wyoming where he became an ordained minister with the AG. While in Wyoming, he married Latricia Mae Trout in Torrington, Wyoming on Dec. 21, 1965. They were in ministry until the early ’70s, when they came back to Washington for his parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. They moved to the South Beach in the late ’70s, where Ray worked on the cranberry bogs off and on up until 2016. He also worked at Coast Oyster in South Bend and Markham. Also for
the city of Westport in the water department where he moved up to supervisor, retiring in 2003. After 32 plus years of marriage, his wife Latricia went to be with Jesus Aug. 6, 1998. Ray was a founding member of South Beach Christian Center, where he sought the help of the AG to start a Pentecostal church here on the South Beach. He always did evangelist work, right out of high school. He was an active member of the Gideons for 32 years. He always carried a New Testament in his pocket whenever he left the house. He loved to read, work, hunt, coach, especially pitching batting practice for Little League and up, until the age of 75. Also he went to the Juvenile Detention Center every Tuesday evening where he ministered to kids. He loved to play church softball and was an avid Ocosta School fanatic. He loved to watch his grandsons play ball, but he followed everyone, boys and girls, passionately and could be seen in the bleachers home and away. Ray is survived by his daughter, Ginger (Ben) Quinby of Grayland; sons, Troy (Michelle) of Aberdeen and Allen of Ocosta, Washington; two sisters, Doris Porter of South Bend, Washington and Kathy James of Marysville, California; a brother, Paul (Gerry) of Springfield, Oregon; three grandsons, Jason (Lindsey) Quinby, Zach (Oreian) Quinby and Tommy (Phylicia) Quinby; and 10 great-grandkids plus one on the way (8 ½ of them live in Grayland). He was preceded in death by his brother Dan Phillips. A celebration of his life was on Sunday, Jan. 5, at 3 p.m. at South Beach Christian Center in Grayland, Washington. The family asks in lieu of cards, any monetary gifts be made to the Gideons International because every penny goes to purchase Bibles for the lost. A message of condolence or memory can be sent to the family at www. fernhillfuneral.com. Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home in Aberdeen, Washington.
Saturday, January 18, 2020
Larry Vandervort Larry was born Aug. 22, 1938, in Hoquiam, to Bill and Vivian (Erickson) Vandervort and passed away Dec. 15, 2019, at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, with his family by his side. He married Susie McManus (Hickam) on Aug. 19, 1983. Larry was a logger all his life, working for many timber companies in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. He was an avid fisherman, hunter, and loved to go clam digging with his family. He always looked forward to his Seahawk Sundays with brother John. He was passionate about spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a loyal, devoted friend. He was preceded in death by his
parents, brothers Bob and Richard, sister MariAnne and son Raymond. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, at their home in Aberdeen, daughters Lorrie Aldrich, Bucoda, Missie (George) Holmes, Doty, Melinda (Gabe) Ratkie, Pe Ell, Molle (Ben) Bouch, Aberdeen, brother John Vandervort, Centralia, sister Janice (Ron) Clement, Eugene, Oregon and sister-in-law Linda Vandervort, Bucoda. He had 11 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. There was a celebration of life Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. It was held at the Oakview Grange #311, located at 2715 N. Pearl St., Centralia, WA 98531. Arrangements entrusted to Harrison Family Mortuary of Aberdeen.
Michael D. Carson Michael Dean Carson, 67, passed away at his home on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019. He fought a long courageous battle of Myelofibrosis. Michael was born June 6, 1952, in Aberdeen, Washington to Harry and Nonda Carson. Michael was raised in Aberdeen and graduated from Weatherwax High School in 1970. On March 28, 1975, Michael married Debra J. Schoening in Aberdeen. They were married for 44 years and had two boys. Mike worked for Swanson for 10 years. He then went to work for Peninsula Truck Lines for 29 years, retiring in 2005. One of his main joys in life was playing golf and fishing. He also loved
family time. In addition to his loving wife, Debra, he is also survived by two sons, Justin (Shannon) Carson and Shaun (Marki) Carson both of Lacey, Washington; grandson, Kael Carson, and granddaughters, Maya and Harlow Carson; two sisters, Janeen (Randy) Lambert of Arizona and Tammie Jacobs of Aberdeen; brotherin-law Larry Schoening and sister-in-law Evelyn Carson both of Aberdeen and his nieces and nephews. Michael was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Harry Carson Jr. At his request there will be no formal services. Arrangements are entrusted to Harrison Family Mortuary in Aberdeen.
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Saturday, January 18, 2020
The Daily World
Renee Joellyn Peterson Walker Renee Joellyn Peterson Walker, age 54, of Swansea, Illinois, passed away on Nov. 23, 2019. She was born in San Diego, California, the daughter of Richard (Pete) and Ellen (Rafert) Peterson. She lived in Blythe, California, Scappoose, Oregon, and Aberdeen, Washington. Renee graduated from Weatherwax High School in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1983. She attended and graduated from Grays Harbor Community College with an AA degree in 1985. She also attended the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, graduating with a BA in Business Administration, in 1987. While at the UW, she was a member of and officer in the Phi Mu Sorority. After graduation, she worked at 1st Interstate Bank in Seattle, and later for Wells Fargo Bank in Seattle. She was asked by Wells Fargo to open and manage an in-store bank at the Safeway grocery store in Aberdeen from December 1997 until April 1998, when she married Ward Walker and they moved to Jacksonville, Arkansas. They later moved to Montgomery, Alabama, where their first son, Carl Walker, was born. During high school, she was active in the high school marching band and graduated in the top 10 of her class. She was very involved in her local church, Calvary Lutheran Church, participating in the youth group and youth ministry, lighting candles for worship, playing on the church slow-pitch team. She was very musically inclined and involved in various ways. She did quilting and seamstress work. She worked in Joann’s Fabric store in Aberdeen and then in the Seattle area while at the University of Washington. During high school, she worked part time at Godfather’s Pizza in Aberdeen. Renee was a natural born leader and loved to invest herself in the lives of others. In her many moves
with her military husband, she always found places to be involved in her local churches in Jacksonville, Arkansas; Montgomery, Alabama; Alexandria, Virginia and Fairview Heights, Illinois, and in those communities, as well, in countless ways. For example, Renee volunteered in Boy Scout Troop 52 for several years, serving as treasurer. Her two sons, Carl and Peter (as well as her husband Ward) earned the rank of Eagle Scout in that troop. She supported the music program at Wolf Branch Elementary and Middle School. Renee was the treasurer of BEBOP for Belleville East High School marching band in Belleville, Illinois. She loved watching her children, Carl, Katie and Peter along with her honorary kids (the entire band) perform over the years. The Belleville Marching Band established a scholarship in her memory. She was an active member of the First Baptist Church, Fairview Heights, Illinois. In the church, she directed vacation Bible school events, organized the Women’s Ministry Program and led countless Bible study groups for women and befriended people throughout the church. She is a daughter of the King, and she would not be shaken. Renee is survived by her husband, Ward Walker: daughter, Katie Walker, sons, Carl and Peter Walker, her father Richard (Pastor Pete) Peterson, a sister and brother-inlaw Rebecca and Mike Fitzpatrick, nephew Eric Fitzpatrick, all of Aberdeen: parents-in-law, Larry and Joy Walker of Burke, Virginia and brother-in-law Wes Walker and nephew Stephen Walker of Miami, Florida. Renee was preceded in death by her mother Ellen Peterson of Aberdeen. A memorial service and burial were conducted in Fairview Heights, Illinois, on Nov. 26 and 27, respectively.
Timothy Lee McDonald Timothy Lee McDonald, 71, of Grayland passed away at Aberdeen, Washington, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019. He was born Sept. 26, 1948, to John and Elaine McDonald. The family lived in Grayland and a few years in Sitka, Alaska. Upon returning to the Harbor he graduated from Ocosta High School in 1966. Tim joined the Army in 1966, where he received two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star while serving in Vietnam. Returning from the war he was a staff sergeant until his discharge in 1969. On Oct. 11, 1975, Tim married the love of his life, Janet Bizer. They were married for 35 years until Janet’s death in 2009. In 1977, Tim moved the family to Skagway, Alaska, where he taught elementary school and coached wrestling until his retirement in 1997. Tim and Janet returned to the Harbor to enjoy retirement. He was a lifetime member of the Skagway, Alaska, Elks Lodge as well as the Westport VFW, Post 3057. Tim’s most favorite
pastime was watching his grandson, Kobe, play sports. He never missed a game. He also enjoyed walking his grand dogs and had become quite the world traveler. Tim is survived by his son, Erik (Brandi) McDonald, Tokeland; two daughters: Sarah (Keith) Beck, Westport and M’Liss (Rodney) Roraback, Forest Grove, Oregon; a brother: Clifford (Debbie) McDonald, Ocosta; a sister: Christine Davis, Grayland; and also five grandchildren: Luke, Ethan, Aidan, Jenna and
Kobe. A potluck and celebration of his life was held Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Westport VFW, Post 3057. The family suggests memorials may be made to PAWS, P.O. Box 451, Aberdeen, WA 98520. A card of condolence with a message or a memory may be sent to the family at www. fernhillfuneral.com Arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home, Aberdeen
John Wesley Woods John Wesley Woods, born in Tacoma, Washington, on May 4, 1934, passed away Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, with his loving family by his side. He was 85. John was raised in Pacific Beach, Washington by his loving parents Jack and Ruth (Swanson) Woods and attended Moclips High School. He then joined the United States Navy. On June 12, 1977, John married Deanna Wood in Fremont, California. They later relocated to Ocean Shores in 1996. Prior to John’s 1988 retirement, he was employed as Home and Commercial Construction Foreman with Wick Construction. After retirement he enjoyed his time with family, woodworking,
golfing, bowling and building homes in his community. John is survived by his wife of 42 years, Deanna Woods and brother Mike Woods both of Ocean Shores. He was preceded in death by his parents Jack and Ruth Woods and siblings Alton Woods, Jean Landeck, and Evelyn Daugherty. Memorial donations in John’s name may be made to North Beach Medical Supply in Ocean Shores,
Washington. To share memories or express condolences please visit www.harrisonfamilymortuary.com. Harrison Family Mortuary of Aberdeen is honored to assist the family.
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James R. Wills James R. Wills of Ocean Shores, Washington, passed away on Dec. 6. 2019, at age 81. He was a retired U.S. Navy veteran, retiring rank of Master Chief Master at Arms. He was born on Aug. 10, 1938, in Arlington, Texas, to Alva Ross Wills and Juanita Wills. He was proceeded in death by them and two sisters, Leah and Beryl Ann. He is survived by Jeanette Wills of Ocean Shores, business partner, wife and companion of over 38 years; three daughters of a former marriage, Ina Wills and Nita Wills of Washington and Lydia Wills of Ketchum, Idaho. Also, stepdaughter, Kathy Foshay and husband, Dave, of Port Orchard, Washington, and their three children, Danny, Donovan and Debra and their seven grandchildren; stepson, Russell Linderman and wife Connie of Charleston, South Carolina, and their children, Garrett and Brenna. He is also survived by two nephews, Jamie Ainsworth and Jack Ross Price of Texas and niece Pattie Greenwood of Texas. He served for 23 years in the U.S. Navy and among his duties was as a weapons instructor. He was assigned and served on several aircraft carriers; his last was USS Midway, now a museum in San Diego, California. While serving on the USS Midway (CV 41) he received a Navy Commendation Medal “For Meritorious service
Saturday, January 18, 2020
Patricia Ann Sund
as Chief Master at Arms during the evacuation of South Vietnam, 29 & 30 April 1975. Master Chief Petty Officer was instrumental in the detailed planning, coordination and execution of a comprehensive Evacuee Control Plan which facilitated orderly processing of over 3,000 refugees aboard MIDWAY a temporary haven. Master Chief Petty Officer Wills’ professionalism and devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest tradition of the United States Naval Service” signed, Dec. 12, 1975, by the Secretary of the Navy. Upon his Navy retirement he moved on to management positions in real estate, mortgage lending and hotel and condominiums, retiring in 2003 from “6001 Condominiums” in Bellevue, Washington. His hobbies included golfing, boating, lake fishing and river salmon fishing and catching his “biggest fish,” a marlin, while in Kauai. He enjoyed cooking, especially for family gatherings. He also designed and built “Tall Sailing Ships” models, which he shared with family and friends and occasionally sold. He was a life member of the VFW of Ocean Shores, Washington. Burial will be at sea with services conducted by the U.S. Navy. Condolences may be sent to fernhillfuneral.com
Patricia Ann Sund, age 86, a resident of Hoquiam, died on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, at her home in Hoquiam. Patricia Ann was born on June 12, 1933, in Aberdeen, Washington, to John G. and Geta C. (Sodermark) Pearson. While attending the Hoquiam schools, she was active in tennis and school clubs. She enjoyed cooking and baking. After graduating, she worked at the state capital. On Nov. 8, 1954, she and Richard W. Sund were married. Richard died on Sept. 17, 2000. Pat had worked for Dr. Heikel in Aberdeen and later volunteered at the 7th Street Consignment Shop with her dear friend, Jan Luce. She attended the Saron Lutheran Church in Hoquiam, where she volunteered with the Sunday school class her children attended. She enjoyed traveling to Hawaii, Nebraska and the family Reno trips. Pat was the glue that held her family together after the passing of her husband, Richard. She showed her love to her children, grandchildren and friends every day of her loving life. We love you, momma. She enjoyed sewing and knitting for her children as well as cooking. Good memories of her were the barbecues with family and friends as well as the big get-togethers around the holiday seasons. She will long be remembered for always having an open door and kitchen for all of her family and their friends. This showed her love, that was known to her
family, in her heart and it was shown to all. Her most memorable times was when she was giving birth to her six children, whom she loved “to the moon and back”. She is survived by her children and their spouses, Jody Brook, Vicky and Norlan Kain, Scott Sund of the family home and Steve and Melissa Sund; her grandchildren, Kyle Brook, Jennifer Brook, Emily Sund, Matt Anderson, Shellyne Anderson, Angela Frickel, Misty Frickel, Becky Connelly and Cori Motly; great-grandkids, Hayden, Justyce, Stevie, Kingston, Trinnity, Mia, Ashton, Luke, Jewel, Eli, Cindy and Dakota and her niece, Christine Luce. In addition to her parents and husband, Richard; her daughters, Cindy Connelly and Diana Sund; her granddaughter, Kelli Brook and a brother, Jack Pearson all died previously. “We would love to thank our brother, Scott, for all the years of taking such loving care of our mother. Without his living devotion, love and support we would have been lost. He is the best son any mother could hope for. We love you Scott”. A private urn committal was held for the family. Arrangements are by the Coleman Mortuary in Hoquiam. Please take a few moments to record your thoughts for the family by signing the online register at www.colemanmortuary.net.
Susan May Maloney Susan May Maloney, 86, a lifetime Raymond resident, passed away Sunday Dec. 15, at the Willapa Harbor Health and Rehab Center in Raymond. Susan was born March 7, 1933, in Raymond to Peter and May (Jacobsen) Maloney. After studying to become an RN, she worked in the emergency room at Harborview in Seattle, eventually making her way back to her hometown to work at the Willapa Harbor Hospital and Willapa
Harbor Care Center. Susan didn’t limit her care giving to her patients. She generously helped and cared for family and friends, always noticing what was needed and jumping in to help. Susan was an avid golfer, enjoyed watching sports and was a member of the South Bend Eagles and Willapa Harbor Ladies Golf Club. When Susan traveled, it was usually with her wonderful friend Carole Halsan and her beloved cocker spaniel, Moxy.
She is preceded in death by a brother, Thomas Maloney, and an uncle, William Jacobsen. Survivors include two nephews, William (Channing) Maloney of Ebinburgh, Scotland, Joseph (Lynn) Maloney of Bonney Lake, and two greatnieces, Janelle and Jolene; a niece, Carol (Robert) Ndambuki of Pullman, Washington, and two great-nephews Darren and Louis. A memorial service was held Monday,
Dec. 30, 2019, at the St Lawrence Catholic Church in Raymond. Funeral Mass was followed by a light lunch. In lieu of flowers, donations in Sue’s memory can be made to St. Lawrence Catholic Church or the charity of your choice. Arrangements are in care of Stoller’s Mortuary in Raymond. You may visit www.StollersMortuary.com to leave condolences for the family.
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Barbara Lee Call Barbara Lee Call, 81 years of age and a longtime Toledo, Washington, resident died on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019, at her home in Toledo. She was born on Sept. 19, 1938, in the Hoquiam General Hospital in Hoquiam, Washington, to Daniel Barry and Ruth Irene (Major) Cooper. She grew up in her maternal grandparents home in Hoquiam with her younger brother, because her mother had died of cancer and her father was in the U.S. Navy. She attended Emerson Elementary and graduated from Hoquiam High School in the Class of 1956. From her earliest years right through high school she loved the company of her girlfriends. Big slumber parties were in vogue in the early 1950s and Barb loved to attend with her girlfriends. She loved supporting the school sports teams, especially the football program where her future husband, Bob Hay, was a player. As her two sons were growing up she enjoyed family activities and especially camping trips. Barb enjoyed travel and made trips to California and Mexico. After her family had grown up she attended business college in Olympia to become a legal secretary. As her first marriage ended she moved to Seattle to pursue her new career. She then met Woody Call who would become her second husband on March 6, 1993, in Factoria, Washington. They eventually bought a small farm
near Toledo, Washington, where she lived for the remaining 28 years of her life. She made it a point to go to all of the Class of 56 reunions. She loved needlework, like cross stitch, needle point, hooking and especially quilting where she was prolific and skillful. She also got to travel more and particularly liked New Orleans, Washington, D.C., and New York City. Gardening was another passion, especially perennials and her greenhouse full of orchids. Alzheimer’s stole her from us and we miss her terribly. Barbara Lee Call is survived by her husband, Woodrow Watts Call of the Toledo family home; two sons, Robert Hay Jr. and his wife, Cynthia, of Seattle as well as Thad Hay and his wife, Sylvia, of Issaquah; four grandchildren, Kelsey Hay, Monique Barnes, Angelia Hay and Rachel Hay; one brother, Charles Cooper and his wife, Mary, of Copalis Crossing, her extended family includes, her aunt, Shirley Claywell and her cousin, Sheri Claywell both of Hoquiam. A celebration of her life was held Friday, Dec. 6, 2019, at the Coleman Mortuary Chapel. Vault interment followed in the Sunset Memorial Park in Hoquiam. Direction is by the Coleman Mortuary, 422 – 5th Street in Hoquiam. Please take a few moments to record your thoughts for the family by signing the online register at www.colemanmortuary.net.
Jonice (Toots) Flanigan Stoppleworth Passed away peacefully on Dec. 5, 2019, at the age of 74. Toots was born May 20, 1945, in Aberdeen, Washington, to John A. and Bernice Flanigan. She married Russell F. Stoppleworth in 1963 and then moved to Sweet Home, Oregon. In 1977 the family moved to Ruston/ Arcadia, Louisiana area, where they have lived for the past 42 years. She was full of life and loved everyone she crossed paths with and she enjoyed
spending lots of time with her greatgrand children. John A. and Bernice Flanigan preceded her in death. She is survived by her husband, Russell F. Stoppleworth, son Robbert (Robbie) Stoppleworth (Janet), daughter Lynne Jones (Stan), sons, Andrew Barnes (Dee) and Robert Barnes (Marianne). She is also survived by her brother, John P. Flanigan (Randi) of Aberdeen, Washington and sister Nan Seiber (Russ) of Sweet Home.
Ronald Darrin Hale Ronald Darrin Hale, age 53, an Aberdeen resident, died on Nov. 25, 2019, at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. Ron was born on July 26, 1966, in Aberdeen, Washington, to Gordon R. and Emma J. (Davis) Hale. He was raised in Lake Quinault and attended local schools. At the age of 16, he received his GED and later attended Grays Harbor College. On July 6, 1991, he and Lynn M. Albano were married. From 1997 to Dec. of 2018, he owned and operated Hale Construction. Ron loved his family, building, remodeling and is remembered for his sense of humor and as an honest, hard-working man. Surviving relatives include his wife, Lynn of the family home in Central Park; two daughters and their husbands, Ashley and Brandon Johns of Cosmopolis and Alisha and Ryan Wood of Surprise, Arizona;
grandchildren, Kyleigh Hale, age nine, Kayeson Johns, age six, Kamdyn Johns, age three and Liam Wood, age one; his siblings, Bonnie Scarberry Hale of Raymond, Jennifer Rotter of Montesano, Daniel Hale of Shoreline and Jane Coy of Aumsville, Oregon; and a niece that was considered a sister, Elisha Sansom of Raymond. The extended family includes numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded by his mother, Emma and brother, Donald. A celebration of life was held at noon on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, at the Hoquiam Elks Lodge, 624 K Street, Hoquiam, WA 98550. Cremation arrangements are by the Coleman Mortuary in Hoquiam. Please take a few moments to record your thoughts for the family by signing the online register at www.colemanmortuary.net.
Sandra Kay (Mirek) Raphoon Sandra Kay (Mirek) Raphoon passed away on Dec. 3, 2019, in Grandview, Washington. Sandra was born May 31, 1942, in Wausau, Wisconsin, to Adam and Edna (Tietz) Mirek. Sandra was born and raised in the Wausau, Wisconsin, area. She graduated from D.C. Everest High School in 1960. On Nov. 19, 1966, Sandra married the love of her life, Ralph Raphoon, in Wausau, Wisconsin. In 1978, Ralph’s job transferred them to Montesano, Washington. There, Ralph and Sandra raised their four children. Sandra worked as a school bus driver for the Montesano School District for many years. In 2003, Sandra and her handicapped son, Paul, moved to the Yakima Valley after Ralph passed away to be near her three older children and her grandkids. Sandra loved reading, watching TV, shopping, spending time with her kids and grandkids, and watching football and cheering for her favorite team — the Green Bay Packers. Sandra was
a terrific mother and grandmother, and she will be greatly missed by her family. Sandra is survived by her beloved family. Her son Scott (Jamie) Raphoon of Yakima, daughter Tammy (Jeff) McKee of Selah, son Paul, Selah and her eight grandchildren: Amanda Cramer, Baylee and Sarah Summers, Noah and Lindsey McKee, and Carter, Harper and Parker Raphoon. She is also survived by her brother David (Carol) Mirek, Rothschild, Wisconsin. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Raphoon, brother Jack Mirek and daughter Christine (Raphoon) Summers. A private burial service will take place at a later date in Rothschild, Wisconsin. Special thanks to Will and staff at Grandview Assisted Living and Heartlinks Hospice & Palliative Care in Sunnyside, Washington for their care these past few months.
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Pat Doyle Pat Doyle (Thomas Patrick Doyle) was born May 12, 1926, in Aberdeen, Washington, to Ruth (Phillips) and Mike Doyle. He passed away Nov. 17, 2019, in Hoquiam, Washington, at the age of 93. Pat was a lifelong resident of the Twin Harbors area. He attended Ocosta school and then left high school to log with his father and brothers, later earning his GED. He served in the Army in Korea during the Korean War and returned to the family home in Johns River afterward. On Dec. 19, 1959, Pat married Catherine Jacobsen at her family home in North Cove. They lived in Ocosta until 1974, when they moved to Catherine’s childhood home in North Cove to live with her widowed father. Pat and Catherine lived in North Cove until November 2012, when they moved to Zillah, Washington, to be near their daughter, Sandy Simmons and her family. In October 2013, they returned to the Twin Harbors area, and Catherine passed away in April 2014. Pat continued to make his living as a logger after marrying and was in partnership with his brother, Tim Doyle, for many years. He enjoyed the independence of being a small-business owner, the opportunity to be physically active during his work day and working with his brother. However, he did not always enjoy the weather up in the woods! He was also a volunteer firefighter for many years and participated
in the Ocosta and North Cove volunteer fire departments. He was a member of Twin Harbors Lutheran Church and he and Catherine participated in a square-dancing group for a time (until Catherine broke her hip). Pat and Catherine liked to travel and took several trips over the years. Pat always felt a little doubtful about the trips during the planning phase, then went on to have a great time at each place he visited. They went to Hawaii, Spain, France, England and Switzerland. They also visited New Mexico, the San Francisco area, Pennsylvania and New York City, and made many trips to Kalispell, Montana, to visit Catherine’s sister and brother-in-law, Karen and Wendell Barbee (both now deceased). Pat is survived by his sister Laura Mowry (Tom), his brother, Tim Doyle, and his sister-in-law Julie Doyle (wife of his late brother Terry). He is also survived by his daughter, Sandy (Stuart) Simmons, his sons, Tom Doyle and David (Marti) Doyle, his granddaughters, Claire and Lily Simmons, and numerous nieces and nephews. His memorial service was held Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, at Twin Harbors Lutheran Church, 2424 State Route 105, Grayland, WA. Memorials may be made to the South Beach Regional Fire Authority, P.O. Box 1195, Westport, WA 98595, Twin Harbors Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 490, Grayland, WA 98547, or to the charity of your choice.
Joyce Cress Looney Joyce Cress Looney, 24-year resident of Montesano, passed away Monday, Dec. 2, 2019, in Aberdeen, Washington. She was 98. Joyce was born to Neal and Lessie (Frissth) Cress on Sept. 15, 1921 in Roscoe, Texas. Joyce is survived by her son Roy (Maria) Looney; sister Louise Oldham; grandchildren, Kitten Looney, Teresa Looney Burtt, Cimmeron Burtt, Patricia Idell, Kevin Idell, Deanna Looney, Aia Looney, Brad Spencer, Omar Looney; 10 great-grandchildren and one
great-great-grandson. Joyce spent her life serving the Lord and caring for others. She will be loved and missed by all who knew her. Visitation and funeral services were held on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019, in the Chapel of Harrison Family Mortuary in Aberdeen. Burial followed at Wynooche Cemetery. To share memories or express condolences please visit www.harrisonfamilymortuary.com. Harrison Family Mortuary of Aberdeen is honored to assist the family.
Saturday, January 18, 2020
Arthur Franklin Bell Arthur Franklin Bell, age 88, a longtime resident of Hoquiam, died on Dec. 4, 2019, at his home in Hoquiam. Mr. Bell was born on June 23, 1931, in Opal, South Dakota, to George F. and Ruby (Hart) Bell. At age 9, he moved with his family to Ocosta, Washington. He graduated from Ocosta High School in 1949, where he was a standout football player. Soon after high school, he began working in the woods. In the mid 1950s, he worked for Lamb Grays Harbor and became a blacksmith. He remained there until his retirement in 1993. On Aug. 31, 1951, he and Peggy Wertz were married. Peggy later died on Sept. 29, 1997. He later married Joyce L. Thompson on April 27, 2002. Joyce survives at the family home in Hoquiam. Arthur loved woodworking and selling his wares at craft fairs throughout the area for more than 48 years. In his younger years, he enjoyed hunting, camping, fishing and traveling to Montana and South Dakota. He loved having family get-togethers, especially Christmas Eve and Easter. He enjoyed listening to country music. In addition to his wife, Joyce, surviving relatives include his children and their spouses, Sarah and Terry Wetzel of Hoquiam, Sherri and Dennis Elders of Hoquiam, Steve and Karen Bell of Shelton, Sandi Bell of Elma, and Sid Bell of Lacey; step-children and their spouses, Randy and Debbie Thompson of Seattle, Ben Thompson of Seattle and Shelly and Mike Snyder of Hoquiam; a sister, Florence Edwards of Montesano and a brother, Robert and Louise Bell of Bremerton. The extended family has 14 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren (also one on the way) and five great-great-grandchildren. Two brothers, George and Lester Bell, and two sisters, Emma Newman and Myrtle Bassinger, died previously. A funeral service was held at the Coleman Mortuary on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. Interment followed at Hoquiam’s Sunset Memorial Park. Arrangements are by the Coleman Mortuary in Hoquiam. Please take a few moments to record your thoughts for the family by signing the online register at www.colemanmortuary.net.
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Michael Ward Bessey
Traute Helene Bale
Darrel C. Bales
Michael Ward Bessey, 69, an East County resident, passed away at his home Monday, Dec. 2, 2019. He was born Feb. 1, 1950 in Bellflower, California, the son of Benjamin Ward and Virginia Fern (Hoskin) Bessey. His family moved, father being in the military, to several locations. They would come to Hoquiam in the early 1960s and Michael would graduate from Hoquiam High School in 1968. He then served 16 years in the U.S. Navy. He was a postal carrier in the Shelton area from the late 1980s until he retired in 2017. Michael enjoyed fishing, appreciated classic cars, classic rock music and traveling. He also loved reading Clive Cussler adventure novels, murder mysteries and movies. He is survived by a son, Bryan Bessey, Elma; a daughter, Alyssa Bessey, Edgewood, Washington; two sisters, Patricia (Randy) Green, Paradise, California, and Diana (Ronald) Spicer, Bellingham, and his former wife, Elena D. Bessey, Bonney Lake, Washington. At Michael’s request there was only private family remembrances. A card of condolence with a message or a memory may be sent to the family at www.fernhillfuneral.com Arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home, Aberdeen.
Traute Helene Bale was born in March 1936, in Heilbronn-Bockingen, Germany, where she survived multiple Allied bombings, diphtheria and the horrors of World War II. She is preceded in death by parents Helmut and Helene Westenberger, brother Manfred, and husband Ken. Sister-in-law Inge and nephews Jürgen and Thomas reside in Germany. She left Germany in 1957 to study nursing in Wales. During her training she corresponded with Ken Bale who was a bush pilot for the R.G. Le Tourneau mission in Liberia, West Africa. After writing for two years, they met in Wales, got married in Germany, and honeymooned in Paris. They lived in Liberia for two years where daughter Heidi was born. They then briefly lived in Germany. During this time they toured Europe in their Volkswagen bus “Germania,” shipped it across the Atlantic on the ocean liner SS United States and toured the United States. They returned to the United States in May of 1965. After settling in Baleville, outside Raymond, Traute maintained large flower and vegetable gardens and raised Heidi and sons Paul and Eric. She was a devout member of the Lutheran Church and worked in Home Health, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Title I and at the Penny Wise thrift shop. She was a Master Gardener and member of two garden clubs. Traute loved history and travel and still considered herself a European. She traveled extensively throughout Europe, the Middle East and North America. She was a two-time cancer survivor. She is survived by daughter Heidi Bale of Raymond, son Paul Bale (Vickey) of Knoxville, Tennessee, and son Eric Bale of Huntsville, Alabama. Arrangements are in care of Stoller’s Mortuary in Raymond. A funeral service was held Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, at the First Lutheran Church in South Bend. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Mercy Ships, Heifer International, or the charity of your choice in Traute’s name.
Darrel was born in North Dakota. When he was 12 years old, his family moved to Seattle. Later he lived in Aberdeen and Hoquiam, Washington. He passed away in Sun City, Arizona, Nov. 21, 2019, from heart failure. He married his wife, Cheryl, Dec.1, 1973. Darrel joined the Army and served in Korea for two years. He worked for Lamb Grays Harbor Company as traffic manager, and previously worked for United Airlines. He loved flying and had his private and commercial pilot’s licenses. He was a flight instructor. When his father-in-law, Russell Hindman, retired, Darrel taught him to fly, enabling him to get his private pilot’s license. Darrel loved boating and fishing. He often fished for salmon at Westport and in Puget Sound. Darrel was a sports car fan and over the years had several. Together he and his stepson, Mike Balagot, restored a MGA. His latest sports car was a Mercedes SLK 350, his pride and joy. Darrel was an excellent cook and enjoyed cooking Thanksgiving dinners. He was known for his turkey dressing. Darrel was a dog lover. In his lifetime his dogs George, a black poodle, Ching Su, a Chinese Shar Pei, Maggie, a black lab, and JoJo, a white poodle, brought him great joy. He belonged to the Eagles and Elks and liked to golf. Darrel is survived by his wife Cheryl, step-children Michael Balagot and Lisa Felts; step-grandchildren Adam Woodland, Aaron Balagot, Morgan Romani and Paige Balagot; six step-great-grandchildren, four nieces and one nephew. Upon his request there will be no service. Donations in memory of Darrel may be made to: Best Friends Animal Society, 5001 Angel Canyon Rd, Kanani, UT 84741,1-435-644-2001 .
Ruth Marie Frafjord Ruth Marie Frafjord, age 95, passed away Dec. 18, 2019 at Montesano Health and Rehab in Montesano, Washington. Ruth was born April 12, 1924 in Onalaska, Washington, to John and Virgie (Burgin) Dow. She met her future husband at a Grange dance in Onalaska in December of 1940. Harold and Ruth were engaged November of 1941. After graduating from Onalaska High School, she followed Harold to Bakersfield, California, and were married on Aug. 18, 1942. After Harold was shipped overseas, Ruth moved to Los Angeles and worked in a department store for several years.
After the war, Harold and Ruth lived in Onalaska for several years. The family moved from Onalaska to Central Park, Washington, in the early 1950s. After purchasing several acres in Central Park, they proceed to build their new home where they lived for almost 70 years. She was an avid bowler in the senior leagues in Montesano and Aberdeen for many years. In addition, she enjoyed gardening and many different crafts such as ceramics and sewing. Harold and Ruth were enthusiastic dancers with the Old Time Fiddlers Association also. She is survived by a son, David Frafjord
of Long Beach, California, grandson, Steven (Nancy) Frafjord of La Mirada, California, great-grandchildren, Levi Frafjord of Blythe, California, twins Aaron and Nicole Frafjord both of La Mirada, California, brother Darrell (Naomi) Dow of Onalaska, Washington, sister-in-law Janice Frafjord of Montesano and many nieces and nephews. Visitation was held Monday, Dec. 30, 2019, in the chapel at Harrison Family Mortuary located at 311 W. Market St. in Aberdeen. A graveside service was Monday, Dec. 30, 2019, at Wynooche Cemetery in Montesano.
The Daily World
Jeffrey Harold Olsen On Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, our loving father and “Big Brother,” Jeffrey Harold Olsen, passed at the age of 70. Jeff was born April 19, 1949, in Raymond, Washington, to Zeldalee (Brown) Olsen and Harold Lloyd Olsen. He attended the Raymond school system starting with Riverview and 9th Street elementary schools before graduating from Raymond High School in 1967, as its class president. Jeff was active in athletics, band, school plays and student government with leadership rolls his passion. Jeff was also very civicminded and always willing to volunteer his time. Whenever “taps” was requested at a memorial service, you could hear the trumpet of Jeff, first as a fill-in and then the go-to guy. After attending Grays Harbor College and Washington State University, Jeff married Carol Felber, resided in Raymond where their daughter, Hillary Ann, was born. After leaving the Harbor, Jeff settled in Olympia and worked for both Jones Washington and Seattle Stevedore companies, where he worked side by side with family and friends of the ILWU. Jeff retired as one of their top marketing representatives making lifelong friends and often visiting customers who hosted his stay while in Japan. After his retirement, Jeff often visited his family in New York until he decided that it was time to be closer to his daughter and three beautiful granddaughters. Jeff moved to Long Island, New York, March 2018 and spent the remainder of his time loving life to his best. Jeff was preceded in his passing by both his mother and father
and his wife Lyn Barney Olsen. He is survived by his immediate family including daughter, Hillary Ann Sesack and Will, granddaughters Lily, Chloe and Molly; his step-children Todd and Erica Barney (Van), Lisa Barney and Troy Barney all in the Olympia area; his three brothers, Scott and Keri at Lost Lake, Washington, Steve and Roxanne at Hanford, California and Todd and Teresa at Toledo, Oregon; niece Katie Olsen Waldport, Oregon; nephews Chris Olsen (Lisa) Montesano, Washington; Scott (Yanna) Los Angeles, California; Jarred (Melisa) Visalia, California; Fred Olsen Eugene, Oregon and Raleigh (Hailey) Olsen Albany, Oregon. He is also survived by the many cousins and relatives and friends of the Brown and Olsen families that he loved to visit and share stories. Jeff was very proud of his Norwegian heritage, having traveled with his father to visit the homeland and this Viking quote is in his honor: “The problems that lay before you are not as strong as the Ancestors that walk beside you”. Jeffrey Harold Olsen has entered Valhalla with the blessings of Odin himself. A celebration of life will be held at the Raymond BPOE #1292 on April 11, 2020, where he was the Exalted Ruler for two terms, from 1976-77 and again from 1978-79. Also, the family of Jeffrey Harold Olsen would like to encourage any donations on his behalf be mailed to: Raymond High School, c/o Janna Richard RHS ASB Sec. Raymond, WA 98577. Check made out to RHS, Memo line the check to: Seamon A. Anderson Scholarship Fund.
Saturday, January 18, 2020
Charlene Rose Izzi Charlene Rose Izzi, 66, of Hoquiam, Washington, passed away Dec. 9, 2019 at Montesano Rehabilitation Center in Montesano, Washington. She was born to the late Milton and Marlys Bruneau, Feb. 17, 1953, in Aberdeen, Washington. Charlene graduated from Hoquiam High School in 1971. She was married to John Izzi in 1971. They recently celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary on September 19. Charlene is survived by three children: Craig Izzi of Tillamook Oregon, Brian Izzi (Michelle Izzi) of Olympia, Washington and Heather Izzi-Decker(Mike Decker) of Puyallup Washington. She is also survived by three grandchildren: Jordan Izzi, 24, Morgan Izzi, 17 and Kaitlyn Izzi, 6. Charlene was such a loving, caring and giving person. She was a beloved mother and grandmother who her children and grandchildren adored. She loved her
family and friends more than anything on this earth. She worked for the Hoquiam School District as a paraeducator for over 20 years and was an avid animal lover, volunteering for PAWS of Grays Harbor. She kept us all in stitches when she bust into uncontrollable laughing and snorting, cracking herself up with her own jokes. Charlene was immensely proud of her family and leaves behind nothing but beautiful memories. Services were held on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, at the Light & Life Community Church in Hoquiam, Washington. Charlene’s wishes would be for people to donate to PAWS of Grays Harbor in lieu of sending flowers. Please feel free to email any special stories about Charlene to heathermassage2000@gmail.com for her family to share and enjoy.
Marlene A Thele Marlene A Thele, 82, passed away on Dec. 15, 2019, with family by her side at St Joseph’s hospital in Tacoma after a fall. She was a very social person with the gift of gab. Marlene was born on August 8, 1937, in Aberdeen to Oscar and Louise Pehrsson. They lived in a small logging camp at Wixwood near Elma for her first few years. She graduated from Elma High School in 1955. She played the French horn in the band. She married Ken Thele on Sept. 21, 1957. They were married 54 years and had three children. She was very active in her children’s activities, including scorekeeping at the Little League games. Marlene worked for the state government for 25 years, retiring from the Department of Health. One of her main loves in life was the piano (also
organ and keyboard) but also loved karaoke. She was active in several lodges as musician in the Rebecca Lodge, Moose lodge and Eagles. She also loved crafts and created silk arrangements to sell at craft fairs. She lived at Maple Glen Senior Living for many years and had lots of concerts down in the dining hall for her fellow residents. She also enjoyed bingo, dominos, dice and cards. She is survived by her children, Richard Thele of Shelton, Cindy Nuxoll of Satsop and Vikki Gigstead (Tom) of Shelton; grandchildren, Tom Gigstead Jr., Melissa Gigstead and Cadie Nuxoll; great-grandchildren, Rose, John, Kendyl and McKenzie Gigstead. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
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The Daily World
Helen L Mouncer Todd
Verna Marie Copeland Verna Marie Copeland, age 81, a longtime resident of the Harbor, died on Nov. 19, 2019, at Grays Harbor Community Hospital in Aberdeen. Mrs. Copeland was born on Dec. 12, 1937, in Centralia, Washington, to Clifford Ira and Ella May (Garlinghouse) Hodges. At the age of 3, she came to Hoquiam with her family from Gate, Washington, and attended Washington Grade School. After moving to Aberdeen, she attended the old Stevens school in South Aberdeen, Miller Junior High School and graduated from Weatherwax High School in 1956. She worked for J.C. Penney for more than 35 years, mostly in the catalog department. From 2005 to 2015, she worked as a slot attendant and a keno runner for Quinault Beach Resort and Casino. Verna had been a member of the Alder Grove Church of God in Aberdeen for more than 68 years and had been active in most every capacity including treasurer. In later years, she earned a certificate to provide pastoral services while volunteering at Grays Harbor Community Hospital. She enjoyed gardening, bowling and working with plastic canvas. She is survived by two sisters, Wilma Hudson of Taholah and Rosalie Lankow (Paul) of Hillsboro, Oregon; those that she considered her special kids, Joe (Brenna) Lankow of Boise, Idaho, Mandy Hudson-Howard (Archie) of Taholah, Caitlin Howard (Jaren) of Taholah, Max Howard of Taholah, Baby Blaine Ancheta and Ashton Moody, both of Taholah and numerous other nieces and nephews. A brother, Kenneth Hodges died in 2007. A memorial service was held on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, at the Alder Grove Church of God, 1800 Coolidge Road, Aberdeen, Washington. A reception follwed at the church. A private urn committal service preceded the service. Cremation arrangements are by the Coleman Mortuary in Hoquiam. Please take a few moments to record your thoughts for the family by signing the online register at www.colemanmortuary.net.
Helen L Mouncer Todd of Olympia passed away Dec. 18, 2019 at Panorama Convalescent Center at Lacey. She was born Jan. 12, 1935, to Homer and Verna Mouncer in Elma. Helen was raised on a big farm and enjoyed her horses and 4-H. She graduated from Elma High School in 1952, as the class salutatorian. Helen worked as a bank bookkeeper in Montesano and later as a teacher’s aid at AJ West in Aberdeen. While at that school she was president of the PTA. Helen married the love of her life Clifton (Clif) Todd Jan. 18, 1957. They later moved to Aberdeen in 1959 as her husband joined the Aberdeen police force. The next move took them to Ocean Shores which was really enjoyed by Helen and her family. She loved beachcombing, bird watching, mushroom study and square dancing. Camping in their RVs was a great adventure with the Good Sam Club. In 1990, Helen and Clif moved to Steamboat Island Road
in Thurston County. They were very involved in the Steamboat action community to get an overpass on Highway 101. After a successful overpass campaign Helen was chosen to do the groundbreaking with the golden shovel and cut the ribbon at the project completion. Her last home was Colonial Estates in Olympia, where Clifton resides now. To no surprise, Helen was active in this community as well, taking charge of the pet parade, helping with the ladies tea, and playing cards at the clubhouse. In addition to her husband, Helen is survived by daughter Teri Todd (boyfriend Ben), son Harold Todd (wife Natalie) and daughter Lana Olson (husband Jim). She was very proud of her six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. A celebration of life was held at Colonial Estates, 14th Ave SE, Olympia on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. Arrangements are by Mill & Mills Funeral Home. Condolences to the family can be made at www.millsandmills funerals.com.
Harold Vigo Mazanti
Gene Smith Jr.
Harold Vigo Mazanti, 93, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 12, in Federal Way, Washington. Born and raised in Roslyn, Washington, he graduated from Cle Elum High School and Central Washington University. Mr. Mazanti served in the United States Navy during WWII. The majority of Harold’s life was spent in Washington State with short stints in California and Colorado. He is preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Ilene Brustad Mazanti, and survived by his sons, Craig (Tammy) of Federal Way, Washington, and Kyle (Cheryl) of Silverthorne, Colorado, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was beloved by all. No services will be held. Condolences and memories may be sent to: Mazanti family P.O. Box 1416 Silverthorne, CO 80498
Gene Smith Jr. died at his family home in Battle Ground, Washington on Nov. 16, 2019. He was born March 1, 1931. He moved to Grays Harbor when he was 18 and worked for the Forestry Department fighting fires. Then went to work for ITT Rainier as a heavy equipment operator building logging roads. He worked for Quiqq Brothers construction building highways (including parts of the North Cascade highway). He was known for his love of the outdoors especially fishing the Humptulips River and the Chehalis River. Gene moved from Humptulips, Washington, to Battle Ground, Washington, in 2003, to be near family. Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Rosalie Smith (Ellingson); his daughters, Terri Smith, Judy Revis and Rane Revis; three grandchildren, Coralie Ostberg, Jill Tanner and Brandon Revis; and four great-grandchildren.
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Richard Eugene Gillham Sr. Longtime Montesano resident Richard Eugene Gillham Sr. passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. Richard was born May 3, 1950, in Cleburne, Texas, to Stanley and Geneva (McPherson) Gillham. He had also lived in New Mexico and Oklahoma before moving to Elma, Washington, in 1966. Richard graduated from Elma High School in 1968 and proudly served in the U.S. Army for two years during the Vietnam War. On May 26, 1984, Richard married Juanita Herron in Elma. She survives him at the family home. Richard had worked as an owner/ operator and diesel mechanic for Schaben & Westling and also as a service manager for Kenworth NW. He had been president of Wynoochee Wildwoods for 10 years and belonged to the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Richard loved horsepower, both muscle cars and trucks. In addition to his loving wife Juanita, he is also survived by six sons, Kenneth
A. (Tanya) Brogan Jr. of Montesano, Washington, Matthew A. (Rhonda) Gillham of Chehalis, Washington, Tyler C. Brogan of Montesano, Washington, Phillip L. (Melanie) Gillham of East Hoquiam, Washington, Karl R. Gillham of Montesano, Washington, Richard R. Gillham Jr. of Central Park, Washington and daughter Geneva A. (Steve) Birdsall of Central Park, Washington; two brothers, Stephen Gillham of Farmington, New Mexico and David Gillham of College Place, Washington; 21 grandchildren, one great-grandchild and also Ann and Ali Fulton, Scotty, Blair, Lexi and Ave Palmer who were very special people in his life. Richard was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Herbert. A celebration of his life was held Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020, at the Elma Seventh Day Adventist Church, followed by a reception at the Montesano Moose Lodge. Arrangements are entrusted to Harrison Family Mortuary in Montesano.
Gloria M. Proctor Gloria M Proctor, 85, of Montesano died on Dec. 16, 2019, at Pacific Care Center in Hoquiam, Washington. Gloria was born May 28, 1934, to William E. Gordon and Aune A Gordon (Matson) of Aberdeen. Gloria graduated from Aberdeen High School in 1953. On April 15, 1954, Gloria married John W Proctor. They lived in Aberdeen until moving to Soap Lake after John retired in 1995. They lived there 20 years before moving to Montesano. Gloria was a member of the Eagles. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, fishing and loved to drive. She drove campers, motorhomes pulling a boat or a car. She loved going to casinos and was a lucky winner most of the time. Gloria and her family went to Curlew Lake in Eastern Washington every July for over 40 years. There she met her second family, Joe and Irene Hopke. Along with the Hopke family she made her happiest memories.
Ralph Irwin Thomas Ralph Thomas passed away peacefully early on the morning of Nov. 28, 2019, which marked his 87th birthday, in Olympia, Washington. Ralph was born Nov. 28, 1932, in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, to Ralph Edison Thomas and Katherine Kemmerer Thomas. Ralph graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in chemical engineering. Upon graduation from Penn State, Ralph served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Korea for two years. Following his military service, Ralph began his first career as a chemical engineer for Shell Oil Company in Midland, Texas, where he met and married the love of his life, Betty Brotherton. While working for Shell, Ralph began attending Loyola University New Orleans School of Law before transferring to the University of Washington School of Law, from which he graduated with a J.D. in 1970. Ralph then joined James Stewart to form a law partnership in Montesano, Washington, where he practiced for more than 20 years. He also served as a juvenile court judge during this
Saturday, January 18, 2020
time. Ralph began his third career as a missionary in 1991, when he and Betty were stationed in Nikolaev, Ukraine, for two years. Upon returning stateside, Ralph served as general counsel for Intervarsity Christian Fellowship in Madison, Wisconsin. He also remained a missionary in a variety of overseas posts with Betty, until his retirement in 2010. During his retirement, Ralph provided pro bono legal services for indigent clients in Olympia, Washington. Ralph is survived by his wife, Betty Brotherton Thomas of Olympia, Washington; his children, Carolyn McCarson (Ted) of Winlock, Washington, John Thomas (Jennifer) of Portland, Oregon, Elizabeth Lindgren (Eric) of Bonney Lake, Washington, and Robert Thomas of Schenectady, New York; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. A service for Ralph was held at 2 p.m., Friday, Dec. 27, 2019, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Olympia, Washington. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
She loved to fish, especially at night. Cooking the nightly meals and gathering together is what she loved most. She was like a grandmother to their children and their grandchildren, attending weddings and get togethers between summers. Gloria is survived by her husband, John, at the family home in Montesano. Her daughters, Mary (Jerry) Austin of Olympia and Cathy (Tom) Jackson of Aberdeen. Her sister, Shirley Martin; grandchildren, Shawna and Brad Austin, Cassie (Marshall) Lentz and Hollie Jackson; great-grandchildren, Pandora Austin and Ellery and Romy Lentz. She was preceded in death by her brothers, David and Bill and her sister Pat. A celebration of life was held Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, at Country Estates Clubhouse, 57 Clemons Road, Montesano, WA. Arrangements are by Neptune Society of Tacoma, Washington.
Cheri Linn (Ensley) Woods After a nine-year battle with ALS, Cheri passed away at home on Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. Survivors are her son, Jacob and his wife Marissa of Canby, Oregon, her brother, Michael of Kodiak, Alaska, and her parents Jery and Linn Ensley of Pacific Beach, Washington. Cheri was born in LaGrande, Oregon, and spent her younger years in Vancouver, Washington. In 1977, she moved with her family to Dutch Harbor, Alaska. She returned to Vancouver in 1983. Cheri graduated from Evergreen High School in 1986. She later moved to Pilot Rock, Oregon. She graduated from Blue Mountain College in 2004 with an applied science degree in nursing. She received her registered nurse license in 2004. Cheri worked as a manager for a company that provided nursing services for county jails in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. A celebration of life service was held on Dec. 14, 2019, at 1 p.m. at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1200 Soule Ave., Hoquiam, WA In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the ALS Association of Oregon and the SW Washington Chapter.
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Freddi Jean Ginther
Lloyd “Big Gulp” Preston Todd Jr.
Daniel Wayne Gripp
During the early hours of Nov. 19, 2019, Freddi Jean Ginther passed away, after a fierce battle with cancer. She was born Feb. 7, 1944, in Aberdeen, Washington, to Fred and Jeanette Dilk of Raymond. She attended the Raymond schools, graduating in 1962. She went on to attend Grays Harbor Community College and then to Holy Names College in Spokane. In 1966, she married Wayland Ginther. They had two sons, Kerry and Kelly. Freddi worked for East Point for many years and then as a caregiver, first for her mother, Jeanette, and many more people after her mother passed. Freddi especially enjoyed decorating her home for the Christmas holidays and she would spend hours on her displays inside and outside her home. Gardening was a favorite pastime where she would create beautiful displays of flowers and plants around her home. Reading cookbooks and finding new recipes to try during family gatherings was also something Freddi enjoyed. But the light of her life came when her granddaughter Lindey Ginther was born. She spent much of her time with Lindey as a baby up to present day. Freddi was preceded in death by her son, Kelly, and her parents. She leaves behind her son, Kerry Ginther, longtime partner Ken Taylor, and three sisters, Toni Klien, Lesli Konigsberger and Vicki Ruddell, and many nieces and nephews. Freddi will be remembered for her dedication to her family, her love of holidays and gardening. In lieu of flowers, please send your contributions to the local “Helping Hands” of Willapa Harbor, Box 597 South Bend, Washington, 98586 A celebration of life will be held at the Raymond Elks club Jan. 18, 2020, at 1 p.m.
Lloyd “Big Gulp” Preston Todd Jr., born Feb. 21, 1964, in New Orleans, Louisiana, passed away peacefully in Centralia, Washington, Dec. 19, 2019, at the age of 55. Lloyd Jr. was raised in Aberdeen, Washington, where he graduated from Weatherwax High School class of 1982. Lloyd Jr. was an avid baseball player and hunter while growing up. He worked at Hoquiam Plywood for 25 plus years and a a part-time taxi driver. He is preceded in death by his dad Lloyd Todd Sr. He is survived by his son, Austin Todd and his mom Nell Todd both of Aberdeen, Washington; sisters, Theresa (Scott) Roberts of Hoquiam, Washington, Melisa (Jeremy) Paull of North Bend, Oregon and Louise Todd of Meredian, Kansas; brother Michael Todd Hoquiam, Washington and various nieces and nephews. At his request there will be no service. Arrangements entrusted to Harrison Family Mortuary of Aberdeen.
Daniel Wayne Gripp, 59, a resident of Aberdeen, died at his home Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. He was born in McCleary, Washington, May 16, 1960, the son of Edward Allen and Patricia Anne (Jordan) Gripp. He was raised in Edmonds and graduated from Shoreline High School in 1978. He had various work over the years — a cab driver, roofer, TV cable installer, a warehouseman, all in the Seattle area. Dan liked to race cars, was an admirer of vintage cars and owned a 1951 Kaiser Henry J. He was a member of the Midnight Auto Cruizers. He is survived by his mother Patricia A. Dennis, Aberdeen; two brothers, Jon Ellis, Aberdeen and Jess Dennis, Mountlake Terrace, Washington and three sisters: Donna Hill, Bellingham, Denise (Tim) Leese, Edmonds, Washington and Michelle McCartney, Aberdeen; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by a brother, Eddie Gripp in 1989 and a sister, Michele Montanaro in 2014. There will be a gathering of family and friends to remember Dan on May 16, 2020, at 1 p.m. at the McCleary Community Center, McCleary, WA. Arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home, Aberdeen.
Megan Janette (Applin) DuJardin Megan Janette (Applin) DuJardin went home to Jesus Nov. 1, 2019, in Bremerton. She is survived by her parents, William and Patricia Applin, three sisters: Karna Beerbower, Kristi Applin, Vicky Bledsoe, and a brother, Shan Applin. Her husband and soul mate passed away in 2007. A memorial service (potluck) was held on Dec. 14, 2019, at the Light & Life Community Church. 2740 Simpson Ave, Hoquiam. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Christian Cable Ministries.
To place a loved one’s Memoriam or Obituary please call 360-532-4000
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NOTABLE DEATHS
Neil Innes, Monty Python collaborator and Beatles parodist, dies at 75 By Randy Lewis Los Angeles Times
English musician and humorist Neil Innes worked closely with two of the biggest cultural juggernauts his nation ever produced — the Beatles and Monty Python’s Flying Circus comedy troupe — yet never became a household name himself, a goal he often espoused in interviews. “I’ve been very close to people who have had all this terrible fame and renown — it’s really not for me,” Innes, who died Dec. 29 at age 75, told the Los Angeles Times in 2003. “I’d rather be able to talk to people, my neighbors, or be able to be in a shop and nobody thinks I’m a freak. If that means I only do tiny things here and there, then that’s fine. At least it’s working the way I like it to work.” Innes died of natural causes at his home in recent years near Toulouse, France, according to a statement released by his family. “We have lost a beautiful, kind, gentle soul whose music and songs touched the heart of everyone and whose intellect and search for truth inspired us all,” the statement said. “He died of natural causes quickly without warning and … without pain.” His approach worked for more than a half-century, when he first gained some measure of celebrity in England as a member of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, whose humor-laden music often skewered the loftier aspirations of the rapidly expanding ’60s rock music scene. “The Beatles used to come to gigs,” Innes told the Times in 2003. “A lot of bands that were in the god strata used to be dead jealous of the Bonzos ‘cause we could muck about, and they couldn’t. Eric Clapton said, ‘I wish I could do what you were doing.’ … ‘Cause it’s too much for anybody to take all this idolatry.” A decade later Innes took more jabs at such idolatry, helping create one of the savviest musical parodies of the 20th century, the Beatles send-up project called the Rutles,
Neil Innes in 2019
which affectionately lampooned the Fab Four with its faux retelling of the history of a band whose legacy “would last a lunchtime.” Innes also was dubbed “the seventh Python” for his close association with the comedy troupe, for which he wrote songs and appeared in films including “Monty Python & the Holy Grail” (he wrote the song “Brave Sir Robin” and appeared as the minstrel who sang it) and “Monty Python’s Life of Brian.” “Utterly dismayed to hear about Neil Innes. Right out of the blue,” Python founding member John Cleese tweeted on Monday. “A very sweet man, much too nice for his own good. Lovely writer and performer. When he worked with Python on our stage show, I listened every night to ‘How Sweet to be an Idiot’ on the Tannoy (loudspeakers). Very sad.” Others who combined comparable passions for pop music and humor reacted quickly as well. “I wanted Neil Innes to live forever,” actor-musician-comedian Michael McKean, aka David St. Hubbins of the mock rock group Spinal Tap, posted to his Twitter account. “A wise, funny and beautiful man.” His Spinal Tap bandmate, humorist-writer-filmmaker Harry
JARROD VALLIERE/THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE
Shearer, tweeted “RIP the quite brilliant Neil Innes.” Little-known among music fans in general, Innes was revered by musicians, especially those in England regularly exposed to his songs with the Bonzos and in the late ’60s on a children’s TV series “Do Not Adjust Your Set” that was the launchpad for future Python members Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin and which counted their soon-to-be troupe members Cleese and Graham Chapman among its fans. Innes may be most widely recognized for the songs he crafted for the Rutles, ingenious original songs that evoked the style and sound of the Beatles without directly imitating them. Although the fictional group was introduced to English audiences first, the project hopped the Atlantic in 1976 when Idle was booked as a guest on a new late-night American television show: “Saturday Night Live.” Innes appeared in character as Ron Nasty, the quartet’s acerbic doppelganger for John Lennon, and sang the song “Cheese and Onions” (“I have always thought in the back of my mind / Cheese and onions”), all of which motivated “SNL” producer Lorne Michaels to start the ball rolling on a U.S. special
spotlighting the Rutles. That show, “All You Need is Cash,” finished dead last in the ratings when it aired in 1978 but became a cult classic and created a template for mock music documentary that actor-director Rob Reiner would pick up and run with six years later for his “mockumentary” “This Is Spinal Tap.” The companion album, featuring 14 Innes-composed songs featured in the show such as “I Must Be in Love,” “Hold My Hand” and “Ouch!” reached No. 63 on Billboard’s 200 Albums chart in 1978. The Rutles resurfaced with a second album, “Archaeology,” released in the mid-’90s in tandem with the Beatles “Anthology” documentary TV series. Idle took another stab at the concept a decade later in a sequel film — minus any involvement of Innes or the other Rutle actor-musicians — “Rutles 2: Can’t Buy Me Lunch,” which went straight to DVD when it was released in 2005. A rift between Innes and Idle over the latter-year iterations of the Rutles sometimes surfaced in public but seemed to have been resolved in recent years, as Idle wrote glowingly of his admiration for Innes in his recent memoir “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.” The book’s title references the climactic song from “Life of Brian,” a production number sung — and whistled — by characters who were being crucified. “I have to say I am the man who wrote the whistling for ‘Always Look on the Bright Side’,” Innes told the Times in 2008. Neil James Innes was born Dec. 9, 1944, in Danbury, Essex, England, and spent part of his youth in West Germany, where his father was stationed with the British Army of the Rhine. Upon returning to England, he took piano lessons from age 7 to 14 and taught himself how to play guitar. He attended Thorpe Grammar School and the Norwich School of Art, then Goldsmiths College in London, where he earned a bachelor’s
degree in fine arts in 1966. That was a big year for Innes: the same year he graduated he joined the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band (originally called the Bonzo Dog Dada Band after the Dadaist art movement) and married Yvonne Catherine Hilton. The Bonzos had little commercial success, their biggest hit coming in 1968 with the single “I’m an Urban Spaceman,” produced by Bonzos fan Paul McCartney under the pseudonym Apollo C. Vermouth. The band also appeared in the Beatles experimental 1967 film “Magical Mystery Tour.” After shortening the name to the Bonzo Dog Band, the group released an album in 1972, “Let’s Make Up and Be Friendly” that spent two weeks on Billboard’s U.S. album sales chart, peaking at No. 199. In the early ’70s he joined another band, Grimms, which released several albums that had little impact commercially. Innes, however, soon became an adjunct member of the Pythons, one of only two people with writing credits for the troupe’s TV show — the other being “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” author Douglas Adams. In recent years he had toured regularly, sometimes as a solo act and sometimes with Beatles tribute bands supporting his performances of the Rutles song catalog. “He’s a great showman,” Python member Michael Palin told the Times in 2003. “As soon as he starts, people just love him. It’s a magic ingredient.” Innes said he preferred intimate spaces to some of the massive venues he played when he appeared with the Pythons in their heyday. “Who needs all the angst of big promotions and record companies and all that crap?” he asked in 2003. “I just don’t want it anymore. I don’t want to play to more than 500 people —500 people’s too many.” In addition to his wife, Innes is survived by their three sons, Miles, Luke and Barney, and three grandchildren, Max, Issy and Zac.
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NOTABLE DEATHS
Buck Henry, comedy icon beloved for ‘The Graduate’ and ‘Get Smart,’ dies By Nardine Saad Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES — Comedy writer Buck Henry, the legendary scribe who co-wrote “The Graduate,” “Catch-22,” “To Die For” and co-created the TV series “Get Smart,” has died. He was 89. Henry died in a Los Angeles hospital on Wednesday after a heart attack, his wife, Irene Ramp, told the Washington Post. A polymath of directing, acting and writing, the humorist most notably adapted Mike Nichols’ seminal 1967 film, “The Graduate,” starring Dustin Hoffman, and earned an Oscar nomination for the screenplay he co-wrote with Calder Wilmington. He was nominated again for co-directing the 1978 afterlife comedy “Heaven Can Wait” with the film’s star, Warren Beatty. Henry co-created TV’s spy spoof “Get Smart” with Mel Brooks and the sci-fi
comedy “Quark” in the 1970s, winning a Primetime Emmy Award for writing the “Ship of Spies” episodes of “Get Smart.” He was later credited on the 2008 film adaptation of the spy comedy starring Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway. His other screenplays include “The Owl and the Pussycat” and “What’s Up, Doc?” The writer memorably hosted “Saturday Night Live” a then-record-setting 10 times, famously playing John Belushi’s foil in the show’s samurai skits and dousing the stage in waves of fake blood in the process. “I loved listening to his fake Japanese and responding to it as though I knew what he was talking about. That was the trick of that,” Henry told the TV Academy in a series of interviews posted online in 2012. Although he liked writing in his own voice (“because then it’s really my own”), Henry was equally proud of his ability to write for other people.
KEVORK DJANSEZIAN/GETTY IMAGES
Writer Buck Henry arrives to the premiere of Bleecker Street Media’s “Colette” in Beverly Hills, California, in 2018. The longtime actor/writer/director died Jan. 8 at age 89.
“I’m eclectic,” he told The Times in 1988. “I can take on other people’s voices, which is why I’m good at adaptation — I think. That’s a gift. But part of it is due to the years I wrote for television variety; I wrote for hundreds of different comedians and actors. That was always fun to do: What’s a joke for the Smothers Brothers as
opposed to a joke for Jonathan Winters as opposed to a joke for Alan King?” Though likely best known as a writer, he amassed a bevy of acting credits during his decades-long career. Henry made a brief appearance in “The Graduate” as the hotel clerk, appeared in “Catch-22,” “Grumpy Old Men,” “Town
& Country,” which he also co-wrote, and guest-starred on “30 Rock,” “Will & Grace,” “Franklin & Bash” and “Hot in Cleveland.” “You can think of me however you want to,” Henry told The Times in 2014 in a sprawling interview about his thoughts on showbiz and the writing process. “No part in acting distresses me except when I can’t learn lines. No part of it depresses me. I don’t worry about it, I don’t have bad dreams about it, and when I’m on a (theatrical) run I’m deliriously happy.” The New York-born Henry Zuckerman was the son of a former Air Force general and silent film star Ruth Taylor. He arguably entered showbiz at age 2 when his mother took him to the Paramount lot to show him off. He began his Hollywood career with a brief stint in stand-up comedy but didn’t like working in places “where people drank and yelled at me.” He then trained in improvisational
theater and began writing for television and performing in variety shows such as “The Steve Allen Show” and “The Garry Moore Show.” “Then it got to be more and more writing — and the need to act fell away. Losing that desire was a very good thing, because it really is a desperate kind of emotion,” he told The Times in that 1988 interview. “Ultimately, it has to do with the audience, because that’s the way you get approval. But there’s a much deeper approval in getting there, playing with words (acting) with other people, finding a structure for behavior. It’s sort of like therapy,” he continued. “Even when I was an actor, I always thought it wasn’t enough. You know, traditionally, acting has been thought of as a dark art: extra-social, outside the range of what real people are supposed to do. Actors used to be just a cut above pirates. So writing always seemed to be the respectable art.”
‘Schoolhouse Rock’ singer, Merv Griffin sidekick Jack Sheldon dead at 88 By Storm Gifford New York Daily News
PHOTO BY ANNIE WELLS
Jack Sheldon performs at Chadney’s in Burbank, California, in 1998.
Jack Sheldon, the iconic voice behind many “Schoolhouse Rock!” episodes, including “Conjunction Junction” and “I’m Just a Bill,” is dead at 88. The prolific musician and singer died Dec. 27 of undisclosed causes, according to a Facebook post by Sheldon’s biographer Doug McIntryre. He had also served as music director and sidekick on Merv Griffin’s long-running talk show, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Sheldon played the trumpet on the 1965 Academy Award-winning Best Song “The Shadow of Your Smile” from the Elizabeth Taylor-Richard Burton
drama “The Sandpiper,” beating the likes of Burt Bacharach’s “What’s New Pussycat?” and “The Ballad of Cat Ballou.” Griffin’s favorite song was “The Shadow of Your Smile,” which Sheldon performed at his 2007 funeral. Music moved Sheldon, especially uptempo compositions. “I like the music to swing,” he said in a 1987 interview. “And I like to make people feel it, feel happy and sad, everything. If the music makes me smile and happy, then maybe the people will feel it, too.” But Sheldon was also a prominent actor, appearing as a jazz musician in “The Cara Williams Show” which ran for the 1964-65 season, and portrayed John Davidson’s brother in
the short-lived Sally Field NBC sitcom “The Girl with Something Extra.” “Schoolhouse Rock” was a series of animated educational shorts that ran during ABC’s Saturday morning lineup from 1973-84. It was revived from 199496, and again in 2009. Sheldon lent his voice to “Schoolhouse Rock” parodies in “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy.” He also voiced Louie the Lightning Bug in a series of cartoon public service announcements and performed the theme song to the Kyle Chandler drama series “Homefront.” Sheldon was the subject of the award-winning documentary “Trying to Get Good: The Jazz Odyssey of Jack Sheldon,” which chronicled his battles with substance abuse and alcohol.