Obituaries 6/16/11

A funeral service for Joyce Powell Bryan, 79, will be Friday, June 17, at 10 a.m. the Bruning Funeral Home in Colfax. Interment to follow at the Goldenrod Cemetery in Tekoa. She died June 10, 2011, at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, from leukemia.

Born in Buffalo, N.Y., to Samuel and Kathryn Mergler Powell Feb. 5, 1932, she was raised in Buffalo and graduated from Kensington High School in 1949. She then earned a degree in optical technology from what is now the Erie Community College, and she later earned her teaching certificate at Whitman College in Walla Walla. She worked many years with special needs children in the Colfax and Pullman school districts.

She was an active volunteer of the Hospital Auxiliary’s Bluebird Shop at Whitman Hospital, a longtime member of the Whitman County Historical Society, and a member of the AAUW of Palouse/Garfield and Friends of the Library.

For the past several years she had been spending her winters in Arizona with her companion, Dan Hay. She thoroughly enjoyed a recent trip traveling in Dan’s motor home throughout the United States to visit friends and relatives.

She was married to Herbert Wieckmann and they had one daughter, Mary. After the death of her first husband, she married Gordon Bryan and they operated Bryan’s Antiques until his death.

Surviving are her daughter, Mary (Gerry) Segal, and three grandchildren all of Portland; stepsons John and Michael Bryan, Colorado; sisters Lois Montemate and Marcia Lunetta in Buffalo, and her longtime loving companion, Dan Hay, Tekoa.

Memorials may be sent to the Whitman County Historical Society, Box 67, Colfax or Friends of Hospice, 1610 NE Eastgate Blvd, Ste. 850, Pullman, 99163. On-line guest book:

http://www.bruningfuneralhome.com

The funeral for Mary Jo Hughes, 80, a lifelong Endicott resident, will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 17, at the Endicott Bible Church with Pastor Dean Ellis officiating. Vault interment will follow at the Endicott Cemetery. She died Wednesday, June 8, 2011, at the Whitman Hospital & Medical Center in Colfax.

Born Jan. 11, 1931, in Endicott to John and Christine Fries Weitz, she grew up and attended school in Endicott and was a member of the 1948 class at Endicott High School. She worked for the telephone company in Colfax. On May 19, 1951, she married William (Bill) Hughes in Endicott where they have made their home.

Mary Jo began her 25-year career in banking at the Bank of Endicott, now the Bank of Whitman. Beginning as a teller, she served in all different aspects of the bank including time as the assistant manager before she retired in 1992. She was known for her ability to assist the older clientele of the bank. A homemaker, she enjoyed gardening, especially her flowers. She was an avid crafter making candles, crocheting, and making aprons that were sold at both the Crescent and the Bon Marche in Spokane. She was known for sewing of all types, especially dresses for neighbors and their children.

A community minded person, Mary Jo received the Woman of the Year award in Endicott. She was a longtime and devoted member of the Endicott Bible Church.

Surviving are her husband, William (Bill) Hughes, at the family home in Endicott; her son, William Scott Hughes of Pullman; her sister Gloria Menzies and one grandson.

The viewing will be held at Bruning Funeral Home in Colfax, today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Memorials can be made to the Endicott EMTs, the Endicott Bible Church or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Online condolences:

http://www.bruningfuneralhome.com

Patricia Ann Norris, 79, former Benge area farm woman, died June 2, 2011, while in Apache Junction, Ariz, following a six-month battle with brain cancer. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Raised in the Winona area, she moved to Benge after she married Henry (Hank) Norris, and they lived at the ranch for 25 years before moving to Connell where they lived for 10 years. For the last 20 summers they were camp hosts at Washington State Parks and enjoyed their winters in Arizona.

Surviving are her husband of 60 years, Henry; a son, Ernie (Debi) Norris, Apache Junction; daughter, Linda (Jim) Whitman, Benge; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; her mother, Theona Marsh; sister, Norma Bennett; and brother, Manfred Marsh.

Memorials may be made to Relay For Life, American Cancer Society or Benge Community Church

Carl Boe

A memorial service for Carl Boe, 83, a retired industrial arts teacher, was June 3 at the Steel Lake Presbyterian Church in Federal Way. Mr. Boe died May 25 in Federal Way following complications from surgery.

A 1946 graduate of Chehalis High School, he served two tours of duty in the U.S. Marine Corps and then earned his teaching degree at Eastern Washington State College in 1954. He started his teaching career at Garfield. He also taught at Winlock for 10 years and then finished his career in the Highlinde District where he taught at Chinook, Glendale and Pacific Junior High schools.

He is survived by his wife, Charlotte Dutton Boe, six children and their fami

Funeral mass for Ruth A. O’Reilly, 92, was Saturday, June 11, at 2 p.m. at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Potlatch with Father Caleb Vogel officiating. Rosary was Friday evening. Interment was at the Greenwood Cemetery in Palouse. Mrs. O’Reilly died June 6, 2011, the Gritman Medical Center in Moscow.

Born March 4, 1919, near Viola to George and Bertha Drennan Gregory, she grew up in the Potlatch area and attended the West Cove Country School through the eighth grade. She graduated from Palouse High School in 1937 and attended the Northwestern Business College in Spokane. She went to work for the Agricultural Adjustment Administration in Moscow. She then traveled to Washington D.C. to work for the Veterans Administration and later to Spokane to work for the Second Air Force Headquarters during WWII.

In 1943, she moved to Potlatch and worked at the Potlatch Post Office.

She and James P. O’Reilly were married Nov. 17, 1945, at Potlatch and they lived at Potlatch. Ruth worked for Bennett Lumber at Princeton as a bookkeeper from 1963 to 1981 when she retired.

Mr. O’Reilly died in 1995. Ruth continued to live at Potlatch until moving to the Clark House at Moscow in 2008.

She was a member of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the Altar Society at Potlatch. She enjoyed traveling, church activities, needlework, bowling and gardening.

Survivors include one daughter, Connie O’Reilly, Beaverton, Ore .; two grandchildren and three great –grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son Daniel O’Reilly.

Memorials may be given to the St. Mary’s Catholic Church Building fund or to the charity of the donor’s choice.

A memorial service for Corrine Iola Varnes, 87, former farm woman in the Clear Creek area east of Colfax, will be Saturday, June 18, at 11 a.m. at the Garland Alliance Church, 2011 W. Garland Ave, Spokane. A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. at the Pines Cemetery in Spokane Valley.

Mrs. Varnes died May 30, 2011, in Colfax, where she had been living for the last year. She had made her home for the previous 30 years in Spokane where she moved following the death of her husband, Adolph Varnes.

Viewing will be Friday, June 17, from 9 to 4 at Bruning Funeral Home in Colfax.

Born Sept. 25, 1923, in Tioga, N. D., to Robert and Esther Iverson, she moved with her family to Glasgow, Mont., after the death of her father and loss of their farm during the Great Depression.

She graduated from high school at Glasgow and moved to Spokane, where she attended Kinman Business School.

She worked at the Spokane School District as a secretary to the superintendent.

While attending a business luncheon she met Adolph Varnes, an optometrist in Spokane, and they were married in December 1949.

They later bought a farm along Clear Creek Road and began raising their family there.

Corrine attended both Methodist and Lutheran churches throughout her lifetime.

She also led many Bible studies in her home.

She was also a member of the Besse Mechling Club, a food bank volunteer, and she enjoyed gardening, reading and traveling.

Following the death of her husband in 1980 she moved back to Spokane to live closer to her mother.

She was a member of the Garland Alliance Church.

Surviving are four children; Wayne (Jan) Varnes of Colfax, Janet (Ron) Lehrman, Loon Lake, Mark Varnes, Orange County, Calif., and Susan (Jeff) Newland of Redmond; seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials go to the Union Gospel Mission, Second Harvest Food Bank or to the Garland Church Great Commission Fund.

On-line guest book:

http://www.bruningfuneralhome.com

Kenneth Raymond Davis, 84, a lifelong Colfax resident, died Monday night, June 13, 2011, at Whitman Hospital in Colfax. A memorial service will be Tuesday, June 21, 1:00 p.m. in the chapel at Bruning Funeral Home. Pastor Lynn Nelson will officiate.

Ken was born in Colfax to Elzie and Neola Nichols Davis Sept. 26, 1926. He graduated from Colfax High School in 1945 and entered the U.S. Army. He served on the island of Adak in the Aleutian chain off of Alaska. Ken was honorably discharged from the Army in 1947 and returned to Colfax. He worked for area farmers his entire life. Ken farmed for many years for Ellery and Leila Johnson.

He loved the ranching lifestyle and he always kept a herd of cattle. Ken also worked the sale yards in Lewiston for many years, mostly at Spencer Livestock. During the winters he could be found tending bar for the American Legion Club. Kenneth was a long time member of the American Legion. He was an avid sports fan and attended Colfax High games. He was a member of the morning coffee club and always enjoyed visiting. He liked fishing, but his main hobby was always his cows and his horse. Surviving are his sister, Joanne Jepperson; nephews Steve and Byran Jepperson and a niece, Jenel Thew, all of the Spokane Valley. He was preceded in death by a sister, Judy Davis, in 2009.

Memorial gifts are suggested to the Whitman County Humane Society.

On-line guest book:

http://www.bruningfuneralhome.com

Viola Mae Tharp, former Garfield and Potlatch area resident who resided at Pasco for more than 50 years, died Monday, June 13, 2011, in Pasco. In accordance with her request, a service will not be conducted.

She was born to C.T. (Ted) and Gertrude Irene Davis Middleton Aug. 2, 1931, five miles from Garfield in the Silver Creek area. She was raised on a farm in Latah County, nine miles from Garfield, and five miles from Farmington. She attended school at Garfield and graduated with the class of 1949.

Viola married her high school sweetheart Gilbert Allan Tharp Aug. 2, 1949, in Garfield.

They made their first home in Potlatch, then moved to Umatilla, Ore., in 1952.

He joined the Labor Union Local 348 at Pasco, and went to work in construction, working at McNary Dam.

In 1953 they moved to Richland, then to Pasco in 1955, where she made her home since.

She worked at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital from 1968 to 1976 in the laundry department.

She also worked for AAA Auto Club, and for two chiropractors in Pasco.

They enjoyed RV travels and did a lot of fishing.

They also attended the National Rodeo Finales.Viola is survived by her husband Gilbert, at home in Pasco; one daughter, Teresa Mae Carden of Pasco; one son, Larry Earl Tharp of Pasco; two grandsons; two granddaughters; two great granddaughters; two sisters, Carol Layne of Belfair, and Betty Mann of Centralia ,; one brother, James Middleton of Deer Park.

The family invites you to sign their on-line guest book:

http://www.muellersfuneral