Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Joan Lee Oliver
Joan Lee Oliver, 85, a member of the Colfax High School class of 1944 who was a teacher in the Phoenix area for many years, died Dec. 29, 2011, at a home hospice in Phoenix. A memorial service was Jan. 4, at 1:30 p.m. The family suggests donations go to Hospice of the Valley.
She was the daughter of George and Margaret Lee of Colfax. Mr. Lee was a partner in the former Perry & Lee Clothiers store in Colfax.
After graduating at Colfax, she earned an undergraduate degree at Washington State College and a masters degree in education from Arizona State University. She taught in Daly City and Yuba City in California and for 20 years at Phoenix Country Day School in Arizona. She and her late husband, Bob, were world travelers and at one time took their four children on a 15-month trip to Europe. Altogether, Joan and Bob visited more than 100 countries, continuing their international travel into their eighties, and circling the globe at least twice.
The family also spent many summers in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where Joan studied Spanish, visited the markets daily and developed a taste for hot peppers.
Like her mother, Joan was a dedicated bridge player, a voracious reader and a fan of crossword puzzles and opera.
She is survived by her brother, Don Lee; her children Linda, Bob, Scot, and Tony, and four grandchildren.
Helen M. Reuter
Helen Margaret Reuter, Colfax resident who marked her 100th birthday last October, died Thursday evening, Jan. 12, 2012, at The Courtyard Assisted Living.
Born to Carl and Elsie Moe at their home near Seattle, Oct. 14, 1911, she married William D. Reuter, a radio station announcer, in 1931. They resided in the Seattle-Tacoma area and eventually settled on Vashon Island in 1940 when he left the broadcasting part of his profession to become the chief engineer for radio station KIRO with its transmitters and towers located on Maury Island which is connected to Vashon Island.
They bought a small farm and raised holly. The farm was a big part of their life and though not a big money making venture they worked it in order to bring Christmas joy to people all over the country for nearly 60 years. Helen enjoyed entertaining at home with bridge club parties. A Norwegian style of host she was known for serving delicious luncheons.
The farm was also located along the shores of Quartermaster Harbor and they became avid boaters cruising the Puget Sound, San Juan Island and the inner passages of Vancouver Island in British Columbia under the banner of the Vashon Island Quartermaster Harbor Yacht Club.
After 60 years on the farm they moved in 2002 to Daystar Assisted Living in Seattle. Her husband died after nearly 75 years of marriage.
Her son, Michael, brought her to The Courtyard Assisted Living in Colfax in 2006. She was also preceded in death by a son, Dennis, and a daughter, Marilyn.
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