Obituaries: Mar. 1, 2018

Edward Elliott Harris gave up the earthly fight and went to be with his Lord on February 20, 2018, at Royal Columbian Retirement Inn in Kennewick, Wash. The oldest of seven children, he was born May 10, 1930 at the old Booth Hospital on Main Street in Lewiston, Idaho, to Roy O. Harris Sr. and Louise L. (Bevard) Harris.

Edward’s family moved to Juliaetta, Idaho, then Craigmont, Idaho, before settling in Moscow, Idaho, where Ed attended school and developed his love of farming.

He worked with several farmers in the area starting at age 11 to help support the large family.

He often spoke of his time working for Charlie and Emma Paul, Garth Wilson, Lawrence Paul and others.

Several years ago, when Janna was home for a vacation visit, Grace Paul was talking to her at church.

Grace shared that Edward had always been such a hard worker and never missed a day.

She said, “here was this 14-year-old boy, out working some of the grown men”.

That made sense as Ed used to tell his children; “when you work for a man, you WORK for him”

On June 1, 1951, Edward married Laneva Mary Eldridge at the old Church of the Nazarene on the corner of Third and Almon Streets in Moscow, Idaho. They settled in a tiny house just outside the booming metropolis of Joel, Idaho, where Ed continued to work for Garth Wilson and Laneva practiced her homemaking and gardening skills.

Ed joined the Army in 1952 where he served in the Korean conflict.

After returning home in April 1955, he worked with his father-in-law at a slaughter house in St. John, Wash.

Ed and Laneva developed precious friendships around this community.

Many of which lasted throughout their lifetimes.

At this same time, SSgt Harris also transferred from regular Army to become an Army Reservist.

One of our treasured family memories was how sometimes, when sitting at the table, after we finished eating, Dad would pretend to bark orders and make us march as we cleared the table.

This always ended with the “recruits” collapsing in heaps of giggles as we tried to make the sounds and sing the cadences he went through.

Ed and Laneva moved to Spokane, Wash., in 1957 where he was an Assistant Manager at Safeway. Daughter, Janna Joeva was born here January 4, 1958. In the fall of 1958, Ed and Laneva returned to the Moscow area where Ed resumed farming with Garth. Soon thereafter, Ed told Laneva that he kept “dreaming about babies flying all around in my head”! Son, Doyle Edward was born October 24, 1959.

In 1961, the young family moved to Pullman, Wash., where Ed and brother-in-law, Max Proctor, branched out Max’s Industrial Cleaning across the state line from Moscow. The business grew so much that by 1963 Max took over the Idaho part of the business and Ed took Washington, changing the name to Ed’s Cleaning. The business continued to grow until the mid-1970s when he sold the business to two of his employees and took a position at Washington State University as a painter in the Housing Department. He used to laugh about how nice it was to get paid for his working “vacation” after running his own business for so many years.

Promotions to lead and then maintenance supervisor followed. In 1992, Dad retired to spend more time with Mom and do more gardening and traveling, especially as both children were now living in southern states. The new retiree also attempted to take up golfing, until Mom hit a wild back spin giving him two black eyes, breaking his glasses and knocking him off his feet! He decided that riding horses was safer so, along with Uncle Max, he enjoyed many trail rides with Gentleman on Horseback, Max’s sons, and others.

After retirement, Ed was also able to return to his first love of farming by running tractors, combines and driving trucks for several of the local farmers. After moving to Kennewick, he would get antsy during the times for spring work, harvest and fall work. He really missed “getting dirty” and commiserating with the men.

As a small child, and through adulthood, Ed was actively involved in the Moscow Church of the Nazarene. He was a 25-year volunteer for the Pullman Fire Department and Emergency Rescue. He loved teaching their First Aide classes. He was also a long-term member of Lion’s Club, Elks and Gideon’s International. Ed and Laneva opened their home to many foster children over the years. They loved when one of those kids would come back to visit, all grown up and leading a better life. Ed was a Charter member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, DAV, and Pullman Senior Center.

Before Laneva’s death, they moved to Kennewick, Wash., so Janna could help with Laneva’s declining health. There, they began attending South Hills Church and a Tuesday morning breakfast club, better known to friends as the “Romeo (Retired Old Men Eating Out) Club”. Ed tried attending the Kennewick Senior Center after Laneva died, but he said too many overzealous widows scared him off!

“Mr. Ed” loved his God, his family, his country, farming and children. He was often heard to say, “dogs and little kids know who likes them” and to prove that, he insisted on always carrying gum in his pocket and dog or horse treats in his pickup. Some of his greatest joy came from being a Sunday school teacher for the two & three-year old children or playing Santa for the Pullman Volunteer Fire Department and Lion’s Club Christmas Sleighs.

Edward is survived by daughter, Janna (Randy) Clark, Pasco, Wash .; son, Doyle Harris, Battletown, Ky .; sister, Margaret “Peg” (Larry) Amarok, Seattle; granddaughter, Jennifer (Ron) Walker, Moscow, Idaho; grandchildren, Tiana Smith, Michael Smith and Randy Walker. Also, many cousins, nieces and nephews across the northwest.

“Mr. Ed’s” greatest gift was giving to others, and he chose to do it without hoopla or display. There are many families throughout the Palouse region who have been fed when their cupboards were empty, who had their electric bills paid and never knew by whom or who received “$100 handshakes,” when they didn’t know how they would be able to buy shoes for their kids. He was always watching for that brother who needed a helping hand.

With all this in mind, he has asked that anyone who may have fond memories of him might donate to Gideon’s International for Bibles, to the Wounded Warrior Project to help his fellow Veterans, or to Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in Spokane, Wash.

Dad had emphatically requested that there be no funeral celebration. He said, “I know where I’m going. I’ll see the Lord and your Mom. That’s party enough for me!” He has already been cremated. The family will have a small memorial and interment with Mom, at a later date.

Short’s Funeral Chapel in Moscow is helping the family, and online condolences may be sent to http://www.shortsfuneralchapel.net.

A memorial service for Lisa Michelle Jeffers, 52, will be held on Saturday, March 3, at 11 a.m. at the Palouse Federated Church with the Rev. Corey Laughary officiating. She died Sunday, Feb. 11, 2016, at Deaconess Medical Center in Spokane, Wash.

Born Aug. 16, 1965, in Kennewick, to Joseph and Dana Michaels Sexton, she attended Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane and Spokane Community College. One of her earliest jobs was at Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma.

She and Tony R. Jeffers were married June 5, 2006, at Palouse. The couple made their home at Palouse.

She retired from WSU in 2012 and went on mission trips in Mexico. She taught Sunday middle school class at Palouse Federated Church and volunteered at Care Net of the Palouse. She enjoyed camping on the St. Joe River, rock collecting, traveling, fishing and raising a strictly organic non-GMO garden.

Surviving are her husband, Tony, Palouse; father Joe Sexton, Las Vegas; sisters Cherrie Sexton, Las Vegas, and Jeleen Sexton of Oahu, Hawaii; mother Dana Ault, Spokane; stepfather Meredith; sister and brother, Angie Ault and Chris Ault, both Spokane.

Memorials may be given to the Palouse E.M.S., Box 250, Palouse, WA 99161 or to Palouse Care Network, 1515 “A” Street, Moscow. http://www.kramercares.com

Frank Wesley Montgomery, age 70 and of Thornton, Washington, was born May 7, 1947 and passed away peacefully February 21, 2018 after a long illness.

After graduating from high school in Libby, Montana, Frank went on to graduate from the body and fender program at Spokane Community College. He then enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served four years active duty as a nuclear missile technician, with two years of reserve duty as well.

While stationed at Rantoul Airbase in Illinois, Frank married his high school sweetheart, Zoe. After his service in the Air Force concluded, Frank and Zoe moved home to Libby where he drove logging truck with his father for a short time until they moved to the Colfax area where Frank started his own trucking business, hauling grain for area farmers and local grain companies.

In his free time, Frank enjoyed painting cars and trucks and doing body and fender work where he had a meticulous eye for detail. In their later years, after the boys had moved out, Frank and Zoe went on the road hauling freight throughout the lower 48 states. Frank did the driving and Zoe did the navigating.

He is survived by his wife, Zoe; sons, Frank, Aaron and Jason; six grandchildren; and one

great-granddaughter.

Frank will be laid to rest in the Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Medical Lake, Washington at a date yet to be determined. On-line guest book is at http://www.bruningfuneralhome.com

Funeral services for James R. Westacott, 87, a resident of Potlatch and Garfield, was Wednesday at Kramer Funeral Home in Palouse, with the Rev. Kathy Kramer officiating. Potlatch VFW Post and a United States Air Force Honor Guard participated. Burial was at the Garfield Cemetery.

Mr. Westacott died early Feb. 14. 2018, at his winter residence in Garfield.

Born Aug. 6, 1930, in Colfax, to Roscoe and Edna (Horton) Westacott. He attended schools in Garfield and graduated from Garfield High School in 1948. Jim also attended the University of Idaho and the University of Washington.

He served six years in the United States Air Force, as a pilot flying the T-6 Texan and Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star.

While in the Air Force he married Willa L. Dial July 18, 1958, in Durant, Okla., and they later returned to Potlatch, Idaho, where they farmed for more than 50 years. The couple purchased a home in Garfield in 2008, and resided there during the winter months.

Mrs. Westacott died in 2013.

He was a member of the Oakesdale Lodge #55, El Katif Shrine and the American Legion at Garfield. He enjoyed fishing, water skiing and relaxing at the family cabin on Lake Coeur d’Alene.

Surviving are three sons, Ron (Karen) Westacott, Potlatch; John (Carol) Westacott, Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Tom (Kathy) Westacott, Garfield; and two daughters, Patty (Frank) Lange, Garfield, and Susan Westacott, Lewiston; 10 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be given to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, P.O. Box 2472, Spokane, 99210-2472.

http://www.kramercares.com