2008 Garfield County, Washington, Funeral Notices & Obituaries

D. C. "Bob" Breithaupt

D. C. "Bob" Breithaupt, DDS, 56, of Ellensburg died December 11, 2008 at University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. Born in Pomeroy on June 10, 1952, the oldest of four children of Robert and Joan (Ostby) Breithaupt, he moved with his family to Puyallup at age 11. Graduating from Puyallup High School, he continued his education at Washington State University and the University of Washington earning degrees in Public Health, Bacteriology, Pharmacology and Dentistry.

He opened his dental practice in Ellensburg in 1998 after a long and varied career that included public service dentistry at Fort Simcoe and Selah School, and pharmacy at Yakima's Memorial Hospital, Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle and Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by siblings, Barbara Muniz of Henderson, NV, Marie Breithaupt and Patrick Breithaupt of Puyallup, WA, niece Maile Urashima, Henderson, NV, nephew Tyson Urashima, Kailua, HI and long-time companion, Annie Alwin of Ellensburg, who also manages his dental office.

A private memorial has been held. Bob's wish was that his friends, patients and associates remember him in whatever manner most suits them. His office will continue to serve patients with the current staff and Dr. Julia Moritis.

Myrn Burlingame Davis

Myrn Burlingame Davis 96, of Tumwater, Washington, died Monday, November 17, 2008, at the Hampton Special Care Center, Tumwater. She is survived by her son, John B. Davis; and her grandchildren, Christina MacIndoe and Ian Davis; great grandsons, Sean MacIndoe and Tyler MacIndoe.

Myrn was born in Pomeroy. She attended Whitman College where she was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority. Whitman was also where she met her husband of fifty-eight years, William Davis.

Myrn was a loving wife, a caring mother and grandmother, and a loyal friend. She lived out her Christian beliefs, caring for others in any way she could.

Services were held on November 21 at Westwood Baptist Church, Olympia

Gerrald (Jerry) Marion Stark, 1932-2008

Gerrald (Jerry) Marion Stark was born October 4, 1932, in Pomeroy, to Bert and Letha Stark. He died July 13, 2008, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tacoma.

Jerry grew up in both Fairbanks and Pomeroy, traveling back and forth with his parents, along with his aunt and uncle, Grace and Jay Ogden.

He graduated from Pomeroy High School and served three years with the U.S. Marines. He worked at several different occupations, mainly as a shrimp fisherman, policeman and as a machine oiler at Tillamook Lumber Company.

He married Mary Ann (Barnes/Cooper) Stark Oct. 25, 1968, in Portland, and moved his family to Tillamook shortly thereafter. He and Mary Ann lived in Tillamook until 2004, when they began living in Tucson, Ariz., during the winters and spending summers as state park campground hosts throughout the Pacific Northwest.

During Jerry's years in Tillamook, he participated alongside Mary Ann with the Tillamook County Ambassadors group. He was knighted by the Portland Royal Rosarians in 1995. He was a constant help with both Mary Ann's catering business and during her tenure as executive director of the Tillamook Chamber of Commerce, always helping out wherever he was needed.

Jerry had a great love for his family and friends. He was an avid reader of many books, enjoyed fishing and woodworking. His sense of humor always shone through, even during his last months after struggling from a heart attack and stroke. He will be missed by his family, friends and his dog, Easy.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Stark, currently of Steilacoom, Washington; children, Tawny LaTourette of Beaverton, Tina Gates of Heyburn, Idaho, Dawn Brumfield of Steilacoom, and Dale Cooper of Tillamook; nine grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; his father, Bert Stark of Walla Walla; and one sister, Carole Slaybaugh of Pomeroy. He is also survived by Matthew Cooper (half brother to Dawn and Dale) and his two children.

A memorial service was held August 2, 2008, at the Elks picnic grounds in Tillamook with Father Ray Ferguson officiating. Contributions to purchase books may be made in Jerry's honor at the Tillamook, Oregon, County Library.

Francis Peter Waldher (1915-2008)

Francis Peter Waldher, 92, died Wednesday, July 2, 2008, at Garfield County Hospital.

Francis, the son of Peter and Mary Pierre Waldher, was born August 12, 1915, at the home ranch in Garfield County. He lived in Uniontown from 1916 until 1935. He attended St. Boniface Catholic School in Uniontown and graduated from Pomeroy High School.

He married Elizabeth (Betty) J. Purcell on September 28, 1946.

He joined the Navy and served four years in the South Pacific Theater during World War II. He attained the rank of chief carpenter mate while in the Navy.

He and his brother Herman were engaged in the carpentry business for several years. During this time they remodeled many homes, constructed new homes and constructed Holy Rosary Catholic School in Pomeroy. He was an employee of Pomeroy Warehouse and Feed Co. until his retirement in 1980. He was also a member of the Pomeroy and Garfield County Volunteer Fire Department for 25 years.

He was a member of the Pomeroy Council of the Knights of Columbus for 72 years and the Luke E. Hart Assembly 4th degree Knights at Clarkston. He served in all offices in both organizations and was a former district deputy of District 8 of the Knights of Columbus. He was a charter member and a past president of the Eagles Lodge in Pomeroy.

His retirement years were filled with travel, rock hounding, sand painting and hours of volunteer work for neighbors, the community and the Catholic Church.

He is survived by his wife, Betty, at the family home in Pomeroy; a daughter, Mary Frances (Ron) Horn of Pasco; sons, Steven Randall (Lynne) Waldher of Edmonds, Washington, and Wayne Peter (Vicky) Waldher of Clarkston; two sisters, Agnes Herres of Colfax and Florence (Phil) Kraemer of Richland; and seven grandchildren, Eric Horn of Pullman, Travis (Tina) Waldher of Bremerton, Wash., Brent Waldher of Edmonds, Joseph (Janna) Waldher of Olympia, Laura (Rod) Visco of Spokane Valley, Douglas Waldher Boyer of Othello, and Emilea Waldher of Clarkston; great-grandchildren, Jaedynn and Devan Visco of Spokane Valley, Lothar and Nixie Waldher of Olympia, Peter and Nathan Waldher of Bremerton, Megan Horn of Pullman, Isabella and Josephine Kincheloe of Clarkston and Alyssa and Isaac Boyer. Also surviving are step-grandsons, Chad (Tina) Kincheloe of Colfax, Brad Kincheloe of Spokane and Dustin Kincheloe of Clarkston; and step-great-grandchildren, Jeremy, Dana and Riley Kincheloe of Colfax and Caleb Higgins of Walla Walla.

He was preceded in death by a grandson, Jason Horn; three brothers, Edward, Reinhard, and Herman; and six sisters, Margaret Mosman, Marian Eastman, Anita Vallandingham, Theresa, Dorothy and Louisa Waldher.

A rosary was recited and a Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Inurnment was at Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery in Pomeroy.

Memorials may be sent to: Holy Rosary Catholic Church in care of Ann Heitstuman, 176 17th St., Pomeroy; Garfield County Museum in care of Muriel Bott, PO Box 366, Pomeroy; or to the charity of your choice.

Charles James "Jim" Shawley

Charles James (Jim) Shawley passed away September 25, 2008, at Pomeroy.

He was born Jan. 5, 1948, at Lewiston, to Charles and Maxine (Watrus) Shawley. He attended school in the Pomeroy School District, graduating in 1966.

Jim and Lynn Rena Griffin were married July 3, 1967, at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Pomeroy.

He lived in Pomeroy all his life. He started farming the family farm in 1964 at the time of his father's death. In 1971, in addition to farming, he went to work for the U.S. National Resource Conservation Agency in Pomeroy as a field technician, later becoming a civil engineer technician for the agency. At the time of his death he was still farming and working for the NRCS.

Jim was very active in the community all his life and loved doing whatever he could to promote Pomeroy. As a child Jim grew up in St. Peter's Episcopal Church and was a Boy Scout, earning his Eagle Scout award. Throughout his life he was involved with Jaycees, Junior Miss program, Masons, Pioneer Association, Lewis and Clark Bicentennial, Garfield County Agriculture Museum, and was a 4-H leader and FFA sponsor, and helped wherever else he was needed. But the most important thing in Jim's life was his family, children and grandchildren.

Jim is survived by his wife, Lynn Shawley of Pomeroy; his sons, Derek Shawley and wife Tracie of Pomeroy and Deron Shawley and wife Nicole of Afton, Iowa; his mother, Maxine Shawley of Pomeroy; in-laws, Bill and Opal Griffin of Pomeroy; a sister, Karen Price and husband Sam of Mead, Wash.; brother, Richard Shawley and Susan of White Cloud, Minn.; granddaughters, Cheyenne and Makayla Miller of Pomeroy; grandson, Lane Dean James Shawley of Pomeroy; brothers-in-law, Jim Griffin and wife Debi of Pomeroy and Rodney Griffin and Susan of Wenatchee; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Preceding him in death was his father, Charles Everett Shawley.

A memorial service was held at the Pomeroy Christian Church, officiated by Father Green Baggett and the Rev. Frank Musgrave.

Memorial donations may be made to the Garfield County Agriculture Museum, the American Cancer Society or St. Peter's Episcopal Church.

Bruce Allen Adams

Bruce Allen Adams passed away on May 14, 2008, after a long struggle with heart disease and diabetes.

Bruce was born July 4, 1929, at the family homestead, near Gandy, Logan County, Nebraska, to William C. and Celeste B. Adams. He joined brothers Samuel and Kyle and sister Thelma. Sister Doris (Mickey) came along a few years later. Dry land farming the Nebraska sand hills was not the best at the time he was born. In 1934 the family moved to Sutherland, Nebraska, to carry the U.S. Mail, farm, and thresh small grain. The farming operation later grew into a fairly large enterprise. In his lifetime he saw the end of horse and mule farming and the evolution of the mechanization of today. He loved to watch the modern farmers work the fields in Garfield County where he spent his last years. The area was very similar to the area he grew up, only with a lot more hills. He was a farm boy at heart.

Bruce enlisted in the U.S. Army in September, 1948. He received his basic training and advanced training at Fort Lewis, Washington, where he met George Lillihei. George brought him home to spend the weekend with his family and that is how Bruce met the love of his life, Elsie. Bruce and Elsie were married on January 28, 1950. The Pacific Northwest became his home.

After jobs as a stableman and delivery person, he found work with the Boeing Airplane Company. Bruce and Elsie were among the early residents of Federal Way, Washington, where they lived for a number of years. At Boeing, he was trained in machining and tooling. During Boeing layoffs he worked for other aerospace companies in various parts of the country including Kansas, California, and Colorado. However, he spent most of his years of employment at the Boeing Company from which he was retired on January 1, 1985.

Following Elsie’s retirement, Bruce and Elsie traveled throughout the United States as full time RV’ers for about 14 years. They traveled to Southern Arizona and California most winters until 2003. In 1999 Elsie and Bruce joined daughter Beverly and her husband John in Pomeroy. Bruce’s skills in construction and management of people helped Beverly and John immensely in the renovation of the Hotel Revere. The hotel is now a National Register property.

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, brother Samuel, first born infant daughter Bernice Ellen and grandson Lee Eric Brovold. He is survived by his wife Elsie, children Barbara Ann Adams, Carol Sue Brovold (Ross), Beverly Lynn Adams-Gordon (John), and Ronald Kyle Adams (Sawon). He enjoyed joking, fishing and boating with his 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grand children.

A Funeral Mass was held on Friday, May 23, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Pomeroy, followed by burial at the Holy Rosary Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Tri-State Hospice Care (1221 Highland Ave, Clarkston WA 99403) or a charity of your choice.

James Edward Long

James Edward Long passed away Wednesday, April 30, 2008, at his home in Pomeroy, surrounded by his family.

He was born April 18, 1938, in Pomeroy, to Wilbur Long and Thelma Robinson Long. He attended 12 years of school in Pomeroy and two years of college to become an electrician's mate.

James served in the U.S. Navy, assigned to the USS Essex and Saratoga. He achieved the rank of petty officer 2nd class.

James and Clara Jennings were married Aug. 30, 1956, in Lewiston. They were married 51 years.

A lifelong resident of Pomeroy, James worked for the Garfield County road department for 14 years. He spent 25 years as a long-haul truck driver for Swift Transportation and 3B's Transportation.

He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He enjoyed camping, fishing and spending time with his family and faithful dog Molly. He also enjoyed four-wheeling, boating and snowmobiling.

James is survived by his wife, Clara (Teddi) Long of Pomeroy; a sister, Sally Long of Bothell, Wash.; three sons, Gary and Julie Long, and David Long, all of Pomeroy, and William and Heather Long of Maui, Hawaii; a daughter, Shannon Long of Pomeroy; and seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Ed and Audie Long, and his parents.