2017 Garfield County, Washington, Funeral Notices and Obituaries

William G. "Bill" McKay

Bill McKay passed away on December 13, 2017, at his home in Spokane.

He was born on September 4, 1928 in Spokane to W. James “Jim” & Hilda McKay and grew up on the farm in Almira. He attended high school in Almira and graduated in 1946. Bill received his BS degree from WSU and then taught high school agriculture for 10 years in Pomeroy, where he was also an FFA advisor.

After teaching, he returned to the family farm in Almira, and in 1982, started McKay Seed Company. Bill was a member of Washington State crop improvement and was a Republican Party Delegate. Later, he served as Parliamentarian for the Lincoln County Republican Party. Bill enjoyed traveling, golfing, hunting, his dogs, making knives, agriculture and farming, and the outdoors.

Bill is survived by his wife Nancy, two children Mitchell (Ann) McKay, Daniel (Laura) McKay and three stepsons Scott (Rea) Lomas, Randy (Shelleen) Lomas, and James (Jane) Lomas along with 11 grandchildren and four great grandchildren as well as his sister Eileen Millikan and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Joyce McKay in 1990, grandson Warren McKay, three brothers Phillip, Robert, and David McKay, and a sister Doris Egbert.

Funeral Services were held on December 18, 2017, at the Almira Community Church with a graveside to follow at the Lafollette Cemetery.

Jimmie Nell (Norton) Brown

Jimmie Brown passed away on November 27, 2017, in Clarkston. She was born on October 1, 1927, in Stephens County, Texas.

She married Lawrence W. Brown of Pomeroy on January 26, 1946. He passed in 2000.

Sam Dixon, 1938-2017

Sam was born October 23, 1938, in Pomeroy, to J. Carl Dixon and Ruth L. Dixon, the second of four children. He passed away Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, in Pomeroy.

Sam attended Holy Rosary grade school, Pomeroy High School and Washington State College.

He married Glenda Platt in Pomeroy in 1957 and moved to the family ranch, where they raised cattle, wheat and three kids.

Past and present affiliations include Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity, Eagles, Moose, Washington Cattlemen's Association, Cattle Producers of Washington and Washington Association of Wheat Growers.

Sam enjoyed Glenda, apple pie, raising cattle, fishing Bear Creek, family get-togethers, grandkids, chasing morels and huckleberries in the Blue Mountains, basketball, shooting pool and judging pies at the Garfield County Fair.

He is survived by loving wife Glenda; sons Pat (Donna) Dixon and Matt (Molly) Dixon; daughter Bridget and Tom Burgess; grandchildren Sara and Josh Olson, Ben and Ashley Dixon, Eric and Lindsay Dixon, Kyle and Emily Dixon, Rebecca and Aaron Shelton, and Brian Burgess; great-grandchildren Carson Dixon, Smith Dixon, Harper Dixon and Jace Dixon; a sister, Lynn Inglese, in San Francisco; and a brother, Joe Dixon of Pomeroy.

Sam was preceded in death by his parents; brother James R. Dixon; and brother-in-law Leon Platt.

A rosary was held December 30, 2017, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Pomeroy, followed by a Mass of Christian burial.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Pomeroy Food Bank.

Deborah Jean Roe

Deborah Jean Roe, 65, of Pomeroy, died Friday, October 20, 2017, at her home in Pomeroy. There was a memorial at the First Christian Church in Pomeroy on November 11. Mountain View Funeral Home of Lewiston was in charge of arrangements.

Mary A. Schilling of Pomeroy

Mary A. Schilling, a lifetime resident of Pomeroy, passed away Monday, Oct. 16, 2017, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston. She was 66.

Mary was born Feb. 26, 1951, in Pomeroy, to Clarence A. and Cecilia (Schaefer) Schilling. She attended HolyRosary Catholic School through the eighth grade and graduated from Pomeroy High School in 1969. She earned anassociate degree from Spokane Community College in medical reception in 1971.

She worked as a medical receptionist for Dr. Shirley Richardson in Pomeroy from 1972 until Dr. Richardson retired. She then worked for the Farm Service Agency office for a few years, and then for Dr. Pakula in Lewiston until he retired. Her retirement followed shortly thereafter.

Mary attended Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Pomeroy, where she served as the organist. In recent years, she attended All Saints Catholic Church in Lewiston. She had a love of cooking and collected many cookbooks over the years. She also loved making chocolates. She was a very good bowler. She was an expert shopper, always finding exactly the right gift for each family member. Hers was a life of generous giving and she shared gifts and cards with her family and friends at every chance. She always found a way to brighten your day.

She is survived by brothers Phillip and Leonard Schilling; sister Phyllis Jardee; and close personal friend Jim Snelson. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Charles Schilling.

Viewing was on October 19 at Merchant Funeral Home, Clarkston. The rosary was recited at on October 20, at All Saints Catholic Church, Lewiston, followed by Mass. Graveside services were held at the Pomeroy Cemetery.

Marjorie M (Bowles) Parris

Marjorie M. (Bowles) Parris, 95, passed away Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017, surrounded by loved ones.

She was born to George W. and Christle (Darland) Bowles on April 26, 1922, in Pomeroy. She attended Falling Springs, a one-room school. Marjorie met and married the love of her life, Elmer L. Parris, on Aug. 27, 1938. They were able to celebrate 70 years of marriage before his passing in 2009.

Hard work and tough times were no match for their family. Moving often to losing everything in a house fire, they picked up the pieces and grew stronger from the events. The couple raised livestock over the years and would sell the milk and eggs to friends and neighbors. When they weren't busy working on their small farm, they enjoyed camping in the mountains, searching for mushrooms and finding the perfect place to get firewood for the winter.

Marjorie had many talents and hobbies. She loved to cook. From making her own butter to trying a new recipe, it was always a treat to eat a meal from her kitchen. She also enjoyed canning, sewing, quilting and gardening. Most importantly, she loved to spend time with family.

Marjorie is survived by her sons, Larry Parris (Linda) of Vernonia, Ore., and Tom Parris of Pomeroy; sisters Laurel Fieder of Dayton, and Betty Louise Pier of Liberty Lake; 14 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; 34 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; daughters Barbara L. Christopherson (Ron) and Betty Jo Gonwick (Wendell); a grandson, Mike Baker; and her four brothers.

The family planned a memorial for a later date.

Rodney Lee Kimble of Pomeroy

Rodney Lee Kimble died Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017, at age 88, in Pomeroy. He was born Aug. 9, 1929, in Pomeroy, to Jake and Edna Watson Kimble.

He attended Dry Hallow, Chard and Pataha Valley schools in his elementary years. He attended Pomeroy High School, where he represented the school in boxing for four years. After graduation, he went on to attend Washington State College, where he earned his associate degree in agriculture. He then served his country in the U.S. Army, 1950-52, stationed in Germany.

Upon returning to the states, he farmed the family place under his brother, Virgil Kimble. He married JoAnn Ruark on March 1, 1953. The couple moved to the family farm near Dodge in 1955 and remained until October 1959.

Rod began his career in banking with the National Bank of Commerce, training in Richland in 1959 and moving back to Pomeroy in 1960. By 1968, he had been promoted to branch manager. The bank changed hands to Rainier Bank in 1974, and in 1975 he was promoted to branch manager of Rainier Bank in Dayton.

After several years in Dayton, he was again promoted, this time to senior loan officer of the Clarkston branch in 1979. Finally, he returned to Pomeroy as branch manager in 1983. While the bank changed hands several times over the years, ending up as Bank of America and Key Bank, Rodney was a constant fixture as a community banker until his retirement on August 1, 1994.

Rod was a lifelong member of Pomeroy First Christian Church, where he served as deacon and elder. He also served on many church committees. He was a member of Kiwanis, which became the Service Club, Pomeroy Dollars for Scholars, and Elks. He served as a volunteer for the food bank, the Garfield County Fair and the Garfield County Property Tax Assessment Board. He also was an avid fisherman, spending many leisure hours along the Tucannon River and lakes, and Pataha Creek. He enjoyed many family activities, attending events involving his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, gardening, bowling, camping, trips to the coast, playing card games and supporting Pomeroy High School athletics and school events.

He is survived by his two daughters, Kathi Howard and husband Clarence of Orofino, and Debby Waldher and husband Nick of Pomeroy; two granddaughters, JoyAnn Riley and husband Karl of Moscow, and Kara Daley and husband Mike of Kent, Washington; grandson Joe Waldher and wife Elizabeth of Pomeroy; great-grandchildren Teagan, Tamren and Trynley Riley, all of Moscow, and Daphne and Delilah Waldher of Pomeroy; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by parents Jake and Edna; wife JoAnn Ruark Kimble; and siblings Virgil Kimble, Cecil Kimble, Stella Kimble McFalls, Jimmy Kimble and Hazel Kimble Colyar.

A service was conducted on September 8 at the Pomeroy First Christian Church in Pomeroy, with the Rev. Roger Pedersen officiating. Viewing was prior to the service. Memorial donations may be given to the Pomeroy First Christian Church (310 South 8th St., Pomeroy WA 99347).

Margaret Bell Graham of Pomeroy

Margaret Bell Graham passed away early Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017, at the Garfield County Memory Manor Nursing Home in Pomeroy. She had lived 102 years and 4 months.

Margaret was born April 20, 1915, in Spokane, to Dr. Robert Bell and Jessie Fremont Robertson Bell. Growing up, she enjoyed swimming in the many lakes in the area, golfing, singing and Camp Fire Girls. She also enjoyed trips to Ontario, Canada, to visit her many aunts, uncles and cousins, who were her father's family.

She attended school in Spokane and graduated from North Central High School. She attended Whitworth College for one year and then moved to Walla Walla, where she attended Whitman College for two years. While there, she joined the Delta Gamma sorority. One day on the tennis court she met a young farmer, Harold Edmund Graham, from the Gould City area near Pomeroy who was a Whitman alumni. It was love at first sight.

Margaret, who had been singing since she was a young girl in Spokane, was studying voice, and in order to get her degree she would have to go to Seattle for her final year. She and Harold decided they would get married and she would not finish school. So Margaret, the dentist's daughter from Spokane, became a farmer's wife.

Harold and Margaret were married Sept. 25, 1935, at her parents' home in Spokane. She began learning all the things a farmer's wife had to do. She raised a large garden and canned both vegetables and fruit. During those first 11 years she also gave birth to three little girls, Shirley, Roberta, and Anne, who also learned all those things. They too, worked in the hay fields, and drove truck, as they got old enough.

Margaret enjoyed sewing, knitting and crocheting. She made most of the girls' clothing until they were old enough to make their own. She was a member of the Gould City Home Economics Club for many years and also was a 4-H leader. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Spokane and attended the United Methodist Church in Pomeroy and Walla Walla. She also belonged to a number of organizations, including the Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary, the Daughters of the Pioneers of Washington, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Rebekahs, P.E.O. Chapter FN of Pomeroy and Chapter CN of Walla Walla.

Due to health problems, Harold and Margaret moved to Walla Walla in the 1980s. While there, Margaret took oil painting classes and produced several very nice pictures. At the end of June 1992, Harold had a heart attack and passed away. Margaret continued to live in Walla Walla at the Odd Fellows Home until April of 2007, when she moved home to Memory Manor in Pomeroy.

She is survived by daughters Shirley (Dean) Johnson of Pomeroy, Roberta (Howard) Paulson of College Place, Wash., and Anne McClure of Hermiston, Ore.; 21 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents; brother Alexander R. (Ruth) Bell; sister Roberta Bell (Hugo) Kraemer; great-grandson Nickolas Alexander Siglin; and son-in-law Robert W. McClure.