Pomeroy Washington Downtown National Historic District
Pomeroy Washington Downtown National Historic District
Helen “Jerri” MacDonald, 77, of Pomeroy, died Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at Garfield County Hospital. Helen was born on April 17, 1948. Merchant Funeral Home of Clarkston is in charge of arrangements.
Norma Van Dorn, 84, of Pomeroy, died Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at Garfield County Hospital in Pomeroy. Norma was born June 8, 1941. Merchant Funeral Home of Clarkston is in charge of arrangements.
Helen Lorene Geiger passed away peacefully on Monday, June 23, 2025, in her Walla Walla apartment with her daughter, Fabbian Lea Detweiler by her side. She was 94 years old. Helen was born on October 6, 1930, in Asotin and later the family moved to Pomeroy; her last name then was Miller.
Helen grew up in Pomeroy where she met and married Warren Raymond Hartung. They moved to College Place, Goldendale, Dayton, then settled in Spokane where she lived from 1961-2020. They had 3 daughters, Carreen Faubus, Fabbian (Lester) Detweiler, and Joyce Sanks. Careen passed away but Fabbian and Joyce are still living.
Helen worked for Pacific Northwest Bell and retired in 1984 when it was divested from AT&T and merged with other companies to form US West.
As a member of Northwest Nazarene Church, she served over the years as Sunday school teacher and choir director. She volunteered and was a member of Soroptimist of Spokane. Helen was a very professional seamstress, and one of her favorite hobbies was crocheting which her children and grandchildren have all treasured bedspreads and various gifts.
Helen and Warren loved to fish, and they were "Snowbirds". The highlight of their winter trips was to Arizona and the CA Central Coast visiting family. They also had the pleasure of twice visiting Mackinac Island in Northern Michigan during tulip season and staying at the Grand Hotel where the movie "Somewhere in Time" was filmed. Traveling in their motor home was a favorite until Warrens passing in 2003.
Helen then married Floyd Joe Geiger in 2004. She and Floyd spent many happy years together and enjoyed traveling, both in their motorhome and to Hawaii, until his death in 2017.
In addition to her children, Helen is survived by step-children Paul, Karen, Keith, Scott, and Becky and their families; five grandchildren: Sheila (Barnett) Machtolf, Kymm (Moore) Faubus, Jennifer (Lester) Weissman, Courtney (Sanks) Fanning, Martin Sanks; 10 great grandchildren: Michael Barnett, Kevin Barnett, William Machtolf, Alec Faubus, Derek Moore, R. Zader Moore, Joshua Lester, Emma Archambeault, Amelie Fanning, Lyra Fanning; and two great-great grandchildren: Nandi Faubus, Maeve (Lester) Larson.
Helen had 3 younger siblings: brothers Carl Miller (since deceased), Stanley Miller, and sister Sharon Gibson and many nieces and nephews.
The family requests that people remember to donate to the Cancer Society and Hospice.
Rose Davis, 95, of Pomeroy, died Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at her home. Rose was born on January 31, 1930. Mountain View Funeral Home of Lewiston is in charge of arrangements.
Michaelle Jean Richmond, 74, died Friday, May 16, 2025, at her home in Pomeroy. Mickey was born on May 31st, 1950, in California. She was preceded in death by her busband, Grant Richmond. Mickey was a clerk at the Pomeroy Post Office before her retirement. Merchant Funeral Home of Clarkston is in charge of arrangements.
LeRoy Franklin Huminsky, 83 passed away peacefully with his wife and family by his side, May 7, 2025, at Avalon Progressive Care in Clarkston from complications of Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinson's.
LeRoy was born in Lewiston, to Frank Jordan Huminsky and Elizabeth Shaw Huminsky on February 15, 1942. He went to elementary school in Lewiston and Clarkston and junior high and high school in Clarkston, class of 1960. He enlisted in the US Navy and served four years and eight days, serving in the Philippines, Guam, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Calif., Saigon, and Vietnam. LeRoy's rank was E4 and he was a class A Disbursing Clerk on the Midway.
He met the love of his life, Pam Voshall, in June of 1965 and they married on September 8, 1965 in Coeur d' Alene. They began their married life in Lewiston, before moving to Clarkston and finally to their acreage in Pomeroy where Pam still resides.
LeRoy attended LCSC and studied business and began working at Potlatch as an accountant and worked there over 19 years. He was an avid coin collector, bird hunter and handball player. Eventually LeRoy turned his hobby of coin collecting into a lifelong business, Huminsky's Coins.
LeRoy was baptized June 20, 2010, in the Snake River at Asotin. Pam and LeRoy attended the First Christian Church in Pomeroy and for the last couple of years attended Grace Pentecostal Church in Lewiston.
As an avid sports fan, LeRoy coached daughters Roni and Robyn's AAU teams.
LeRoy is survived and missed by his loving wife Pam (Voshall) of almost 60 years; and his children, Veronica Deal (Bob) and Robyn Beale (Bill); grandchildren: Becky Tetrick (Clay), Jordan Asker (Chris), Seth Deal (Jessie), Cameron Beale (Lexi), and Stacia Deal; great grandchildren: Kendyl, Kenley, Kenzy and Klyde Tetrick, Aaron, Alleigh and Austin Asker, Will and Raegan Beale and Lucy Deal and two grandsons due in the fall of 2025; adopted brother Guy Huminsky, half-brothers Jamie and Jordan Huminsky, adopted sister Cheryl Huminsky, half-sisters; Carmen Askerland and Cathy Goddard.
He was preceded in death by his father, mother, sisters; Myrtle Uhlenkott and Donna Hayes (Jerry), brothers; Dan Story and Larry Alho, half-sisters; Jody Huminsky and Teresa Profitt.
A celebration of life will be held at 1pm Saturday May 24, 2025 at the Grace Pentecostal Church, 1421 Powers Ave in Lewiston.
Jim Hopkins passed away peacefully surrounded by family on May 3, 2025 in Seattle. Jim was born to Louis F. and Maudie Hopkins in Dayton on May 7, 1936, and was raised principally in Pomeroy and then moved to Walla Walla at 16.
After graduating from Walla Walla High School in 1954, he went on to Stanford University to receive a degree in Electrical Engineering (1958). In his freshman year he was a catcher on the Stanford baseball team, giving rise to so many great stories and friendships. As a sophomore, he committed to prioritize academics but his love of baseball remained throughout his life.
His first professional position was at Ampex Corporation in Los Angeles. He participated directly in capturing data related to early NASA missions and Dept of Defense missions related to flight testing. He began taking over more responsibility for the family farming operations in Garfield County.
Leveraging his work in aerospace, he was able to return home to Washington state by taking a position in Seattle with Simmons Precision to serve Boeing seeking high-accuracy measurement data. At a Washington Athletic Club event, he met Marilyn McLean and the course of his life was changed forever. They were married July 22, 1967 and were blessed with two sons - Randall in 1971 and Jordan in 1974.
In the 1970's, Jim founded Northwest Technical Company (NTC), a Sales Engineering business - focused on optics and light measurement, as the digital computing era emerged. He represented multiple OEMs in the growing technology market in the northwest. It was here that his extraordinary ability to research, analyze, and plan was on full display. He did this while moving back to Walla Walla to be closer to his aging parents and to expand his farming operations into Oregon.
He was active in the University Presbyterian Church - especially via Memorial Ministry. He developed a particular appreciation for classical musical theatre and also traveled extensively to chase genealogical leads for both sides of the family, including Halifax, Nova Scotia, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and many other points in between.
After he wound down NTC, he continued to oversee activities of the farmland and apartment buildings inherited from Marilyn. He took special pride in smoothly bringing multiple groups together to mingle at his 80th birthday dinner-cruise on Lake Union, and to share with them countless photos and stories of a life well-lived.
After Marilyn's death in 2020, Jim got reacquainted with fellow Stanford alumnus Jean Bolton.
Jim is predeceased by his parents, by Marilyn, and by his sister Vie Ilona. He is survived by Jean Bolton, by his two sons, by his five beloved grandchildren Annabelle, Marissa Rae, McLean, Sammy, and Zachary, by his two nephews Ken Husted and Ron Gentry and by his niece Nicki Bailey.
Jim's graveside memorial service will be held May 29 at 11am at Abbey View Memorial Park in Brier, WA with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, remembrances in Jim's honor may be made to the University Presbyterian Church - Memorial Reception Ministry (Seattle).
Richard (“Rich”) Frederick Strain’s spirit “lifted off” from this Earth peacefully on May 3, 2025, at Sacred Heart Hospital following complications from a recent stroke. His wife Colleen was at his side.
Born in Walla Walla on April 28, 1944 to Helen Elizabeth and Frederick Selah Strain, Richard was raised in Pomeroy, a farm boy at heart. His sense of rhythm and love of dancing may have been engrained, as he was transported as a young boy from one grange hall to another by his parents as part of the Strain Family Band. As a first grader, little did Richard know that the girl standing next to him in the class picture would one day be his high school sweetheart and wife of 60 years. Growing up, Richard played all the sports and took over the running of the family farm as a teenager after his father's early death. Following graduation from PHS in 1962, Richard attended WSU and while there, he and Colleen Byers were married in 1964. Their daughter Susan Andrea was born in 1965, as was a lifelong Coug allegiance.
Rich and Colleen completed their student teaching in Moses Lake, WA. He pivoted into a career in insurance after training in Tacoma, WA and a move to Yakima with United Pacific Insurance as an underwriter. In Yakima, son Michael Richard was born in 1968. The family moved to Sunnyside, WA in 1971 and Richard joined the Ash Pearce Agency, which he later purchased and operated as Lower Valley Brokers, Inc as an independent agent. Richard was known in the Yakima Valley as a trustworthy businessman to his many clients and friends. A bonus of his business career were the many industry trips he and Colleen were able to make around the world, including Hawaii, Yugoslavia, Hong Kong, Bermuda, and Canada. Always a lover of travel and the open road, Richard often piled the family into the car for Sunday afternoon drives with no particular destination in mind but to enjoy exploring somewhere new. Family trips to the Oregon Coast, Spirit Lake and Hawaii were part of those child raising years. A lover of the sun, warmth, and Hawaii, Rich and Colleen enjoyed a month a year on Maui for several years as empty nesters. Motor home travel came into play when grandchildren Andrew and Caroline arrived on the scene, followed by a lake place in Coeur d'Alene to boat, jet ski, and pull kids around on the tube. After CDA came several winters in Florence, AZ where Rich loved the desert heat, landscape, hikes, and the pool.
Richard was an active member of his community. In Sunnyside, he served as a Rotarian for many years, was an active member of St. Joseph's Catholic Parish. He was an elected PUD commissioner, a Port Commissioner and served as a member of the Yakima Federal Savings and Loan Bank for 43 years. Rich and Colleen traveled for a medical mission to Vietnam with two dear friends and Rich cleaned instruments for cleft palate repairs. A club Richard obtained perhaps the most enjoyment from was his involvement in the Bridge Club a mix of several friends who ostensibly got together to play Bridge but actually visited, laughed, partied, and supported one another through many years and milestones..
In 1999, Rich and Colleen moved to Yakima and lived in the Aspen Village neighborhood. Always a water lover, Rich loved their view of the lake and the sound of the waterfall out of their back door. He was tickled to take grandson Bodhi out for spins in the paddleboat. Rich and Colleen had just recently moved to Riverview Retirement Community in Spokane and enjoyed the view of the Spokane River flowing by. Rich was as comfortable under the water as he was above it. A master scuba diver, he completed many dives, mostly in Hawaii, but also in Bermuda, Tahiti, and around the state of Washington. He had the strongest stomach of anyone we knew…never seasick, always smiling. He willingly rode any carnival ride, white water raft, or hot air balloon.
Rich had an interest in geology, cars, and architecture. He knew the history of land formations on many hikes, was known to have dropped by the car dealership on the way home from work and ended up with a new car (on a fairly regular basis) and built a home for his mother next door to his family on the Sunnyside lot. He was a reader with an easy going “go with the flow” gentle and generous personality. As an only child, Rich embraced the large Byers family that he married into and stayed in touch with Colleen’s siblings, their spouses, and nieces and nephews. One of his greatest joys was time spent and conversation shared with his wife, children and grandchildren. He is survived by his wife Colleen Strain, daughter Susan Herzog and her husband Michael J. Herzog, son Michael Strain and his wife Alicia Strain, and grandchildren Andrew Irwin-Herzog and his wife Emma Irwin-Herzog, Caroline Herzog Davey and her husband Andrew Davey, and Bodhi Strain.
The celebration of life will include a funeral mass at Immaculate Heart Retreat Center Chapel, 6910 S. Ben Burr Road in Spokane, WA on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. with a luncheon to follow on site.
Tom left us on Friday, May 2, 2025. Born on April 23, 1935, Tom was well-known in the Kamiah and Pomeroy areas as he was an incredibly good friend to all and the best of fathers to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Tom was born to Ted and Margret Schuster on April 23, 1935, in Spokane. He was one of seven children growing up and attending school in St. John, until he was in the seventh grade. At that time, his family moved to Clarkston where Tom went to high school and graduated in 1953. He met, dated and then married Joanne Osborn on June 3, 1956, and they lived in the Pomeroy area where he was a farm hand for a large farm. Two children were born there, Mark and Debbie. They bought and moved to a ranch/farm at Kamiah in 1960 on the Beaverslide area. There, a third child, Patty, was added. Tom farmed, ranched and drove log truck to support his family. He also bought a backhoe and a small truck to start his own small excavation business.
Beyond work, Tom and Joanne found Christ in a private Bible study with friends, which changed their lives immensely. They were involved with the American Sunday School Union and through it became part of a Bible Camp ministry as counselors and teachers. The facility they were using, known as Camp O'Hara, for the camping ministry, had to be torn down as it had several incredibly old buildings and was on Forest Service ground. A new location was founded at Harpster where Tom served on the first camp board for the ALACCA Bible Conference. He used his abilities and equipment to help construct the camp from the ground up, including a bridge across the river and many of the buildings you see there today. While farming on the mountains above Kamiah, he would be able to listen to KMBI radio and wanted the whole valley to have access to this station. He and his dear friend Leo Hill contacted Moody Bible Institute as representatives of the ALACCA Board and orchestrated the building of three translator towers. These all are still broadcasting God's message over the Clearwater Valley today.
Tom and Joanne always had many Bible studies in their home and took over the leadership of the Glenwood Sunday School when the founders had to move away up until about 1990. Tom and Joanne sold their farm and bought one in the Fort Misery area outside Kamiah in 1976. They farmed there until 1995 when he sold and moved outside of Pomeroy to a farm, which they still own today. Tom retired from active farming in 2010 and moved to Clarkston in 2018, where he resided until his passing.
A few of Tom's favorite activities were camping in the backwoods and riding four-wheelers. After retirement Tom and Joanne RV-ed to Arizona in the winter for about four years. He loved to talk to people and learn about their lives.
Tom is survived by his wife of nearly 69 years, Joanne; his sister Rosemary Cook, son Mark Schuster (Jo), daughters Debbie Steingraber (Paul), and Patty Johnson (Dan). They have 11 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at Orchards Community Church, 822 Bryden Ave., Lewiston. Friends and family are invited to attend and share a celebration of a remarkable life.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to ALACCA Bible Conference Building Program, 101 China Garden Road, Harpster, ID 83552.
Doris M. Johnson passed away peacefully Thursday, May 1, 2025, in Lewiston at the age of 91. She was born Aug. 29, 1933, to Eugene "Gene" and Delma (Dahl) Stewart, in Pomeroy.
She worked as a bookkeeper for many years at Buttrey's in Lewiston, as well as bookkeeper of Morbark of Idaho/Johnson Machinery of Lewiston.
She is survived by her husband, Peter (Pete) Johnson of Lewiston; daughter, Dianne (Steve) of Orofino; daughter, Vickie (Keith) of Yuma, AZ; son, Jerry (late wife Judy) of Lewiston; and sister, Kay of Ohio; grandchildren, Jamie, Stephanie, Mark, Gabrielle, Casey, Krista, Kami and Luke; great-grandchildren, Kobe, Katy, Wade, Trixie-Anne, Peyton, Loudan, Ryder, Louis, Sam, Jasper, Amy, Rory, Carson, Impala and Jackson and great-great grandchildren, Kaden, Zara and Njeri; as well numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by infant daughter, Bonnie Jean; parents; sister, Marion; and brother, Don.
A memorial will follow at a later date.
Art historian, author and college professor, Caroline Mae Houser was born in Walla Walla, on Oct. 9, 1934. She was raised on a wheat farm in Pomeroy. She died peacefully in Seattle on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at the Skyline Retirement Community at the age of 90.
A graduate of Mills College, she went on to complete her Ph.D., at Harvard University, focusing upon the classical Greek sculpture of antiquity. Her doctoral dissertation was rated among the outstanding dissertations in the Fine Arts Journal. It was then published as a book with photographs by David Finn, titled “Greek Monumental Bronze Sculpture of the Fifth and Fourth Centuries B.C.” Subsequently, her catalogue of the exhibition at Harvard's Fogg Art Museum was published: “Dionysos and His Circle: Ancient through Modern.” This flexible and utterly novel approach to the art of antiquity, as it can also be seen to resonate among later modern artists, would serve her teaching well as professor of art at Smith College, where she curated and shared with students, the preparations for a traveling exhibition, “From Myth to Life: Images of Women from classical World,” drawn from the college's excellent art collection.
Caroline leaves a close and loving family, her brother Gary Houser, wife Chris, her two children, Jennifer (Justin) Dixon and their two children, Autumn, and Knox; Richard Tavis (Lora) Gittins and their two children, RJ, and Maverick; nephews Greg and Drew Houser; nieces Kari Engelsvold (Harry) and her two sons, Jordan, and Scott; Kris Thordarson (Eric) and their two daughters, Anna, and Kari; special people from Canada, Seattle, Portland, Walla Walla, Pomeroy and across the East Coast, all of whom she considered family; along with her students, colleagues and friends, like this writer, Susan Kuretsky, who shared her experiences with Caroline, as a Harvard graduate, and made many visits to museums from Athens to Amsterdam.
Caroline was preceded in death by her parents, Alton and Elizabeth Houser, and her sister Mary Houser Caditz.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 24, followed by a meal at the Pataha Flour Mill in Pomeroy.
Vernon J. Wood, 63, of Pomeroy, died Friday, April 18, 2025, at Sacred Heart Medical center in Spokane. Merchant Funeral Home of Clarkston is in charge of arrangements.
Steven J. Landkammer passed away Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at Memory Manor, in Pomeroy. Steve was born the fifth-oldest child of Felix and Dorine (Long) Landkammer on Aug. 23, 1943, in Lewiston.
Steve attended Holy Family Catholic School, graduating from the eighth grade, then graduated from Clarkston High School in 1963. While in high school, Steve enjoyed showing steers at the Asotin County Fair, as well as playing football for Clarkston High School.
Steve went into farming with his father, running it for two years after his dad passed away. Steve stayed on the farm to help his mother until she passed. He then moved into Clarkston Care Center for a while, then into his bunkhouse at Evergreen Estates. Steve moved to Memory Manor in Pomeroy for the last few months of his life.
Steve was preceded in death by his father and mother; brothers: Larry, Neil “Willy,” Philip “Sonny;” sister Esther Jean (stillborn); and brother-in-law Lyle Landkammer.
Steve is survived by his siblings: Wayne (Pat) Landkammer, Judy Landkammer, and Mary (Lee) Cass; many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Services will be held Saturday May 10, and will include: 1:30 p.m. rosary and 2 p.m. funeral Mass, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Pomeroy, with burial following at Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery. A reception at Holy Rosary Catholic School followed the burial.
Donations in Steve's memory may be made to Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Pomeroy or to the Landkammer Catholic School Trust Fund.
Our beloved and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother passed away peacefully at home with her husband of 57 years, Jim, by her side on April 3, 2025. Colleen lost her short but brave fight against an aggressive cancer.
Colleen was born August 31, 1949 to Albert and Loretta Brain in Roundup, Montana, the younger of two girls. She grew up in the same home that her mother was born and raised in. Colleen graduated from Roundup High School in 1967 and moved to Spokane to attend a key punching school.
Spokane is where she met James (Jim) Ledgerwood, from Pomeroy. They married on August 31, 1968. The young couple soon moved to Pomeroy where they lived and worked on Jim's family ranch. She endured and embraced the challenges of being a farmer and rancher's wife. They began adding to their family when their daughter Janine was born May 14, 1970, soon followed by their sons, Larry born January 10, 1972, and Tracy on November 30, 1974.
As the kids got older, Colleen worked at a couple of local banks as a teller. In August of 1988, she was hired as the deputy assessor for Garfield County. She later assumed the role of assessor until she retired December 31, 2011.
Colleen is survived by her husband Jim, sons, Larry and wife Sherrie, Tracy and wife Amy both of Pomeroy, grandchildren, Logan Ledgerwood of Athol, Idaho, Colby Ledgerwood of Pomeroy, Mercedes Macomber of Pomeroy, Jessica and husband Ollie Hurley, great grandchildren Paige and Dillon Hurley of Pomeroy, sister Kathleen and husband Bob Glumbik of Show Low, Arizona, and more extended family.
Colleen is preceded in death by her parents Albert and Loretta Brain, daughter Janine (1970- 1987), and grandson Kai Ledgerwood (1995-2013).
A celebration of life is scheduled for Friday April 18, 2025, at 3 p.m. at Spinners' Maple Hall in Pomeroy. She will be laid to rest beside Janine and Kai at 1 p.m. at the Pomeroy Catholic Cemetery, with friends and family.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages you to donate to an organization or non-profit of your choice.
Sandra Niebel, 72, of Pomeroy, died Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at Garfield County Hospital in Pomeroy. Merchant Funeral Home of Clarkston is in charge of arrangements.
Sandra Estelle Sparkman Hansen, age 79, of Clarkston, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 28, at the Life Care Center in Lewiston. Born on July 17, 1945, in Miami, to Forrest and Millie Sparkman, Sandra entered the world prematurely. Despite early health challenges, including the development of glaucoma which gradually impaired her vision, Sandra approached life with remarkable resilience and an unwavering spirit.
Sandra graduated from Hadley School for the Blind in Florida. Demonstrating incredible determination, she would later hold a job developing x-rays at a hospital, navigating the darkroom with ease despite her visual impairment. Later, while pregnant with her second son, Steven, Sandra underwent surgery that resulted in complete blindness.
On Feb. 21, 1970, Sandra married the love of her life, Hillery Magnus Hansen, in her hometown of Miami. Together, they shared 51 wonderful years until Hillery’s passing on Jan. 24, 2022, at Tri-State Memorial Hospital in Clarkston. They were devoted parents to their two sons, Samuel and Steven.
Sandy was known for her sharp intellect, her kind and gentle nature and her consistently high spirits, always accompanied by an amazing sense of humor. An extraordinary woman of unwavering faith, Sandy was a member of Living Word Missionary Baptist Church, regularly attending services and various functions. Her beautiful voice graced the church choir for many years and she often shared her gift of song at numerous events. One of her most cherished hymns was “Amazing Grace.”
She was immensely proud to be a grandma to Steven’s son, Skylar K. Hansen, and a great-grandmother to Skylar’s daughter, Wrynn Marie Hansen. Her family brought her immense joy.
A joint memorial service to celebrate the lives of Sandra and Hillery will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, July 20,2025, at the Living Word Missionary Baptist Church, 707 Preston Ave., Lewiston.
Larry Harold Reyerson, age 80, of Pomeroy passed away at his home on March 27, 2025. He was born on October 22, 1944, in Spokane to Vera and Harold Reyerson. Larry had been a resident of Pomeroy for the past 15 years.
He attended Rogers High School in Spokane, where he was a talented athlete and was the 1963 Bi-District and Spokane City League high jump champion. He held the high jump record of 6 ft 3" for several years.
As a teen, summers were often spent working on his grandfather's family farm in North Dakota, reflecting his strong family ties. Larry also enjoyed spending weekends at Priest Lake with good friends and family, often going boating, skiing, swimming, and barbecuing.
In the mid '60s he was half owner of The Silver Pheasant bar on Division St in Spokane
In 1969, he married Susan Pawlik of Pomeroy and through the years they welcomed two daughters and two sons. Susan and Larry were divorced in 1983.
Larry had a love for music which was a constant throughout his life. From a young age, he played his own trumpet and later shared his musical talents as the leader of his band, The Midnight Oil. Another of his favorite pastimes was fishing.
Larry worked in advertising for several newspapers, including the Grant County Journal in Ephrata, the Tri-City Herald in the Tri-Cities, and ultimately retired from the Walla Walla Union Bulletin.
Larry was preceded in death by his father, Harold Reyerson; his mother, Vera Reyerson; his elder sister, Anita Nelson; and his younger sister, Arlie Robinson.
He is survived by his children, Amy (Kevin) Spears of College Place, Bridget Hernandez of Spokane, Joel Reyerson of Pomeroy, and Nick Reyerson of Spokane; five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
A celebration of life to honor Larry will be held in Spokane with details to be announced at a later date.
Josephine Mary Bagby passed away peacefully in Spokane, on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, due to unforeseen surgical problems. She enjoyed a full and active life of love and happiness throughout her 96 years on earth.
As a youth, Josephine was confronted with several challenges resulting in her withdrawing from school at an early age. That all changed when she met the love of her life, Howard Bagby, in Pomeroy, and the two were married in 1947. Howard and Josephine enjoyed 72 years of companionship, dedication and love together. They especially enjoyed traveling together. They were truly soulmates and created a loving family with two children, JoAnn and David. Together they purchased the Lone Star Service Station in Pomeroy, where they established not only a strong business but also a gathering place that became a landmark in the community.
Josephine was open and welcoming to everyone she met. She would go out of her way to ensure everyone felt comfortable and at ease. She especially loved family get-togethers, especially playing cards with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The room was always filled with laughter when playing with Josephine. She also loved animals and owned dogs and cats throughout most of her life. Any stray animal that wondered onto her property was guaranteed a free meal. During her free time she would be engaged in her hobbies of putting together a puzzle and completing diamond-art projects.
She leaves behind two children, nine grandchildren, and 29 great-grandchildren.
A graveside service and dedication was planned for 2 p.m. Friday, April 18, [2025], at the Pomeroy Cemetery.
Dale Allen Schneider, 71, of Pomeroy, died Monday, March 3, 2025, at TriState Health in Clarkston. Merchant Funeral Home of Clarkston is in charge of arrangements.
Craig Donald Baker passed away peacefully Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Coeur d’Alene, from high grade Cholangiocarcinoma, with his loving wife, Laurie, by his side.
Craig was born in Pomeroy on March 5, 1957, to Dick and Fran Baker. He attended school in Pomeroy and graduated from high school in 1975. He was looking forward to his 50th class reunion this coming summer. He was voted “biggest flirt” his senior year along with his dear friend Becky Collier. Growing up, Craig drove wheat trucks and combines for family and friends. During his school years Craig played basketball, football and baseball. He was also on the swim team and diving team. He was a very gifted athlete.
Craig was recognized as a skilled concrete finishing expert, learning his skills from Don Watson. He had several jobs in the construction industry: carpenter, heavy equipment operator including rock crushers, front loaders and his favorite, excavators. Throughout his career he also worked for DeAtley Crushing, Joe Miller Concrete, DIVCON, North Fork RV Resort in Front Royal, Va., where he and Laurie lived from October 2017 to June 2023.
In 1976 Laurie Fondahn (of the Duckworth clan), moved to Pomeroy and met Craig. After a year they went their separate ways. He married twice and had two sons. They reunited in 2011 and dated long distance for three years. Then he moved to Laurie’s North Idaho home in 2014 and they married Aug. 15, 2015.
He was preceded in death by his parents: father, Richard Francis Baker; mother, Frances Lou Baker; and brother, David Lee Baker.
Craig is survived by his wife Laurie Fondahn-Baker; sons, Brett Baker and Jonathan Baker; brother Rick Baker (Cheryl); sister Julee MacLeod (Malcolm); grandchildren: Jaden, Daniel (Marley), Makaylin, and great-granddaughter, Delilah.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, March 7, at the Spinners Hall, 699 Columbia St., Pomeroy.
Eric Leon Wommack passed from this life in a fatal traffic accident on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. He was 63 years old. Eric was born in Pomeroy, on Aug. 30, 1961, to Willis Wommack and Margaret Flaten.
Eric graduated from Pomeroy High School in 1980, and enlisted immediately in the United States Army. He served in the Army for more than 20 years. He attended Grantham University in Missouri where he received a multi-disciplinary associate of arts degree. Eric's tours of duty included Korea, Afghanistan and Iraq. Eric was proud of his service to his country, loved his family, and moved home to Pomeroy in 2019. At the time of his death, Eric was employed by the Bonneville Power Administration as heavy equipment mobile mechanic.
Eric is survived by his wife, Allie Wommack; his sons Mitchell and Morgan Wommack; his stepdaughters, Katie McNeely and Shelbie Harris; grandchildren Amelia and Hadley McNeely; his brother, Steve Wommack; and his sister, Jodene Wommack. He was preceded in death by his father, Willis Wommack and his mother, Margaret Flaten.
A celebration of life was held Saturday, March 15, at the Pomeroy Church of the Nazarene, 135 S. Ninth St., Pomeroy.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial tributes be directed to Eric's funeral fund to assist with expenses.
Lynn Rena (Griffin) Shawley, 76, went home to the Lord on January 22, 2025 after fighting brain cancer.
Lynn was born December 29,1948, daughter of Bill and Opal Griffin. She was raised in Pomeroy and was a 1967 graduate of Pomeroy High School. She married her sweetheart Jim Shawley July 3,1967. They moved to Jim's family farm where they farmed for over 40 years while raising their two sons Derek and Deron.
In 1989 she became the school secretary at Pomeroy Elementary School until her retirement in the spring of 2014. She made long-lasting friendships, from staff to children and had so many near to her heart as she watched them grow. Lynn enjoyed being involved with many groups and clubs including the Episcopal church, Jaycees, FFA, and The Jr Miss program where she and Jim traveled to the pageants to be judges for many years. She enjoyed her friends and was a part of The Pin Wheelers and gave us many smiles and laughs with their fun involvement in parades and community events. Lynn had a talent and love for quilting. When she had free time she would help at Rather B's quilt shop and enjoyed making quilts for family members that will be cherished for years.
Lynn is proceeded in death by her husband Jim Shawley, parents Opal and Bill Griffin, brother Jimmy Griffin, and granddaughter Makayla Miller.
She is survived by her two sons Derek (Tracie) Shawley, and Deron (Nicole) Shawley, her grandchildren Cheyenne (Clayton) King, Lane Shawley, Charles Shawley, and William Shawley. Greatgrandchildren Casey, Lucas and Morgan King, brother Rodney Griffin, sister in laws Debbie Griffin and Karen Price, brother in law Richard Shawley, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
In lieu of flowers/plants a memorial to honor Lynn Shawley to Pomeroy Elementary School; helping to create an outdoor learning space in the playground shelter area. Please send donations to Pomeroy School District Attn: Lori Flynn PO Box 950, Pomeroy, WA 99347
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