Obituaries - Nov. 5, 2009

Edwin Kilpatrick

Funeral services for Edwin Kilpatrick, 87, a resident of Oakesdale, were Saturday, Oct. 31, at the Oakesdale Presbyterian Church. Burial followed at the Oakesdale Cemetery. Mr. Kilpatrick died Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane.

Born to Ross and Una Greene Kilpatrick Jan. 25, 1922, in Spokane, he grew up in Oakesdale and graduated from Oakesdale High School. He attended Washington State College and was a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. When WWII started he left school and began his life farming the family farm. On May 12, 1944 he married D. Jean Shahan and they made Oakesdale their home.

He was a 50 year member and past master of the Masonic Lodge at Oakesdale. He also was general chairman of the Rainbow Grand Assembly, and served as a Past Rainbow Dad for many years as well as being a member of the Shrine and a 50 year member of the Eastern Star.

He served on the board of directors for the Oakesdale Grain Growers. He was an avid hunter and loved the Blue Mountains.

Edwin loved cow cutting and helped build the arena at the Tekoa Fair. He was a lifetime member of the Tekoa Community Fair Assn.

Surviving are his wife of 65 years, Jean, at the family home in Oakesdale; two daughters, Margaret (Pete Caldwell) Kilpatrick, Colleen (Chris) Riedle; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his son, Robert Kilpatrick.

Memorial donations may be sent to the Edwin Kilpatrick family for a new community bulletin board in Oakesdale.

Online condolences:

http://www.bruningfuneralhome.com

Nancy Shea

Funeral mass for Nancy Margaret Shea, 78, resident of the Colfax area since 1986, was celebrated Wednesday morning at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Colfax. The rosary was recited at the church Tuesday evening. Mrs. Shea died early Friday morning, Oct. 30, at their Colfax area home.

Born Oct. 20, 1931, in Joliet, Ill., to Henry and Marguerite Braun Hammel, she grew up in Joliet and graduated from high school there. She completed her nurses training at Little Company of Mary Hospital in 1952 and worked as a nurse in the Joliet area until 1955. She married a life long neighbor, Jerry Shea, in Joliet July 2, 1955, after he returned from active military duty in Korea.

They made their home in New York where he served as a pilot for Pan-American Airlines. Their marriage was blessed with five children while they lived in New York, and she kept busy as a homemaker and mother. They moved to the Bay area of California in 1964, to Seattle in 1970 and finally to Colfax to be closer to family. Jerry retired in 1990.

A member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters of America and the Altar Society, she loved their rural lifestyle and enjoyed raising goats at their home along the South Palouse River. She also liked to read and was a member of the Besse Mechling Club.

Surviving are her husband of 54 years, Jerry, at their home; her five children, Joseph Shea, Plainfield, Ill .; Gerianne Buckley, Colfax; Elizabeth Bruce, Ketchikan, Alaska; Michael Shea, Colfax, and Patrick Shea, Waterford, Va .; her sister, Marge Markelz, Joliet, and 11 grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials go to the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Building Fund or to Volunteer Firemen, Inc. in Colfax.

On-line guest book:

http://www.bruningfuneralhome.com

Bill Loomis

A memorial service for Bill Loomis, 77, creator of the Lind Lions’ Club Combine Demolition Derby and owner of Loomis Truck and Tractor, will be Saturday, Nov. 14, at 1 p.m. at the Lind High School Gymnasium. Mr. Loomis died Oct. 27 in Kennewick, after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Born in St. John, to Harold and Fern Loomis May 18, 1932, he graduated from high school at St. John.

An entrepreneur and wheat farmer, he participated in countless events and donated to numerous causes in Lind and was best known for creating the demolition derby which attracted hundreds of people from all over the country.

The annual event began in 1987 and raised funds for the town of Lind, eventually replacing the 60-year old rodeo. Bill was also a member of the Lind Gun Club and recipient of the “Citizen of the Year” award in 2001 from the Lind Chamber of Commerce.

Loomis founded Loomis Truck and Tractor, a business that also gave him the opportunity to travel the countryside and befriend farmers and ranchers. A private pilot and practical joker, he used to fly his airplane over farmers’ fields and “buzz” them to say hello.

He lost an eye and his right arm in a hunting accident. Mose Carr of Pomeroy, flew his helicopter through winter conditions to search for Loomis, landed on the mountain where he was wounded and rescued him. Loomis bought and flew several helicopters over the years, and helped support Carr in his business, Snake River Helicopters. Despite his disability, Mr. Loomis continued to do everything he did before, including hunting, fishing, flying, farming, and playing poker.

Bill married Vivian Largent Loomis almost 40 years ago to create a “combined” family comprising Steve (Loraine) Bell, Jeff (Paula) Bell, Teresa (Don) Bell-Hollenback Melissa (Thom Nesbitt) Loomis, Wes (Rona) Loomis, Erik Loomis, Geri Lynn Loomis; his sister, Marly Bailey; 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Memorial donations may be made in Bill’s name to the Lind Lions’ Club or the Lind Gun Club.

Eva Schuldt Taylor

Funeral service for Eva Willene (Willie) Taylor, 92, Enumclaw, was Monday, Nov. 2, at Week’s Enumclaw Funeral Home. Burial was at Evergreen Memorial Park in Enumclaw.

She died Oct. 27, 2009 at Enumclaw.

She was born January 14, 1917, to Elmer and Ollie Lee Schuldt in Colfax. She married Everett Taylor. Mr. Taylor for many years served as principal at the former Hamilton School in Colfax.

She had been a homemaker and office worker. She was a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood and the Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Everett Taylor, in 2001, and her daughter, Julie Taylor in 2009.

Survivors include her son Scott (Mary Ann) Taylor and three grandchildren.

Online guest book:

http://www.weeksfuneralhomes.com

Melinda St. John

A memorial service for Melinda St. John, 48, will be Saturday, Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. in the Rosalia United Methodist Church. The service will follow a private burial in the Pine City Cemetery. She died Oct. 17, 2009, in Spokane.

Born July 23, 1961, to Don and Shirley St. John of Rosalia, she attended Rosalia schools where she graduated with the class of 1979. She was very active in school as a four-year cheerleader, pianist for the swing choir and other activities. She was selected as Miss Rosalia in 1979 and her parents along with many helpers built the Rosalia Float which was designed by Fern Feenan. They participated in parades and received many trophies including the Spokane Lilac Parade. She graduated from Spokane Community College in 1981 and for the last 16 years has worked for Olympic College where she was the principal assistant to the vice president of student services.

Surviving are two daughters, Meghan Antoni, Ellensburg; and Delaney Bartlett at the home; her mother, Shirley St. John, Spokane; one sister, Teresa (Woodie) Shipman of Kennewick; two brothers Doug St. John (Debbie) of Rice and David St. John (Cathy) of Rosalia.

Memorials may be made to Rosalia High School ASB Cheer Fund.

Edna M. Bockmier

Funeral services for Edna M. Bockmier, 96, will be Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009 at 1 p.m. at Kramer Funeral Home, Palouse, with the Rev. Eric Keefer officiating. Burial will be at the Greenwood Cemetery, Palouse. Mrs. Bockmier died Thursday, Oct. 29, at Gritman Medical Center in Moscow.

She was born Jan. 30, 1913, near Desmet, Idaho, to Ernest and Ina Gossett Cass. She attended a country school near Desmet, Oakesdale schools and graduated from Farmington High School with the class of 1931.

She married Charles Bockmier April 9, 1937, and the couple made their home at Palouse, and later at Deary. The couple moved to Moscow area in 1944. She delivered eggs and cut up fryers in the Moscow area for several years. Mr. Bockmier died in 1992.

She continued to live at the family farm until her death.

Survivors include one son Dennis (Sheila) Bockmier, Moscow; one daughter, Kathlyn (Bill) Berrigan and her husband Bill, Kettle Falls; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Memorials may be given to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Monte R. Mordaunt

A celebration of life for Monte R. Mordaunt, 62, Potlatch, was on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009 at 11 a.m. at the Elmore United Methodist Church north of Potlatch. Cremation preceded the service. Pastor Kathy Kramer officiated at the service. Mr. Mordaunt died Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, at his Potlatch area home.

Born Aug. 30, 1947, at Seattle, to Jeffrit and Dorothy McElmurry Mordaunt, he attended schools in Seattle and graduated from the Rainer High School in 1965. He married Josephine Olitres Nov. 23, 1991, at Coeur d’Alene, and the couple made their home north of Potlatch.

Monte was employed by Bennett Lumber Products at Princeton as a saw filer from 1970 until 1976, and then employed by Pacific Crown at Plummer, from 1977 to 1987. He then worked at Edwards Forests Products at Princeton, as the lead saw filer until the mill closed in 1990. He then joined Bennett Lumber Co. in 1990 and remained with the company until 2006 when he retired because of health reasons.

He attended the Elmore United Methodist Church at Potlatch.

Survivors include his wife Josey Mordaunt at the Potlatch home, one son Kane Mordaunt, Bellevue; one daughter, Rebecca Berndt, Shelton; one sister, Carol Moerbeek, Fullerton, Calif .; four grandchildren and two step-grandchildren.

Memorial gifts may be given to the Elmore United Methodist Church, 6147 Highway 95, Potlatch, 83855.