Charles Edward "Ed" Hereford

Charles Edward "Ed" Hereford passed away May 1, 2022. He was born Aug. 16, 1939, to Jim and L. Margaret (Ferguson) Hereford in Tekoa, Wash.

After graduating from Rosalia High School in 1957, he attended Washington State University for one year.

Ed was always a farmer/rancher. He would go to Tonasket, Wash., to help work on the Ted Eberle Cattle Ranch and then to Stanwood, Wash., and stay with his aunt and uncle Lee Hereford and help load frozen turkeys. He then came back to farm with his father, Jim Hereford, for many years.

He married the "love of his life" of 47 years, Diane Marie Deeds of Plaza, Wash., on Sept 30, 1961. They moved to Thornton, Wash., where they lived and raised their three children. Diane passed away unexpectedly Dec 4, 2008.

Ed was a man of many talents – a pilot, master carpenter, a Rosalia Baptist Church deacon and Rosalia Fire Department commissioner for several years.

In 1977, he was elected to the Whitman County Grain Growers Board of Directors, then elected to North Pacific Grain Growers and to Harvest States Board of Directors; he represented Washington, Idaho and Oregon. He retired from the board in 1999 when Harvest States merged with Cenex.

Ed then sold the farm and went into business with his two sons in the fiber-optic industry for the remainder of his life.

He was a wonderful and devoted father, husband and leader. He always taught life lessons and supported us all throughout the many accomplishments and difficulties of our lives. He will be greatly missed.

He retired to his house in Casa Grande, Ariz., of 12 years, where he met many dear friends and used his carpentry skills on local remodel projects.

Ed Hereford is survived by his sister, Karen Loesch of Rosalia, two sons, Jed (Tricia Rusch) Hereford of Thornton, and Jim (Michelle Samoray) Hereford of Spokane; daughter, Jacki (Aaron) Kramer of Clarkston, Wash .; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren (with one more arriving in August).

The family wishes to convey its most heartfelt appreciation to the wonderful staff at Whitman Hospital and Courtyard Assisted Living. The family would like any memorials and contributions on his behalf be made to Rosalia Fire Department.

A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, May 13, in Thornton Cemetery and immediately following to the Rosalia Fire Department and Longhorn BBQ for a social gathering of friends and family.

We would appreciate your presence, but if you are feeling under the weather, please send us your "cares and wishes" from afar due to a family member with a compromised immune system, thank you for your understanding.

On-line condolences may be made at http://www.corbeillfuneralhomes.com.

Corbeill Funeral Home of Colfax is caring for the family.