Obituaries
Geraldine L. Childress
April 23, 2023
Our beautiful mom, the woman we thought would outlive us all, slipped peacefully the surly bonds of earth, and touched the face of God at dusk on April 23, 2023 while in the compassionate care of the staff Kittitas Valley Hospital.
Geraldine Louise Childress (Ross) was born September 23, 1931 in Yakima, WA to Julius Edward and...
Carri L. Priestley
April 14, 2023
Carri LeAnn (Ristine) Priestley, 46, passed away at her home on Friday, April 14, 2023, due to natural causes. In keeping with her family’s wishes, her memorial service will be private.
Carri was born on May 19, 1976 in Ellensburg, Washington to Gary & Cathi (Wise) Ristine. She grew up in Ellensburg and graduated from Ellensburg High...
Barbara Jean Wheatley
April 13, 2023
On April 13, 2023, the world lost a beautiful soul. Barbara Jean Wheatley (Bacon) was born on March 15, 1935, in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. She was the daughter of Atoka and Willie Bacon, both of whom have preceded her in death. Barbara was one of nine children and is survived by her sister, Wanda Harmon.
Barbara had four...
Weldon Larry Wilson
April 12, 2023
Weldon Larry Wilson, 80, passed away on Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at the Westmoreland Health & Rehab Center in Knoxville, Tennessee. He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony at the IOOF Cemetery in Ellensburg.
Weldon was born on December 1, 1942 at Valley General Hospital in Ellensburg to Samuel and Eleanor Wilson. He grew...
Roberta Haire
April 5, 2023
Roberta Haire, 88, of Ellensburg, passed away on Wednesday, April 5, 2023 at the Prestige Care & Rehab Center in Ellensburg. A memorial service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 12, 2023 at Johnston & Williams Funeral Home in Ellensburg. She will be laid to rest in a private family ceremony at High Valley Memorial Park....
John Patrick Swords
March 30, 2023
John Patrick Swords, 39, passed away on Thursday, March 30, 2023 at his Ellensburg home. Private family services have been held.
John was born on May 12, 1983 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina to Michael & Vivian (McManus) Swords. The family moved around due to Michael's career service in the Marine Corps. This allowed John to spend...
Martha "Marty" Button
March 19, 2023
Martha "Marty" (Winston) Button, 83, a resident of Cle Elum, passed away Sunday, March 19, 2023.
She was born on December 1, 1939, in Greene County, Alabama, and attended schools in that area. She graduated from the University of Alabama as a Home Economics major. Immediately after graduation, she enlisted in the newly formed Peace Corps and...
Larry G. Bland
March 19, 2023
Our beloved Larry Bland, 84, lifetime Ellensburg resident, passed away on Sunday, March 19, 2023 at the Yakima Memorial Hospital. The family will host a drop-in reception to celebrate his life from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, 2023 at the home of Bart Bland, 3830 Manastash Road in Ellensburg.
Larry was born...
Wilma E. Englund
March 13, 2023
Wilma Eileen Englund (née Hoffman, age 81) passed away peacefully at her home in Ellensburg, Washington, on March 13, 2023, in the company of her husband of 36 years, Arlie, and twin sons, Jake and David. Wilma was a resident of Grant County for over 50 years prior to moving to Ellensburg in 2013, working as a cosmetologist and...
Norm Woods
March 11, 2023
Norm Woods had his last tee time at 12:48 a.m. on Saturday, March 11, 2023 surrounded at home by his family and friends. A celebration of Norm’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 2, 2023 in the Teanaway Hall at the Kittitas County Fairgrounds.
Norm was born on April 15, 1951 in Ellensburg...
Colleen M. Major
March 5, 2023
Colleen M. (Willette) Major, 97, peacefully left her family on Sunday, March 5, 2023 at her home in Ellensburg.
Colleen was born on January 10, 1926 in Los Angeles, California. Her parents were James & Cecilia (Mayta) Willette. She grew up in Cle Elum and the upper county became a cherished part of Colleen’s life - always...
Alison "Cookie" L. Helland
March 2, 2023
Alison L. Helland, 82, known as “Cookie” to those whose life she had touched, passed away Thursday, March 2, 2023 at the Kittitas Valley Hospital after a brief illness. Cookie was a lifelong resident of Ellensburg and a member of the Ellensburg High School graduating class of 1959. Cookie was very friendly, had an infectious sense of humor and...
Dr. Nancy E. Allen (Jurenka)
March 1, 2023
Dr. Nancy E. Allen (Jurenka), PhD, 85, longtime Ellensburg resident and CWU Professor Emerita in Reading Education, passed away on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at the KVH Hospital in Ellensburg. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 17, 2023 at Grace Episcopal Church in Ellensburg.
Nancy Allen was known in her academic...
Tony Malella
February 27, 2023
Michael Anthony “Tony” Malella, 56, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, February 27, 2023, in Cibolo, Texas. He leaves behind his wife Janel and their three children - Alia (Peyton), Devon, and Kim – as well as three grandchildren - Hudson, Bentley, and Royce. Tony is also survived by his parents Gerry and Valerie Malella, his sister Karen, and niece...
Lawrence "Larry" Joel Standish
February 18, 2023
Lawrence Joel “Larry” Standish, 76, passed away unexpectedly at his home in Ellensburg on Saturday, February 18, 2023. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 9, 2023 at Johnston & Williams Funeral Home in Ellensburg.
Larry was born on October 22, 1946 in Olympia, Washington to Lawrence Nathan & Violet Kathryn (Hedges)...
William "Bill" S. Pattee
February 15, 2023
William S. “Bill” Pattee, 79, lifetime Kittitas Valley resident, passed away at his home on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. At his request, no formal services will be held.
Bill was born in Ellensburg, Washington on November 19, 1943 to Leonard & Myrtle (Sisk) Pattee and was proud of being a descendant of two Kittitas Valley pioneer families. ...
Bruce E. Reason
February 3, 2023
Bruce E. Reason, 81, of Cle Elum, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 3, 2023 with his wife, daughter and son present. A gathering will be held sometime later this year with details to be announced.
Bruce was born on January 29, 1942 in Lansing, Michigan. He served four years in the United States Air Force as...
Patricia Ann Titus
February 2, 2023
Patricia Ann Titus, 82, departed her loving family peacefully on the evening of February 2, 2023, in the comfort of her own home on Third Street in Cle Elum, surrounded by her daughter and granddaughters.
Patricia was born in Wenatchee on May 16, 1940 to Leona Lydia (nee’ Heimbigner) and Herman John Schorzman. Of proud Volga German...
Joyce Marie Elizabeth Katalinich
January 15, 2023
Mom passed peacefully surrounded by family.
Joyce was born July 2, 1937 to Jess and Myra Kozelisky Long of Ronald, Washington.
Joyce met the love of her life, George Katalinich, at a high school dance. She was so excited when he proposed, she ran to tell her family before even telling George yes. They married...
A1C Wade Roger Hillemann, Usaf
January 12, 2023
A1C Wade Roger Hillemann, USAF, 19, lifetime Ellensburg resident, passed away on January 12, 2023. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 28, 2023 in the Teanaway Hall at the Kittitas County Fairgrounds.
Wade was born in Ellensburg, Washington on April 4, 2003. He grew up in Ellensburg and attended Valley View...


