The Daily News-January 1990 APPELO, Agnes Evelyn A pioneer of western Wahkiakum County, died at age 90 at a Longview nursing home. For more than 60 years, she had served as manager of Appelo stores at Deep River, Naselle and at Grays River. Born near Pori, Finland, the former Agnes Paju came to the Naselle area in 1909. She graduated from Naselle High School in 1918 and married C. A. Appelo at Camp Cody, N. M., that year while he was on active duty during WWI. After his discharge from the Army, the couple began their long partnership of combining family life, business, and public service. Their sons, Carlton and Burton, helped in the store and on the telephone switchboard, which was in the Deep River store and home. When C. A. Appelo became West Coast regional salesman for the Lacta Cream Separator Company in 1923, Agnes took over the management and operation of the general store. Carlton Appelo, who still resides in the Deep River area, recalls how his mother literally broke out in shingles because of her worry over their financial situation during the Depression. Her doctor prescribed a long vacation, so the family took off in a Dodge touring car for the Chicago World's Fair in 1933. The family went on to the East Coast and to Washington D. C., just in time to witness the violence of the veterans Bonus March. In 1934, Agnes became manager of the Appelo Red and White Store in Grays River when it opened in the remodeled Ferndale Creamery. It also housed the switchboard and office of the Western Wahkiakum Telephone Co., which her husband had helped found. In 1940, she began as supervisor of the Appelo's store in Naselle, where she worked with Hilda Schuler and Elna Korpela. During the 1950's Agnes returned to Grays River to manage the store there until her retirement in 1979. Her husband died in 1977. Added info: After her husband began as regional salesman for Lacta, she would make twice weekly trips to the Deep River Logging Camp No. 1 to solicit groceries. She served as clerk of Deep River School Board and was a charter member and first secretary-treasurer of the American Legion Auxiliary- Barr Johnson Hill Post at Deep River and a 50 year member of the Order of Eastern Star. She is survived by her sons, Carlton E. Appelo of Deep River, and Burton A. Appelo of Seattle; her sister, Celia Hill of Astoria,] Ore.; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Memorial services were held Saturday at the Naselle Congregational Church. Her ashes were interred next to her late husband in the family plot at the Grays River Cemetery. Arrangements were by Penttila's Chapel by the Sea, Long Beach. Agnes Evelyn (Paju) Appelo Grays River Grange Cemetery-Grays River, Wa. 28 Dec 1899-25 Jan 1990 (As transcribed by the Wahkiakum County Historical Society Museum)