obits Touchet Cemetery

January 29, 1907 - September 15, 2010; Stella Torgerson Baker was born on January 29, 1907, to Swen and Mattie (Storla) Torgerson in Milton-Freewater, Oregon, number five of seven children, Attended Grove School and Central High School, graduated in 1924. Married Marion Phillip. In 1942, Stella married second husband, Elza "Jerry" Baker, raised and harvested wheat on a prosperous farm located near Prescott, Washington, until Jerry's death in 1962, (she) continued to manage the farm until 1985. After several years living in Walla Walla, Stella return to her favored farm living when she moved to daughter Shirley Phillips Cummins' Touchet, Washington, alfalfa farmed in 1994 until 2004, move to College Place's Regency at The Park after enduring a debilitating fall, until her death at the age of 103. Preceded in death by her parents and husband, Stella was preceded in death by sons Archie Phillips and Byron Baker and former son-in-law James McEwen, daughters-in-law Juanita Conrad Phillips and Rae Hargitt Baker, and grandchildren Leland Phillips, Dale Phelps, Joe Baker and Mary Michael Maynard Paynter; six siblings, Effie Torgerson Ritchey, Ida Torgerson Kennoyer, Mabel "Louise" Torgerson, Clarence Torgerson, Wilbur Torgerson and Oscar Torgerson, along with his wife and Stella's sister-in-law, Bonnie Hopkins Torgerson; her special canine friends Skippy, Chou-Chou, Chopper, Rocky, Honey Bear, Gingersnap and Freddie. Surviving are daughters Shirley Phillips Cummins, Karen Lee Baker and Shirley Baker Phelps, along with sons-in-law Robert Phelps and Robert Chatham and former son-in-law Dr. Bohdan Kolody. Survived by grandchildren Steven and Cally McEwen, James and Kerry McEwen, Debbi Phillips, Kenneth Phillips, John Phillips, Dr. Katherine Kolody, Richard Chatham, Larry and Donna (Baker) VanHollebeke and Mark Phelps; great grandchildren Jacob McEwen, Matthew McEwen, Jessica McEwen, Zachariah McEwen, Elijah McEwen, Jaimalynn McEwen, Alan Weis, Ryan Weis, Adam Phillips, Rod VanHollebeke, Sheralyn VanHollebeke Whitter, Terri VanHollebeke Snyder, Wade VanHollebeke, Gary Baker, Jodie Baker, Brandon Phelps and Michelle Paynter Sybert. Also surviving are her special canine friends Scooby, Annie Kailey, Cooper Bailey and Betsy Bailey. Member of the Prescott Christian Church, Prescott Community Church, Umatilla Historical Society, Milton-Freewater Historical Society, Prescott Home-Ec Club, Prescott Ladies' Aid and the Prescott Study Club. A celebration of Stella's life will be held at Mountain View-Colonial DeWitt Funeral Home on October 2, 2010.(Friday, Sep 24, 2010 online Funeral Ledger)

Funeral services for Oscar J. Ferrians were held Saturday afternoon with Rev. Richard Dewsnap and Lloyd Headly officiating. Pallbearers were Dale Cummins, Kenneth Belles, Lyle Ferrians, Elven Ferrians, Bennie Burdett and Ralph Burdett with vault interment in Touchet Cemetery. (WWUB, Sun, July 9, 1967)

Richard Alpha Fulgham, March 31, 1923-Apr 9, 2010. Richard A. Fulgham, age 87, passed away peacefully at Saint Mary's Medical Center in Walla Walla, Friday, April 9th following a sudden, disabling stroke. He had just celebrated his birthday with family and friends. Richard was born and raised in Touchet, Washington where his great grandfather homesteaded and established the family farm. Attended grammar school in Touchet, graduate from Walla Walla High School 1941. Began college at Washington State University but World War II he enlisted in the army in 1943, active duty in the Solomon Islands and the Southern Philippines. 1945 Richard returned to Walla Walla and began farming with his father near the regional airport. 1948 married Phyllis Marjorie Rose, until her death in 2006. Moved to a farm above Dixie, raised their family and worked this land for 40 years before retiring in 1993. Upon retirement Richard and Phyllis moved to Walla Walla. Preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis and sons, John and Tom. Also preceding was his brother George, sister, Shirley Burnham, and cousin Ernie Hesser. Survived by his brother and sister in-law, Robert and Naomi, and his brother in-law Charles Burnham, all of Touchet. His daughter Mary Lou of Walla Walla; and his daughter and son in-law, Peggy and Jeff Estes, and his grandsons Brian and Aaron, all of Richland. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 17th at the First Congregational Church, Walla Walla. Graveside service and interment will be Sunday, April 18th at 11:00 a.m. at the Touchet Cemetery. (WWUB ONLINE, Apr 14, 2010)

Harral Cline Higginbotham, Sr., 82, died July 22, 2010, at Regency at The Park. Born October 28, 1927, in Wallula, Washington, to Rush A. and Lois M. Hardy Higginbotham. Graduated Touchet High School in 1946. On October 9, 1949, he and Shirley Walters married in Walla Walla. They later divorced. As a realtor, he purchased Walla Walla Realty Co. in 1965. Past Master of Walla Walla Masonic Lodge #7, El Katif Shriners, First Congregational Church and B.P.O.E. Lodge #287 of Walla Walla. Survived by his children: Judy (daughter) and Victor Chacon and Harral Cline, Jr. "Jack" (son) and Tami Higginbotham all of Walla Walla; his sister, E. June Slater of Touchet; six grandchildren: Heidi, Courtney, Chance, Abbie, Bryn, and Cari; three great-grandchildren: Ashley, Amanda, and Brooklyn; and seven nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his brother, Rush Higginbotham; his sister, Grace Bald; his former wife, Shirley Walters and a niece Victoria Bald Maestretti. Memorial service will be Friday, July 30, 2010, at the First Congregational Church, 73 S. Palouse Street, Walla Walla. The Rev. Cecilia McKean will officiate. Private inurnment will be at the Touchet Cemetery. (Online memorial, 2010)

Rush A. Higginbotham, Route 1, Touchet, died at home Tuesday morning at age 73 after a short illness. Born in Hamburg, Ark., Oct. 5, 1893. He and Lois M. Hardy were married in Hamburg Feb. 2, 1919, moved to Missouri two years later. 1924, settled in Hedges, Wash. as section foreman for the OWR & N railway and Union Pacific for 35 years before retirement in 1958. Moved to Walla Walla, worked at the Peoples Market with his son, retired and moved to Gardena in 1966. The Higginbotham's celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary Feb. 2. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Lois M. Higginbotham at home; two daughters, Mrs. Elmer (June) Slater and Mrs. Elmer (Grace) Bald, both of Touchet; two sons, Rush W. Higginbotham and Harral C. Higginbotham, both of Walla Walla; his mother, Mrs. Ella Rose Higginbotham of Hamburg, Ark.; two sisters, Mrs. Nellie Patterson of Shreveport, La., and Mrs.Willie Lee Etheredge of Hamburg, Ark.; two brothers, Leroy Higginbotham of Hamburg, Ark., and Garvin Higginbotham of Eureka, Wash.; 10 grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Member of Touchet Community Congregational Church; Walla Walla Lodge No. 7, F & AM; Alki Chapter No. 25, Eastern Star, Touchet Grange No. 251, and the Union Pacific Old Timers Club. Funeral services will be Thursday in the Marshall-Herring Chapel with Chaplain Lawrence Cousins officiating. Ritualistic services will be by Walla Walla Lodge No 7, F & AM. Interment will be in the Touchet Cemetery. (WWUB, May 03, 1967)

Mrs. Hazel L. Loney, 61, of Touchet died Friday [May 28, 1971] in a local nursing home following an extended illness. Life long resident of Touchet, born Nov. 3, 1909, in Touchet, the daughter of the late Roy and Rhoda Long and was educated in the Touchet schools. On Dec. 23, 1939, married Herbert R. Loney in Walla Walla. He died Aug. 16, 1967. Survived by three sons, Darrell A. Loney, Touchet; Oran D. Loney, Clarkston; and Donald D. Weaver, Lewiston; three sisters, Mrs. Irene Martin, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Mrs. Lucinda Brinkman, Santa Rose, Calif.; and Mrs. Eunice Henderson, Electric City, Wash.; four brothers, Leonard Long, Walla Walla; Victor Long, Sheldon Long and Chester Long, all of Touchet. Also survived by two grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be at Tuesday in the Herring Chapel with the Rev. James Everest of Touchet Community Congregational Church officiated. Concluding services and vault interment will follow at the Touchet Cemetery. (Walla Walla Union Bulletin, May 30, 1971)

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Touchet People Buried Elsewhere:

Funeral will be held June 24 for Mary L. Bales of Bailey's Harbor, Wis., formerly of Oakridge, who died June 12, 2005 of age-related causes. She was 90. Born Sept. 12, 1914, in Elgin, to John and Erma Scott Gray. Married Frank Bales on June 27, 1936, in Eugene. He died April 6, 1998. She graduated from Touchet High School in Touchet, Wash., in 1932. She lived in Oakridge for many years and retired from Hines Lumber Co. in Westfir, where she worked in the plywood plant. She had lived in Bailey's Harbor for the past year.
Belonged to St. Luke Lutheran Church in Oakridge. Survivors include two daughters, Nancy Gross of Bailey's Harbor, Wis., and Mark Carter of Lebanon; a son, Larry of Douglas City, Calif.; five sisters and two brothers, all of Oregon; eight grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. The June 24 service will at Lane Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home in Eugene. Huehns Funeral Home in charge.(The Register Guard, Eugene, OR, June 17, 2005)

Merle E. Blanc, 83, Pendleton, died Friday, Sept. 5, 2008, at Willowbrook Terrace. Born Aug. 9, 1925, in Shamberville, Miss., to Elwyn and Alline Bounds Poole. Graduated high school in 1942, attended American University, worked for the Library of Congress. Married Robert Blanc of Walla Walla Nov. 17, 1951, in D.C. Moved to Touchet, Wash., where they farmed until moving to Pendleton in 1965, owned and operated Pioneer Implement Corp. with John Deere dealerships in Pendleton, Hermiston and The Dalles area. Volunteer with St. Joseph Academy School, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, St. Anthony Hospital Auxiliary, and served as president in the early 1990s. Survived by her husband, Robert, of Pendleton; and four sons and their families: Bob and Carol, Pendleton; and grandchildren John, Kristen, and Michael; Jim and Rosi, Incline Village, Nev.; and grandchildren Georgina and Andre’; Larry and Sally, Pendleton, and grandchildren Andrew and Joey; and David and Shawna, Pendleton; and grandchildren Nicholas and Zachary; brother, Alfred Poole and wife, Mary Pat,Belfair, Wash.; nephew Dennis Poole, Hillsboro, and niece Alline Poole, Beaverton. Preceded in death by her parents; son, Duane Richard, in 1991; and brother, Edward, in 1958. Recitation of the Rosary was held Sunday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m., at Burns Mortuary, Pendleton. A Mass of Christian burial was held Monday, Sept. 15, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Pendleton, followed by a vault interment service at Mountain View Cemetery in Walla Walla. Burns Mortuary of Pendleton was in charge of arrangements. (The Meridian Star; Pendleton, OR; Sat Sep 27, 2008)

Mrs Emily Sophronia Hill, 87, of Touchet, died Wednesday at a local nursing home. Born Nov 14, 1864 near Milton-Freewater on the Walla Walla River, and spent most of her life there until the last few years which she spent with her children. Preceded in death by her husband, Edgar, in 1925. Survived by six children, A. W. Hill of Touchet, Frank Hill of Portland, Wilbur Hill of San Jacinto, Calif., Mrs Fern Henry of Milton-Freewater. Mrs Lucille Lillianthal of Spokane and Mrs Geraldine LeRoy of Tucson, Ariz., and 13 grandchildren. Funeral Services will beFriday, Jan 18 at the DeWitt Funeral home chapel. Interment Mountain View Cemetery. Rev Otto Gruber officiating. (DeWitt Funeral home ledger)

Vera Ella Johnson, age 96, of Touchet, Wash., passed away Jan. 1, 2002, at Country View Senior Care, Touchet. Born April 9, 1905, in Howard Lake, the daughter of John and Ella (Eddy) Custer. Graduated from West High School, Minneapolis and attended two years at St. Cloud Teachers College in St. Cloud. She chose her profession as an elementary school teacher, and retired in June, 1969. United in marriage to Erland C. Johnson May, 1926 in Hutchinson. Erland passed away in 1970. Member of Bemidji Seventh-day Adventist Church.. Lived in both Bemidji and Hutchinson before moving to Touchet in October, 1999. Preceded in death by her husband; daughter, LouWana Lang; and son, Clayton Johnson. Survived by two daughters, Beverly Ann Lamon and Patricia Hope Burghart, both College Place, Wash.; and son, Wayne R. Johnson, also of College Place; 15 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and eight nieces and nephews. Inurnment will be at a later date in Pony Lake Cemetery, Bemidji. (Submitted)

Jennie L. Kelly (TS: Dec 27, 1915; 31 yr 4 m 21 d) “Record of Funeral of Jennie L Kelley. Wife of John Kelley. Funeral: Dec 30, 1915, 11 a.m. at ME Church, Sprague with Rev Cook. Married. Protestant. Age: 31 yrs 4 mos 21 days. Transit permit #8594. Death: Dec 17, 1915. Cause of death: post operative hemorrhage.” (Sprague Mortuary ledger) “Mrs. John Kelly of Lamont died Monday, Dec 27, at Sacred Heart hospital in Spokane after an illness.. The funeral was held Wednesday from the ME Church and burial was in Maccabee Cemetery, Rev J F Cook officiating. Jennie L. Post was born at Touchet, Washington, on August 6, 1884, being 31 years, 4 months and 21 days old at death. On June 30, 1904 occurred her marriage to John A. Kelly and a girl, Katherine, was born to them who is now 7 years old. The husband, the child, her mother, Mrs. Nix Bissell, a sister, Mrs. J. H. Winters of Cheney and a brother Harry Post of Granite, Idaho, survive. Mrs. Kelly was a woman of deep religious convictions, loving wife and mother. She was well beloved by all who knew her and the mourning relatives have the sympathy of the entire community in their great loss.” (Sprague Advocate: Dec 31,1915)

William D. Loney, 81 year old retired farmer, resident of the community since 1882, died Friday morning [April 19] in a local nursing home. Born September 3, 1864 in Ontario, Canada. Farmed in the Hudson Bay District south of Lowden retiring about 1942. His wife, member of the pioneer Stroble family, died December 29, 1931. Loney's parents were Mr. and Mrs. Charles Loney and with his brothers, John and Sam, he farmed, grazed cattle on the range from Touchet to the Snake River and farmed the ground where the penitentiary now stands to as far as Dry Creek. Loney purchased the farm in the Lowden District in 1906. In 1911 bought the Cascade fuel yard, in 1918 farmed on Dry Creek, from 1920 to retirement he was on the Lowden ranch. Survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Guy Kent and Mrs. J. Vincent Nelson, Walla Walla; and Mrs. Irvin Alexander, Freewater; eight sons, William Charles, Walla Walla; Elwin Joseph, Cove; Herbert R., Touchet; Orville R., Delbert S., Virgil T. and Samuel E. Loney, all Walla Walla; and Albert S. Loney, Pasco; two sisters, Mrs. Robert Potts, Sprague and Mrs. Kate Paul, Tacoma; 17 grandchildren and one great grandchild. The funeral is set for 3 p.m. Saturday. Interment Mountain View Cemetery ( Walla Walla Union Bulletin, April 19, 1946)

Letty Morrissette born January 11, 1955, San Antonio, Texas to Salvador and Olivia Mendoza. Her husband Mark proposed marriage to Letty February 14, 1976, and she passed away 35 years later, on February 14, 2011 at Tri-Cities Chaplaincy Hospice House. Letty graduated from Touchet High School in 1973. Attended Central Washington University September of 1973-December 1977, with BA in Education, major in Spanish and minor in psychology. Joined the Teacher Corp Cadre August of 1978, obtained Educational Masters Degree from WSU 1979. Recommended to the Pasco School District, credentials in Educational Administration from WSU in 1994. Worked for the Pasco School District during 1976 as a Title 1 Migrant Aide at Pasco High School, began at Captain Gray in the fall 1979 as the Migrant Resource Room Teacher, grades 3-6 in math, reading and ESL. 1982 moved to James McGee Elementary School, was a Migrant Resource Room Teacher, head teacher, and in 1995 became a Reading Recovery teacher. Completed her Administrative Certification, then hired as an Assistant Principal at McGe, served as Summer School Administrator at McGee for several years. In 2000 became the building facilitator as well as Assistant Principal, continued to serve the Pasco School District in this role at Ruth Livingston Elementary, Maya Angelou Elementary, Virgie Robinson Elementary and then returned to Ruth Livingston Elementary in the fall of 2010. While at Maya Angelou Elementary Letty became the first Dual Language Facilitator for that program. Survived at home by her husband Mark of 35 years; sons, Dennis, Andrew and Joseph all of Bellevue, Washington; her mother, Olivia Mendoza of College Place, WA; Tina & Vincent Gomez of Touchet, Salvador & Maria Mendoza of Pasco, Manuel Mendoza of Lowden, Joe & Diane Mendoza of Kennewick, Blanche & Paul Richardson of Lakeland, Georgia; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Letty was preceded in death by her father Salvador Mendoza (1977), and her brother, Tony Mendoza (1991) Visitation will be held Thursday, February 17, 2011,Mueller's Greenlee Funeral Home, and Friday, February 18. The Rosary with Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, February 19, 2011 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, with burial at City View Cemetery. ( Tributes.com, Pasco, Washington)

Warren H. Plucker, 88, passed away Oct. 25, 2010 at his home. Born Aug. 5, 1922, in Walla Walla to Fritz C. Plucker and Dolphia H. Gluck Plucker. Grew up on the family farm 10 miles north of Touchet. Graduated Touchet High School 1940, moved to Seattle to work at Boeing, World War II joined the Army Air Corps, served in the 49th Bomber Squadron, 2nd Bomber Group, completed 50 missions as a tail gunner in a B-17 bomber in Northern Africa, Italy, Greece and Germany, held the rank of staff sergeant. March 28, 1943, married Dorothy E. Johnson, in Boise, They were together 61 years. Moving back to the Touchet area, worked on the family farm, moved into Walla Walla in 1969. Active in the Gun Club plus playing baseball for the McNary Dam League. Survived by his daughter, Cheryl Plucker of Walla Walla; a son and daughter-in-law, Scott & Cathy Plucker of Touchet; two granddaughters, Carrie Marie Neppel of Pullman and Katrina Ann Plucker of Pullman; one brother, Robert G. Plucker of Touchet; and numerous nieces and nephews.P preceded in death by his wife Dorothy E. Plucker; a daughter, Karen Plucker Noblin; a son, Gregory Dean Plucker; his parents and his sister, Sally Plucker Walters.. The graveside funeral service will be held Monday at 1 p.m. at Mountain View Cemetery, the Rev. Robin Peterson of College Place Presbyterian Church officiating. (WWUB, Friday, October 29, 2010)