Obituaries

Born on April 12, 1934, our little song bird has flown the nest. Renee' Theresa Lucero (Montague) died on Aug. 15. Renee earned an R.N. and a Bachelors of Education and served many years as a nurse and in the classroom. She married Raul C. Lucero and together they had five children. She tutored children in Australia's outback. She published “Before You Kill Yourself,” an article on suicide prevention that continues to be reprinted to this day. She painted with acrylics and oils, knitted and made dolls. She raised her fiv...

John J. Daniels, (CWO4, U.S. Army Ret.) passed away August 3, 2010 in Spokane, Wash. at the age of 86. He was born June 16, 1924 in Madison, Wisc., the son of Raymond and Elizabeth (Baudler) Daniels. John, a Sergeant in the U.S. Army, served for three years during World War II in special operations finally in Okinawa. He was also a Ready Reserve Officer CWO4 after the war until retirement in 1984. John held a Masters Degree in Hospital Administration from Cardinal Stritch College, now a University. His federal civil service... Full story

Ruth Wortman died July 18. She was born in Omaha, Neb. on March 29, 1915, the youngest of six children. She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years Ray Wortman. She is survived by her daughter, Judy Zimmerman, son-in-law, Niel; grandson Kurt Zimmerman, his wife Kelly, great-granddaughter Katie and a great-grandchild expected soon in Eugene Or.; granddaughter Joelle Gere, her husband Richard and great-granddaughter's Jade and Asia of Cheney. Ruth was a hard worker and began her 60-year career at age 16 as an elevator...

Daniel J. Gear, age 75, of Cheney, Wash. passed away July 19, 2010 at The Gardens nursing home in Spokane after fighting poor health for many years. Dan was born July 18, 1935 in Queens, New York to John and Mary (Coffey) Gear. Dan joined the Air Force when he was 19 years old where he spent the next 24 years, the last 15 he spent as a gunner on B-52 bombers. After his retirement he started his second career at Spokane County Superior Court Clerk's office as the records supervisor, responsible for court records. He retired...

Eleanor Kiner passed away with her family by her side on Friday, July 9, 2010 at Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland, Wash. She was unable to recover from injuries she received due to a fall. Her bright blue eyes and beautiful smile will be terribly missed. Eleanor was born in Cheney, Wash. on Feb. 28, 1923 to Walter and Henrietta Rupp. She was the second of four children. After graduating high school she attended St. Luke's Nursing School in Spokane but had to leave after one year due to illness. In 1945 Eleanor married cattle ra... Full story

John Blake passed away Friday, June 25 at the age of 64 following a long and very brave battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Cheryl; daughters Casie and Nancy; and granddaughters, Ciara, Ali and Olivia. Our family wishes to say that our beloved husband, father, and grandfather will never be forgotten and is desperately missed. This is a huge loss for our family. Our family appreciates our many dear friends and their support, love, and condolences during this tragic time. He was very proud of his family and his...

James L. Dahl, born Sept. 17, 1948, went home to be with the Lord on the evening of Sunday, June 27, from injuries that resulted from a tragic accident. Jim and his wife Joy are owners of Chet's Flowers in Cheney. They purchased the business two years ago and together with their daughter Becky Jeffires have come to love this community and the people that are here. The flower shop was Jim's life, other than his wife, children, grandchildren, family, traveling, camping and fishing. He was always fixing things around the shop.... Full story

Daniel J. Brown, age 43, passed away June 23 in Spokane, Wash. He was born Nov. 14, 1966 in Susanville, Calif. to Vertie and Barbara (Dryman) Brown. Dan is survived by his wife; Jennifer Brown of Spokane, Wash. and their children, Daniel, Isaac, Jacob, Maria and Anna. Parents Vertie and Barbara Brown of Cheney; sisters, Katie, Susan, Amy and Jenna. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dan Brown benefit account at Spokane Teachers Credit Union. A memorial service was held Saturday, June 26 at the LDS... Full story

Harold J. Johnson, age 90, passed away June 18, 2010 in Cheney. Mr. Johnson was born March 2, 1920 in Henrietta, Texas to Genhard and Agnes (Nelson) Johnson. After high school Harold enlisted in the Army Air Corp and spent five years in the Pacific during WWII and was also a Korean War veteran. He retired after serving 20 years. After his retirement he worked transit air maintenance at Fairchild Air Force Base for another 20 years. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Medical Lake and is survived by his wife, Mary Evelyn...

Linda Jo Engel passed away at Hospice House of Spokane on June 17, 2010 from cancer at the age of 57. She was born in Spokane on May 11, 1953. She grew up and went to school in Cheney until she married and started raising a family in Medical Lake. She later moved to Spokane where she resided for many years while completing her family. She resided in Cheney, where she had grown up and moved back to later in life. Linda stayed home with her children for many years until she decided to go to work at Interlake in Medical Lake. Li...

Born March 2, 1923 in Mena, Ark., Maurice went to be with Jesus on June 12 after a short illness, surrounded by his family in his home in Cheney. He retired from the U.S. Navy in 1963 as a master Chief Petty Officer after 22 years of honorable service, spanning from World War II into the Vietnam War. He retired from the Communications Division of the State of California after 25 years. Maurice was proceeded in death by his beloved wife Carmela Lena Petronella Brumbelow, who he met and married in Valetta, Malta. She was the lo...

Baird W. Johnson (age 73) Longtime resident of Medical Lake, Wash. passed away at his home on April 1, 2010. A graveside service was held on June 8, 2010 at the Eastern Washington Veterans Cemetery. Pastor Don Ubanks officiated. Johnson was born in Hettinger County, Regent North Dakota on Dec. 14, 1936 to Wayne and Della Johnson. The family moved to Polson, Mont. when Baird was 12 years old. When he was 17 he joined the Air Force and spent the next 20 yrs in the service. He was married to Zelma R. Powell in 1958 and had two... Full story

John William Elliot, 85, died Friday, June 4, 2010 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, Wash. John leaves his wife of 60 years, Marilyn (Smith) Elliot; his nine children, Margaret Elliot Heming, Jack Elliot, Marie Elliot Gartner, Yvonne Elliot Grenley, Patrica Anne Elliot Malcolm, Theresa Elliot Cheslek, Laura Elliot Parsons, Cheryl Elliot Ripley, Bill Elliot; 21 grandchildren, seven great grandchildren; and many close friends. John was born in Nome, Alaska, and raised in Ephrata, Wash., the son of John Jacob and Harriet... Full story

Linda Lappen, a resident of Pendleton and former resident of Cheney, died Thursday, May 6, 2010 at her home in Pendleton. She was 64 years old. Memorial funeral services were conducted May 12 in the Burns Mortuary Chapel, Pendleton, Ore. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the St. Mary Regional Cancer Clinic of Walla Walla, and may be sent care of Burns Mortuary of Pendleton, P.O. Box 489, Pendleton, OR 97801. Sign the guestbook or send condolences at www.burnsmortuary.com. Burns...

Dorothy Jacobsen, age 69, of Spangle passed away April 28 in Spokane. Dorothy was born April 17, 1941 in Spokane to Franklin E. and Flora A. (Watts) Degon and was a graduate of Spangle High School, class of 1959. She was married to Alvin O. Jacobsen on July 16, 1965. Dorothy worked at Sacred Heart Hospital from 1959 to 1967 and also had an in home daycare for 30 years in the Spangle area. She also did much of the gardening and trimming at the Spangle cemetery, where she was buried. Memorial contributions may be made to the...

Grace Jackson of Cheney passed away Monday, April 26 at age 81. A memorial service will be held at Spangle Community Church Thursday, May 6 at 2 p.m....

Evelyn Legris (age 72) entered into rest on April 24 in Spokane. She was born March 29, 1938 in Montreal, Canada to Emile and Leonne (L'Herault) Legris. Evelyn spent many years as an Air Force wife, living at many different air bases around the country. She returned to Spokane in 1974 and worked in the registrars office at Eastern Washington University for 20 years. She is survived by her sons; Raymond Nall of Thailand and John Nall of Seattle. A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 28 at St. Ann... Full story

On April 10, 2010, Dorothy May (Baird) Kile, age 92, went home to Jesus with her family surrounding her. She was born on the Baird family homestead between Spangle and Cheney on November 17, 1917 to Riley and Rosie Baird. She was the ninth born of ten children. Dorothy graduated from Spangle High School. She worked for Ernie and Birdie Geschke and married Douglas Kile in 1944 as he was headed to war. Dorothy is preceded in death by her husband, Douglas Kile and her daughter Connie Kile-Raney, parents Riley and Rosie Baird,...

Baird Johnson, age 73, longtime resident of Medical Lake, passed away at his home on April 1. The date and time of his graveside funeral service with military honors will be announced in June. Burial will be at the Eastern Washington Veterans Cemetery. Cheney Funeral Chapel, Cheney, Wash....

Alice Irene Kissinger was taken up to the Lord on March 26, 2010. She was born Alice Irene Reaksecker on July 14, 1918 in Maryville, Mo. She grew up and lived on a farm near Maryville, Mo. until 1938, when she married James O. Kissinger, also from Maryville. Shortly after being married, they moved to Bremerton, Wash., where they lived until 1975. Besides being a mother and a housewife, she worked for 10 years as a florist in Bremerton. After James retired from the ship yard, the couple moved to Cheney. After moving to...

Dorothy A. “Dorty” Williams passed away in Cheney on March 25. She was born July 29, 1914 in Wallace, Mo. She is survived by two sons, Thomas B. Williams (wife Barbara) of Medical Lake and Richard W. Williams (wife Diana) of Cheney. Son Eugene F. Williams predeceased his mother. Dorothy loved her nieces and nephews, four grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, one great great grandchild and the one on the way! Dorothy's sister Nadine Martell lives in Milwaukee, Ore. Her sister Helen and two brothers preceded her in dea...

Lorraine Bruckner, a former Cheney resident, died in Omaha, Nebr. March 14. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Walter P. Lepski, and second husband, Louis M. Bruckner. A vigil service was held March 18 and a mass of Christian burial March 19 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Omaha. Memorials should be directed to Boys Town....

Shirley, who just turned 80, went to her rest on March 7, 2010 from cancer of the esophagus. She was at peace with her death, and wanted the rest of us to be. Shirley was born in Fairfield, Wash. on Feb. 13, 1930, the third child of Howard and Maud Brown. Her husband Ed preceded her in death in1989, and their only child, David, died of arrhythmia in 1993, at the age of 35. The Brown family moved to Cheney in 1940. Shirley graduated from Cheney High School, and went on to get her registered nursing degree from the Adventist...

Charles White was born April 14, 1934 in Milwaukee, Wi., and died March 1. He was a cherished husband, father and grandfather whose gifts to the community were many. Charles was a professor at EWU, clinical psychologist at Eastern State Hospital, Boy Scout master, church choir director and a member of Eastern Star and Masons. He is survived by wife Marjorie Rider White; children Carrie (Tom Hanson), Curt (Liane) and Craig (Wendy); grandchildren Bryce and Megan Hanson; siblings Robert and Jan White, Carole Fisher and family.... Full story

Jeremy passed away Friday, March 5 at his home in Cheney. Our son, grandson, nephew, uncle, cousin and friend, Jeremy was a joy to all who knew him. Born April 1, 1981, in Spokane, Jeremy grew up in Rosalia, Wash., where he attended school, made many friends and lived most of his life. Jeremy loved spending time with his big brother and best friend, Josh and his dad Dennis. Growing up together, they enjoyed the outdoors, hunting and fishing, trips to the Oregon coast and working on muscle cars and riding dirt bikes. He also... Full story