Obituaries
Lois (Gonyea) Conway
Spokane
Visitation for Lois M. (Gonyea) Conway, 92, will be Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home. Vigil will be Monday at 7 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church. Funeral Mass is planned for Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the church, with burial at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Mrs. Conway, who was born in Spokane, died Tuesday.
She graduated from St. Aloysius School and graduated from Holy Names Academy and Holy Names Normal School.
She was a homemaker. In 1934 she married Lawrence Conway. He died in 1979.
Mrs. Conway was a lifetime resident of Spokane except for nine years spent in Billings and Great Falls. In her childhood years she was a member of St. Aloysius Church where she attended the annual Novena of Grace for 67 years.
An active parishioner at St. Francis of Assisi since 1934, she was a member of St. Marks Guild, St. Francis Womens club and a past president of the school mothers club.
In addition to her church affiliation she was an active member of the UCT Auxiliary, Lady Lions, Lady Elks, St. Joseph Care Center Service League, Miryam’s House of Transition Service League, and Holy Names/Fort Wright College Alumni Association.
Survivors include a daughter, Mary Lou Bentley of Spokane; a son, William Conway of Billings; 13 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Josephs Care Center, Catholic Charities, the Holy Names Sisters, Oregon Province of Jesuits or The Poor Clare Sisters.
Carmella Krauter
Burien, Wash.
Visitation for Carmella M. Krauter, 84, will be today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. at Hennessey Valley Funeral Home. Rosary is planned for Sunday at 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Funeral Mass will be Monday at 10 a.m. at the church. Hennessey Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Krauter, who was born in Albi, Italy, died Sunday.
She was a resident of Spokane for 80 years before moving to Burien seven months ago.
She was active in the Phoenix Club at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
She enjoyed square dancing, gardening and sewing, and volunteered at school.
Her husband of 48 years, Frank, died in 1995.
Survivors include three daughters, Cookie Yocum of Spokane, and Patty Spencer and Kay Bourdon, both of Seattle; a son, Dale Krauter of Seattle; two sisters, Jessie Bottler of Spokane and Mamie Patrick of Dallas; a brother, Carmen Canino of Spokane; 13 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Renee ‘Blanche’ (Hering) Slater
Post Falls
Funeral Mass for Renee “Blanche” (Hering) Slater, 84, will be today at 8:30 a.m. at St. George’s Roman Catholic Church in Post Falls, followed by graveside prayers at Evergreen Cemetery in Post Falls.
Mrs. Slater, who was born in Cincinnati, died Tuesday.
In 1941 she married Clair Slater. They lived in Southern California and raised three children. They moved to Post Falls in 1975.
Her husband died in 1987.
She was a homemaker. Mrs. Slater liked the beauty of North Idaho and enjoyed traveling in her RV, especially trips throughout the West and Mexico, and camping on the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River.
She enjoyed golf, animals, mysteries, baseball, jokes, gardening and roses.
She was an accomplished piano player and appreciated the music of Chopin.
Survivors include two sons, Stephen Slater of Post Falls and Bill Slater of Apple Valley, Calif.; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Patricia Travers
Sandpoint
Memorial service for Patricia Mary “Patty” Travers, 40, will be Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Travers Park in Sandpoint.
Ms. Travers, who was born in Spokane, died Thursday.
Survivors include her mother, Claire; five sisters, Kathleen Alderman, Mary Jeffres, Monica Gunter, Theresa Stevens and Jane Corbett; and four brothers, Mike, John, Angus and John.
Memorials may be made to the Bonner Community Food Center, 921 N. Fifth St., Sandpoint, ID 83864.
Ray Hathaway
Spokane
Memorial service for Ray Hathaway, 84, will be today at 2 p.m. at Thornhill Valley Funeral Home.
Mr. Hathaway, who was born in Spokane, died Sunday.
He graduated from North Central High School in 1938.
He started Northwest Meat Supply in 1948, which later became Hathaway Meats. After retiring from that business he obtained a contractors license and developed property in Spokane Valley.
Mr. Hathaway was an avid golfer and was involved in many activities from snow and water skiing, to flying his Cessna to Baja, Alaska, or short trips around the Northwest. He also enjoyed fishing, sailing, hunting and playing cards.
He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, Shrine, and Elks Lodge.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Mary; two daughters, Caroline Hathaway and Marjorie Hathaway; and a sister, Wanda McHugo.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or American Lung Association.
Roger Richards
Cheney
Visitation for Roger Richards, 66, will be today from 2 to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-South. Funeral will be Monday at 1 p.m. at Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home.
Mr. Richards, who was born in Spokane, died Tuesday. He was a lifelong resident of Spokane.
He drove a tow truck and retired in 1988 from Shamrock Paving Co.
He was a member of the Northwest Super Stock USA, the Inland Empire Racing Association and the Northwest Ford Club. He also was a member of NASCAR and the Teamsters Local #690.
Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Judy; a son, Kevin Richards of Newman Lake; a daughter, Donna Richards of Spokane; one grandchild and two great-grandchildren.
Bonnie Spencer
Deer Park
Graveside service for Bonnie Ruth Pierce Spencer, 78, will be today at 10 a.m. at the Woodland Cemetery. Lauer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Spencer, who died July 30, was born in Bowie County, Texas.
She graduated from Red Water (Texas) High School in 1943.
She lived in the Deer Park area for many years and retired from the National Food Egg Processing Plant in Deer Park.
She was a member of the Teamsters Union Local 582.
Her husband died in 1999.
Survivors include four children, Rick and Steve Spencer, both of Deer Park, Mike Spencer of Spokane and Gary Spencer of Chewelah; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
James House
Spokane
Memorial service for James D. House, 66, will be today at 11 a.m. at Thornhill Valley Funeral Home.
Mr. House, who died July 9, was born in San Diego.
He was a retired letter carrier for the Opportunity Branch of the Postal Service.
He coached baseball for the Valley Boys and Babe Ruth leagues.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley; three sons, David House of San Diego, and Joseph and Jamie House, both of Veradale; a daughter, Theresa Blackburn of Veradale; two brothers; three sisters; and nine grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Spokane Muscular Dystrophy, Lou Gehrig’s Disease, 1808 E. Sharp, Spokane, WA 99202.
Billy Eaton
Spokane
Memorial service for Billy Harlow “Bill” Eaton, 78, will be Sunday at 10 a.m. at Minnehaha Covenant Church. Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-South is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Eaton, who died July 6, was born in Milan, Wash.
He joined the Navy in World War II, serving in the Pacific.
Mr. Eaton worked for Gendron Engineering Equipment until his retirement.
He was a 35-year member of the Melody Singers and a member of Minnehaha Covenant Church.
His wife of 35 years, Gertie, died in 1999.
He is survived by a sister, Norine Kvidt of Olympia; and his stepmother, Martha Ottmar Eaton.
Willard Boatwright
Sprague, Wash.
Memorial service for Willard D. Boatwright, 74, will be today at 1 p.m. at Cheney Funeral Chapel.
Mr. Boatwright, who was born in Seattle, died July 29. He was a former resident of Spokane and Liberty Lake.
He spent the first 14 years of his life in Alaska, then moved to Texas with his family and graduated from Baylor University.
He held a master’s degree in photography and had taken courses from Ansel Adams and William Mortensen.
Mr. Boatwright served in the Air Force as a cameraman on B-36’s during the Korean War. He also was a land surveyor.
He is survived by his family.
Beverly Lewis
Spokane
Memorial service for Beverly M. Lewis, 81, will be today at 11 a.m. at Spokane Bible Church. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Lewis, a lifelong resident of Spokane, died Wednesday.
She was a homemaker and a member of Spokane Bible Church.
Survivors include her husband, Clifford; a son, Tim Lewis of Richland; a daughter, Stephanie Standley, and a sister, Phyllis Shaw, both of Spokane; three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
John Potter
Spokane
Memorial service for John Potter, 53, will be today from 1 to 5 p.m. at his home. Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Potter, who was born in Spokane, died Tuesday. He was a longtime resident of Spokane.
He served four years in the Air Force during the Vietnam War and later attended Washington State University, graduating in 1983.
Mr. Potter worked several years for the Washington state Department of Corrections.
Survivors include his wife of 24 years, Sue; and a sister, Jackie Cebula of Yelm, Wash.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Chou Moua
Spokane
Service for Chou Moua, 86, will begin today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and conclude on Sunday from 8 to 11 a.m. at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-North. Burial will follow at Chewelah City Cemetery.
Mrs. Moua, who was born in Laos, died Monday. She was a homemaker.
She lived two years in Thailand before moving to Spokane in 1983.
Her husband, Nhia Lor Xiong, died in 1968.
Survivors include two sons, Xay Dong Xiong and Shong Yang Xiong, both of Spokane; 23 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Ruth (Noland) Bouten
Spokane
Memorial service for Ruth Marie (Noland) Rigsby Bouten, 92, will be Monday at 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church. Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Bouten, who was born in St. Maries, died Thursday.
She graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in 1930 and attended Kinman Business University, Whitman College and the University of Washington.
In 1937 she married James Rigsby. She lived in Seattle until his death in 1951.
Following his death, she returned to Spokane to be near her elderly parents.
Mrs. Bouten worked for the Spokane and Eastern Bank (later Seattle First National Bank) for 15 years.
In 1970 she married Gus Bouten, who died in 1984.
She was active in a variety of church and community activities. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, the Landscape Association St. John the Evangelist, Terrace Garden Club and Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.
Survivors include a daughter, Carol Wendle; a son, Jim Rigsby; a stepson, Frank Bouten; and a stepdaughter, Grace Dyer, all of Spokane; 16 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Hutton Settlement or the Rockwood Resident’s Foundation.