Obituary: Eccles, Elma Kathleen
Age 95
A private burial will be at the LaCrosse Cemetery.
Mrs. Eccles died December 28, 2012 at Whitman Health & Rehab Center in Colfax.
Born April 4, 1917 at Walla Walla to Ralph Felix and Opal Rutledge Fowler, she grew up on a farm in the Pampa area with four brothers: Donald, Glen, Ralph and Jack and two sisters: Dorothy and Vivian.
She attended school at Pampa and Hay, riding horseback to school, and at LaCrosse where she graduated from high school in 1934 as salutatorian of her class.
She and Clanton Eccles were married August 29, 1935 at Colfax and were married nearly 65 years at the time of his passing on March 8, 2000.
They lived on the Eccles farm near Hooper raising wheat and cattle.
She was active in the Hooper community, serving on the Hooper election board for many years and was chairwoman of the American Cancer Society fund drive.
They retired and moved into LaCrosse in 1974.
She was a member of the LaCrosse United Methodist Church and LaCrosse Farm Women’s Club.
She moved to the Courtyard in Colfax in 2011.
She enjoyed square dancing with Clanton in younger years, playing cards, fishing and camping in their motor home, growing roses and pink petunias, sewing, needlework and crocheting, painting, writing and she contributed to the “Rural Reflections” book of stories from rural women of Whitman County, watching her grandkids and great-grandkids participate in sports.
At age 94, she was thrilled to join her grandson Mark for a ride in the combine during wheat harvest.
Survivors include her daughter Janice McKay, Colfax, her son Gary Eccles, Spokane; five grandchildren, Mark (Amy) McKay, LaCrosse, Mike (Julie) McKay, Wenatchee, Julie (Jon) Gerondale, Anacortes, Andrew and Gregory Eccles both of Spokane and six great-grandchildren, Talia, Chelsea, Cass, Abby and Ben McKay and Mason Gerondale; two sisters, Dorothy Moore, Coupeville, WA and Vivian Todd, Macon, GA. She was preceded in death by her husband Clanton, her parents and four brothers.
The family suggests memorials be given to the LaCrosse United Methodist Church, LaCrosse Dollars for Scholars or the LaCrosse Cemetery.
On-line guest book is at www.bruningfuneralhome.com BRUNING FUNERAL HOME, Colfax, is caring for the family.