Obituaries
Cecil Robinette Spokane
Memorial service for Cecil R. Robinette, 71, will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church.
Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Robinette, a retired Spokane educator, died Saturday.
Born in a log cabin at Miles, Wash., he moved with his family to the Cheney-Medical Lake area as a boy. He graduated from Medical Lake High School in 1941.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served for two years during World War II.
Mr. Robinette received a degree in education from Eastern Washington State College in 1950. He earned a master’s degree from Whitworth College and his secondary school principal’s credentials in 1971.
He married Virginia “Ginny” Lucas in 1946, and they lived for a time on a dairy farm near Medical Lake.
Mr. Robinette began his teaching career in Fairfield. He began working for School District 81 in 1952.
He taught at Whittier and Field Elementary schools and at Shadle Park High School.
At Shadle Park, he served as adviser to the Associated Student Body and to the Future Teachers of America.
Mr. Robinette also taught summer school for District 81 for eight years. For five of those years, he was an area coordinator.
In 1974 he became assistant principal at Joseph Jantsch High School.
Mr. Robinette was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where he served as a deacon and elder and taught Sunday school.
He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans and the National Association of Secondary School Principals. He was also a member and current treasurer of the Inland Northwest Kidney Association.
Mr. Robinette was a former member of Spokane Rotary North. He served on the Pine Lodge Correctional Center advisory board and also volunteered as a teacher in the basic equivalency program at Pine Lodge.
In 1976 he and his wife returned to the original dairy farm, and he worked as an insurance claims adjuster.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Thomas Earl Robinette and Martin Lucas Robinette, both of Spokane; a daughter, Jane Cecille Orlob of Walla Walla; a brother, Eugene Robinette of Cheney; a sister, Bernadine Henry of Spokane; and nine grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be made to Sacred Heart Kidney Center or to First Presbyterian Church, S318 Cedar, Spokane, WA 99204.
Eva Montague Lamont, Wash.
Service of remembrance for Eva L. Brown Montague, 77, will be at 1:30 p.m. today at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Danekas Funeral Home of Ritzville, Wash., is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Montague, who died Saturday, was born in Sandpoint, where she attended school.
She married Gerald S. Montague in 1935, and they moved to Anacortes, Wash., and then to Ione, Wash.
In 1956 the Montagues moved to Latah, Wash., where they bought a cafe. She managed the cafe until retiring in 1968.
They moved to Post Falls in 1970 and moved to Lamont in 1972.
Mrs. Montague was a member of Lamont Grange 889.
Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Geraldine Becker of Lamont; a son, Daniel Montague of Redmond, Wash.; a sister, Ruth Markham of Seattle; a brother, Bill Brown of Olympia; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Sprague (Wash.) Ambulance Fund.
Robert McNickle Spokane
Inurnment service for Robert J. McNickle, 72, is planned for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Riverside Memorial Park.
Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. McNickle, a World War II Army veteran, died Jan. 30.
Born in Bridgeport, Ohio, he moved to the Spokane area 35 years ago.
He was a life member of Spokane Chapter 45 of the Disabled American Veterans and Spokane Eagles Aerie 2.
Survivors include many friends, including the Carl Eickstadt family.
Ann Moore Deer Park
Service for Ann F. Moore, 86, is planned for 10 a.m. today at the Open Door Congregational Church in Deer Park. Burial will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Spokane Memorial Gardens.
Lauer Funeral Home in Deer Park is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Moore died Friday.
Born in Goodland, Kansas, she moved to the Douglas, Wash., area when she was 5.
She married Clarence I. Moore in 1939, and they moved to a farm in the Williams Valley area in 1940.
The Moores ranched in Williams Valley for many years before retiring to Deer Park in 1975.
Mrs. Moore was a member of the Williams Valley Grange and the Deer Park Senior Center. She attended the Open Door Congregational Church in Deer Park.
Mr. Moore died in 1983.
Survivors include a daughter, Nadine Barrett of Cheney; a son, Harvey Moore of Albany, Ore.; five grandchildren and one greatgrandchild.
Memorial gifts may be made to Open Door Congregational Church, Deer Park, WA 99006.
Lucille Swanson Davenport, Wash.
Memorial service for Lucille G. Swanson, 87, is planned for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home South. Burial was previously held at Spokane Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Swanson, who died Friday, was born in Dusty, Wash.
She married Francis Carl Steward in 1925, and they lived in the Farmington, Wash., area.
Mr. Steward preceded her in death.
She moved to Lamont, Wash., in 1932 and married Alvin T. Swanson in 1942.
The Swansons farmed in the Lamont area for several years. They retired to Lamont and later to Spokane.
Mr. Swanson died in 1964.
She helped found the Sunday school in Lamont that became the Lamont Community Church.
Mrs. Swanson moved to the Lincoln Nursing Home in Davenport six years ago.
Survivors include a son, the Rev. Richard Steward of Tacoma; a daughter, Yvonne Krupke of Spokane; a brother, Raymond Gerlitz of Spokane; a sister, Ruby Herman of Colfax, Wash.; eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be made to Christian Heritage School, P.O. Box 118, Edwall, WA 99008, or to Trans World Radio, P.O. Box 8700, Cary, NC 27512-8700.
Alice Almeda Spokane
Memorial service for Alice Almeda, 52, will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the chapel at Sacred Heart Medical Center.
Mrs. Almeda died Friday of complications resulting from dermatomyositis.
Born in Harvey, Ill., she moved to Spokane in 1973.
She was an elementary school teacher and also worked for Radio Shack for more than 10 years.
Mrs. Almeda most recently had been working for New Horizons Computer Center.
She was a member of the Masonic Rainbow Girls and the National Organization of Female Executives.
Survivors include her husband, Charlie Almeda; two sons, Brett Almeda of Fayetteville, N.C., and Matthew Almeda of Hawaii; a daughter, Anna Almeda of Kodiak, Alaska; her parents, Mrs. and Mrs. William Wene of Tarpon Springs, Fla.; a sister, Margaret Morrow of Albany, Ga.; a brother, Douglas Wene of Joplin, Mo.; and two grandchildren.
Emily Davidson Spokane
Service for Emily M. Davidson, 88, was Sunday at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home North and was followed by burial at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.
Mrs. Davidson died Thursday. Born in Sheridan, Wyo., she moved to Spokane in 1919.
She graduated from West Valley High School in 1924 and was a homemaker.
Mrs. Davidson was a former member of the Order of Eastern Star.
Her husband of 57 years, Ira T. Davidson, died in 1983.
Survivors include four daughters, Deloris Lundberg and Beatrice Taylor, both of Spokane, Leatrice Iserman of Waverly, Iowa, and Geraldine Rinderneck of Spokane; a son, Robert Davidson of Shawnee, Kan.; one nephew, 11 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Edward `Ted’ Wert Chile
Service for Edward C. “Ted” Wert, 71, will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home followed by burial at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Mr. Wert died Jan. 30.
Born in Spokane, he graduated from Gonzaga Prepatory School and Gonzaga University.
He was vice president of Long Lake Lumber Co. and was president of Thompson Falls Lumber Co. in Montana in the 1950s.
Mr. Wert also was active in real estate in Spokane and North Idaho.
He was with Finucane & Galland of Spokane, specializing in commercial real estate. He also was president of Commercial Investors Inc., which built the North Shore Lodge in Sandpoint in 1965.
Mr. Wert was finance chairman of the Republican Central Committee in 1956 and 1957.
He moved to Chile seven years ago.
He was a past member of The Spokane Club, the Spokane Country Club and the Hayden Lake Country Club. He also served on the board of trustees of Gonzaga Prep and clubs and civic organizations.
Survivors include three sons, Ted Wert and Paul Wert, both of Spokane, and Rob Wert of Bellevue, Wash.; a daughter, Sarah Bonwell of Yakima; and three grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be made to Gonzaga Prep, E1224 Euclid, Spokane, WA 99207, or to Morning Star Boys Ranch, P.O. Box 8087, Manito Station, Spokane, WA 99203.
Eugene Muller Spokane
Graveside service for Eugene H.B. Muller, 88, will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Harrington (Wash.) Hillcrest Cemetery.
Ball and Dodd Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Muller died Saturday.
Born in Harrington, he moved to Spokane 86 years ago.
He graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in 1925 and then played semipro baseball for several years.
Mr. Muller began working in sales at a Buick dealership in Spokane in 1929.
During World War II he worked in the personnel department at Galena Army Air Depot and returned to sales after the war, continuing to work at the Buick dealership.
He retired as a Buick professional sales master at Becker Buick in 1981 after 40 years of service.
Mr. Muller was a member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Elizabeth Muller; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Harold Sherette Spokane
Funeral Mass for Harold J. Sherette, 62, will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church followed by burial at the Pines Cemetery.
Thornhill Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Sherette died Saturday.
Born in Grand Forks, N.D., he moved to Spokane 24 years ago.
He was a plant manager for Cenex Land O’ Lakes for 22 years before retiring in 1993.
Mr. Sherette was a member of the Spokane Valley Eagles Aerie, the Spokane Valley Veterans of Foreign Wars and St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Dorothy Sherette; three sons, Robert Sherette of Greenacres, James Sherette of Seattle and Brian Sherette of Federal Way, Wash.; a daughter, Karen Knapp of Auburn, Wash.; eight grandchildren and one greatgranddaughter.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Northwest Kidney Foundation, P.O. Box 3035, Seattle, WA 98114-9906.
Marion Pixler Post Falls
Service for Marion L. Pixler, 78, will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Falls Full Gospel Assembly of God Church in Post Falls followed by burial.
Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d’Alene is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Pixler died Saturday.
Born in Portland, she joined the Salvation Army and worked in the Portland area.
She married Alvin G. Pixler in 1937, and they made their home in North Plains, Ore.
The Pixlers moved to Post Falls in 1947.
She was a member of the Falls Full Gospel Assembly of God Church, where she served as the Sunday school secretary-treasurer for 40 years.
Mr. Pixler died in 1979.
Survivors include two sons, Norman Pixler of Greenacres and Alvin Pixler Jr. of Post Falls; a sister, Mable Hollis of Tacoma; 15 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren.
Helen Ross Spokane
Memorial service for Helen L. Ross, 97, is planned for 10 a.m. Wednesday at Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home.
Mrs. Ross died Jan. 20.
Born in Clare, Mich., she graduated from North Central High School and Whitman College.
She earned a master’s degree in education at Columbia University and taught high school in Great Falls, Mont., until her retirement.
Mrs. Ross moved to Spokane 37 years ago.
She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa Society and Emmanuel Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial gifts may be made to Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, W1924 Chelan, Spokane, WA 99205.
Ray Legard Spokane
Memorial service for Ray Legard, 78, will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the New Testament Church.
Hazen & Jaeger Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Legard died Jan. 29.
Born in St. Regis, Mont., he was a miner and lived most of his life in Spokane.
Survivors include two sons, Joe Legard and Thomas Legard, both of Spokane; a daughter, Mary Legard of Spokane; three brothers, Allen Legard of Coeur d’Alene, Leo Legard of San Jose, Calif., and Edward Legard of Wallace; and two sisters, Vivian Dimico of St. Maries and Leona Heddle of St. Paul, Minn.
Vada Colvin Colfax, Wash.
Memorial service for Vada S. Colvin, 83, is planned for 1 p.m. Wednesday at Bruning Funeral Home in Colfax. Cremation will precede the service.
Ripling Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.
Mrs. Colvin died Friday.
Born in LaCrosse, Wash., she moved to Colfax 65 years ago.
She was a registered nurse for 48 years, working primarily in Colfax as the main office nurse for Dr. Ole Slind. She retired in 1980.
Survivors include a son, Duane Colvin of Spokane; three grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
William `B.J.’ Spafford Spokane
Service for William “B.J.” Spafford, 7, is planned for 11 a.m. today at Faith Baptist Church.
Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
B.J., a lifetime Spokane resident, died Thursday.
He was a first-grader at Logan Elementary School and attended Faith Baptist Church.
Survivors include his parents, Jay and Peggy Spafford of Spokane; his grandparents and a great-grandmother.
Dale Holling Spokane
Service for Dale J. Holling, 47, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at HennesseySmith Funeral Home.
Mr. Holling, a lifetime Spokane resident, died Wednesday.
He served in the Air Force and also worked as a truck driver.
Mr. Holling was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3067 of Deer Park and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1474 of Hillyard. He was also a member of the Teamsters Union Local 690, the Moose Lodge and the Eagles Aerie.
Survivors include his wife of 29 years, Pamela Holling; a son, Jason Holling of Spokane; two daughters, Johnna Boren and Vanessa Holling, both of Spokane; and one granddaughter.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Oncology Department of Holy Family Hospital, N5633 Lidgerwood, Spokane, WA 99207, or to Big Brothers and Sisters of Spokane, W222 Mission, Suite 210, Spokane, WA 99201.
Ethel McMacken Hayden, Idaho
No service is planned for Ethel J. McMacken, 72, at her request. Thornhill Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. McMacken died Thursday.
Born in Spokane, she graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in 1941.
She married Roger McMacken Sr. in 1942. They lived in Black Lake, Wash., for 19 years and then moved to Hayden, Idaho, 1 years ago.
Mrs. McMacken. a homemaker, attended First Methodist Church of Coeur d’Alene.
Survivors include her husband; three sons, Roger McMacken Jr. of Baltimore, Md., Steve McMacken of Edmonds, Wash., and Paul McMacken of Coeur d’Alene; a sister, Hazel Thiebes of Spokane; a brother, James Mulderig of Tacoma; and six grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be made to the American Cancer Society, N900 Maple, Spokane, WA 99201.