Obituaries
Raymond McPherson Palouse, Wash.
Service for Raymond McPherson, 62, will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Short’s Funeral Chapel in Moscow. Burial will follow at Rock Creek Cemetery near Potlatch, Idaho.
Mr. McPherson, who was born in Topeka, Kan., died Monday in a well drilling accident near Potlatch.
He grew up and attended school in Kansas and had been on the State Basketball Championship Team in 1951, graduating in 1953.
He later worked for a well drilling company in Walla Walla and Moscow, Idaho.
He purchased well drilling equipment in the 1960s and became a partner in McPherson-Wright Well Drilling Co. in Lewiston.
He moved to Palouse in 1975.
He was a member of the Pullman and Colton (Wash.) Gun Clubs, the National Rifle Association and the Tekoa (Wash.) Golf Club.
Survivors include his wife of 21 years, Sally; son, Raymond McPherson, and a daughter, Sheryl McPherson, both of Spokane; four brothers, W.D. “Jr.”, Duane, Larry and Virgil McPherson, all of Kansas; and three sisters, Lorene Sprouse and Wanda Sisco, both of Kansas, and Dorles Hillis, of Oklahoma.
Memorials may be made to the Palouse EMTs or the Palouse Lions Club, c/o Short’s Funeral Chapel, P.O. Box 9131, Moscow, ID 83843.
James Spelgatti Houston, Texas
Memorial service for James Lewis Spelgatti, 54, is planned for 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Potlatch (Idaho) Presbyterian Church. Kramer Funeral Home in Palouse is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Spelgatti, who died Saturday in Houston, was born in Moscow, Idaho.
He graduated from high school in Potlatch and attended the University of Idaho on a football scholarship for one year, until a knee injury ended his participation.
He married Braunda Lazelle in Coeur d’Alene in 1962.
He was a teacher and physical education instructor in Benton City, Wash., Genesee, Idaho, Nevada, Montana and Sappho, Wash. He was the first basketball coach at Elko Community College. He also worked in Spokane for two years as a ranch hand.
In 1979, he married Shirl Olmstead in Reno, Nev.
They lived in Alaska and Thailand before moving to Houston in 1995.
Mr. Spelgatti is survived by his wife; three sons, Jeff Spelgatti of Richland, Lew Spelgatti of Houston and Todd Bunday of Fife, Wash.; a daughter, Carrie Spelgatti of Houston; two brothers, John Spelgetti of Bellingham and Charles Spelgatti of Rockwood, Tenn.; two sisters, Molly Black of Snohomish, Wash., and Corolee Smith of Potlatch; and one grandson.
Patricia Brining Spokane
Memorial service for Patricia J. Brining, 55, will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Thornhill Valley Funeral Home.
Mrs. Brining, who died Saturday, was born in Camden, N.J., and graduated from high school there.
She married Daniel Brining in 1974 in New Jersey.
She was a 21-year Spokane resident and had worked for the International Ambassadors Program for five years.
She was a member of the Compass Club.
Mrs. Brining is survived by her husband; a son, Andrew Brining and a daughter, Tamara Brining, both at home; a brother, Kenneth Lovell of Manheim, Pa.; and a sister, Betty Tweed of Sicklerville, N.J.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Spokane or the American Cancer Society.
Richard Ingram Jr. Spokane
Memorial service for Richard F. “Rick” Ingram Jr., 45, will be at 2 p.m. today at Riplinger Funeral Home.
Mr. Ingram, who died Sunday, was born in Spokane.
He graduated from West Valley High School and attended Eastern Washington University.
He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, a past state officer of Demolay and a Navy veteran.
He is survived by his mother, Roma Sinn of Spokane; his father and stepmother, Richard and Rhoda Ingram Sr. of Spokane; a sister, Ronda Crist, and a brother, Robert Ingram, both of Spokane.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Helen Miles Harrington, Wash.
Visitation for Helen Lucille Miles, 82, is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Friday at Danekas Funeral Home in Ritzville, Wash. Service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Harrington Community Church. Vault burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery in Harrington.
Mrs. Miles, a former Spokane resident, died Sunday.
She was born in Wilson Creek, Wash., and graduated from Harrington High School.
In 1941 she married Clarence Miles in Colville, Wash. They moved to Davenport, Wash., in 1942 and lived in Missoula from 1943 to 1953.
They moved to Spokane in 1953 and Mrs. Miles attended Fort Wright College and received a teaching certificate. She taught kindergarten at Manito Community Kindergarten for 25 years. She retired in 1978.
Her husband died in 1993 and Mrs. Miles returned to Harrington to be near her family.
She is survived by a son, Donald Miles of Colorado Springs, Colo.; a sister, Margaret Kupers of Harrington; and three grandsons.
Daniel Kish Rathdrum, Idaho
At the family’s request, no service will be held for Daniel A. Kish, 75. English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Kish, who was born in Spokane, died Sunday.
He moved to Rathdrum 20 years ago from Orofino, Idaho, and had worked as a welder.
Survivors include his wife, Jeanette; three sons, Ernest Kish of Rathdrum, Daniel Kish of Spokane and Eugene Kish of Mead; four daughters, Lorna Piper of Woodenville, Wash., Pauline Sloan and Barbara Krieger, both of Spokane, and Lois Kish of Rathdrum; one brother; one sister; 19 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the National Stroke Association, 96 Inverness Drive, East Suite I, Englewood, CO 80112-5112.
Loren ‘Larry’ Burris Spokane
Memorial vigil service for Loren J. “Larry” Burris, 87, is set for 7 p.m. today at St. Augustine Catholic Church. Memorial Mass will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the church. HennesseySmith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Burris, who was born in Clyde, N.D., died Monday.
He attended the University of California at Berkeley for three years and owned several auto parts stores.
He was a Spokane resident for 49 years.
Mr. Burris was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church and Manito Golf and Country Club.
He was a World War II Navy veteran.
His wife, Geraldine Burris, died in 1992.
Survivors include a son, Tim Burris of Puyallup, Wash.; a daughter, Susan Hanley of Spokane; a brother, Gerald Burris of Aptos, Calif.; and four grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Augustine Catholic Church.
Joseph Cooney Spokane
Rosary for Joseph Marco Cooney, 73, is set for 7:30 p.m. today at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday at St. Aloysius Catholic Church.
Mr. Cooney, a Democratic Party activist, died Monday.
He was born in Condon, Ore.
He served in the Navy and was honorably discharged in 1947.
He attended Eastern Oregon, Boise State University and Idaho State University and graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1953. He entered private practice with his brother, John Cooney, a former state senator who died in 1982.
Mr. Cooney was a member of the Democratic Party for more than 50 years and was involved in numerous state and local elections. His recommendations resulted in numerous state, judicial and county appointments.
He was also a supporter of the Gonzaga University basketball program.
He is survived by his wife, Spokane County Assessor Sadie Charlene Cooney; two sons, Michael and Clancy Cooney; two grandchildren, a brother, Dan Cooney; and a sister, Beth Baumeister.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Poor Clare Nuns, House of Kairos or the Gonzaga University men’s basketball program.
Philomena Jorgensen Spokane
Funeral Mass for Philomena M. Jorgensen, 86, is planned for 10 a.m. today at The Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery. Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-South is in charge of arrangements.
Born in Starkweather, N.D., Mrs. Jorgensen died Sunday.
She had lived in Spokane since 1932. She was a homemaker and had worked as a housekeeper in private homes.
Mrs. Jorgensen was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish.
Her husband, Antone Jorgensen, preceded her in death.
She is survived by a son, John Jorgensen; five daughters, Frances Ludwig, Mary Alexander, Martha Penitaff, Dorothy O’Dell and Patricia Kessler; and 13 grandchildren.
Earl Wester Spokane
Memorial service for Earl S. Wester, 83, will be at 2 p.m. today at First Presbyterian Church. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Wester, who died Monday, was a lifetime Spokane resident.
He worked as an electrician for Washington Water Power.
He attended the First Presbyterian Church and was a member of the Elks Lodge.
His wife, Vivian Wester, died in 1986.
He is survived by a daughter, Kirsten Redinger of Ione, Wash.; two sisters, Margie Day and Gladys Griffith, both of Spokane; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army, or North Pend Oreille Ambulance, Metaline Falls, WA 99153.
Mildred King Cheney
Family graveside service for Mildred L. King, 91, will be Friday at Spokane Memorial Gardens. Memorial service is set for 3 p.m. Saturday at Cheney United Methodist Church. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of graveside service.
Mrs. King, who was born in Charleston, W. Va., died Saturday.
She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from West Virginia University and later received a teaching certificate from Eastern Washington University. She was a teacher and moved to Richland in 1939, and then lived in Sitka, Alaska, for a year. She also lived in Wenatchee for a year before settling in Cheney 54 years ago. She retired in 1965.
She was a founding member of the Cheney Credit Union, and was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star in Cheney and Cheney United Methodist Church.
Her husband, Samuel, preceded her in death.
She is survived by a son, Sam King of Cheney; four daughters, Marilyn Mohrman of Davis, Calif., Lorraine Schloss of Marysville, Wash., Wynorra Willis of Delaware and Rosetta Dymond of Annapolis, Md.; her sister, Eleanor Garber of Columbus, Ohio; 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions can be made to Cheney United Methodist Church.
Margaret Leonard Spokane
No service will be held for Margaret Leonard, 82, at her request. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of cremation.
Born in Spokane, Mrs. Leonard died Tuesday.
She graduated from Rogers High School and worked for the Ridpath Hotel for 35 years.
She is survived by her husband of 31 years, Ray Leonard; two daughters, Janice Quinton of Spokane and Judith Simpson of Des Moines, Iowa; a sister, Alma Dobravec of Spokane; four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one great great-granddaughter.
Charles Ratliff Spokane
Memorial service for Charles B. Ratliff, 96, will be at 1 p.m. today at the Gardens Convalescent Center. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of cremation.
Mr. Ratliff, who died Thursday, was born in Gonzales, Texas.
He worked as a ticket clerk manager at a movie theater until 1942.
He served with the 859th Signal Corps during World War II.
He had lived in Spokane for more than 50 years, and is survived by several nieces.
Samuel Jones Spokane
Memorial service for Samuel H. Jones, 69, was Wednesday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2218.
Mr. Jones, a retired roofer, died Saturday.
He was born in Bristol, Tenn.
He served in the Air Force after high school and married Doris Wilson in 1962.
He worked at Kaiser Aluminum for many years. After suffering a back injury he graduated from Spokane Community College.
He is survived by his wife; a son, Terry Jones of Eagle River, Alaska; three daughters, Beth Clark, Sue Johnson and Toni Jones, all of Spokane; and 13 grandchildren.
, DataTimes