Obituaries
James Davis Ocean Shores, Wash.
Visitation for James L. Davis, 41, will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Pines Baptist Church. Funeral will follow at the church. Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.
Memorial service will be held at a later date at the Ocean Shores Convention Center. Coleman Mortuary in Hoquiam, Wash., is in charge of Ocean Shores arrangements.
Mr. Davis, a 10-year resident of Ocean Shores, drowned Sunday while rescuing a surfer.
He was born and raised in Spokane and graduated from North Central High School where he was a member of the football and track and field teams. He was named All-City in the hurdles.
Mr. Davis served with the Army from 1974 to 1979 where he was a military policeman. He had earned the National Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Ribbon and had qualified as a marksman with the M-16 rifle.
In 1975 he married Sherry Gentry in Clarkston, Wash., and they returned to Spokane after his military discharge.
He worked for the Spokane County Sheriff’s Department and in 1988 moved to Ocean Shores where he joined the Ocean Shores Police Department. He was a detective until two months ago when he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.
While in Spokane he assisted with Cub Scouts for many years, served as a Cubmaster and coached Little League Baseball.
He was instrumental in the establishment of the surf rescue team in Ocean Shores. Mr. Davis was the recipient of the Ocean Shores Elks Lodge Policeman of the Year award in 1994 and was awarded the Ocean Shores Police Department Medal of Merit three times for rescuing people from the surf.
Mr. Davis was a member of the North Beach School board of directors and had served as their president since January of this year.
He was involved in the DARE Program in area schools, was an assistant track coach with North Beach High School, a range officer and a customs agent.
While serving as a detective, he was a member of the task force which the cities of Ocean Shores, Westport and Montesano, Wash., developed to aid one another in special crime and criminal investigations.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Travis Davis of Ocean Shores; four daughters, Wendy Banegas of El Paso, Texas, and Crystal, Jenni and Amber Davis, all of Ocean Shores; his mother, Ann Bisson of Spokane; four brothers, Perry, Gary and Kerry Gorman, all of Spokane, and Marcus Gorman who is stationed in Greece with the Air Force; a sister, Michelle Bisson of Spokane; and three granddaughters.
Memorial contributions may be made to Breast Cancer Research, c/o Grays Harbor American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 743, Aberdeen, WA 98520.
Wilmer Hoffman Davenport, Wash.
Visitation for Wilmer M. Hoffman, 80, will be from 1 to 5 p.m. today and from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday at Strate Funeral Home in Davenport. Graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the Rocklyn Zion Cemetery in Davenport. Memorial service will follow at 2 p.m. at the Davenport Assembly of God Church.
Mr. Hoffman, who was born in Harrington, Wash., died Sunday.
He graduated in 1936 from Harrington High School and worked as a rancher in the Harrington and Davenport areas.
Mr. Hoffman was a member of the Davenport Assembly of God Church.
His wife, Letha Hoffman, died in 1995.
Survivors include two sons, Jim Hoffman of Harrington and Dick Hoffman of Pullman; a daughter, Doris Norris of Spokane; a sister, Viola Stone of Longview, Wash.; nine grandchildren and three great-grandsons.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Davenport Assembly of God Church or to the Lincoln County Chapter of the American Cancer Society.
Ella ‘Emar’ Ferris Spokane
Memorial service for Ella M. “Emar” Ferris, 82, will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at Heritage Funeral Home.
Mrs. Ferris, a lifetime Spokane resident, died December 29.
She graduated from high school in Spokane and was a homemaker.
Her husband, Robert Ferris, died in 1994.
Survivors include two sons, Charles Ferris of Spokane and Robert Ferris of SeaTac, Wash.; and four grandchildren.
LaFern Bunch Spokane
Visitation for LaFern Bunch, 80, will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home. Service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Hillyard Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Spokane Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Bunch, who was born at the family home near Exeter, Barry County, Mo., died Tuesday.
She moved to Walla Walla in 1922 and graduated from Columbia High School in Two Rivers, Wash. in 1935. During her school years, she was involved with Camp Fire Girls, 4-H Club, and played piano for school assemblies and operettas.
Mrs. Bunch settled on a farm in Wallula, Wash., and raised alfalfa, asparagus and turkeys.
During World War II, she volunteered as a gray lady for the Veteran’s Hospital in Walla Walla. After the war, she worked in Hanford at General Electric as a typist.
She was an organist at her church in Wallula and in 1951 moved to Spokane.
Mrs. Bunch owned the Trent Motel, which was renamed the Circle “B” Motel.
She was a member of Hillyard Baptist Church and attended Holy Family Adult Day Care.
Survivors include a daughter, Frances Bunch; two sisters, Fayetta Kwapien and Neva Phelps; three brothers, Vern, Glen and Gene Prewitt; eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Steve Pontius Spokane
Service for Steve P. Pontius, 39, was Monday at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-North. Burial followed at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Mr. Pontius, who was born in Hollywood, Calif., died April 22.
In 1973 he moved to Spokane from Japan where his parents were missionaries and, in 1977 graduated from Mead High School.
Mr. Pontius worked for Keytronic for 10 years where he was an instructor in the Computer Mold Injection Department.
He then worked at several machine shops and currently was employed at St. Joseph Care Center, East Campus as a certified nurses assistant.
Mr. Pontius was a member of the Bozo Club.
Survivors include a daughter, Mary Pontius of Spokane; his parents, George and Marilyn Pontius of Spokane; three brothers, Tim Pontius of Newport, Wash., Jerry Pontius of Lancaster, Calif., and John Pontius of Brentwood, Calif.; and his grandmother, Trudy Crandell of Spokane.
Dorothy Kienholz Spokane
Visitation for Dorothy M. Kienholz will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home. Service is planned for 10 a.m. Friday at the Valley Assembly of God Church. Burial will follow at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.
Mrs. Kienholz, a 22-year Spokane resident, died Tuesday. She was 77.
She was born in Moravia, Idaho.
She was a homemaker and a member of the Valley Assembly of God Church where she was the secretary of the Women’s Ministry.
She also taught Sunday school for many years in Newport, Wash.
Her husband, Michael Kienholz, died in 1995.
Survivors include a son, Charles Kienholz of Boring, Ore.; a daughter, Margaret Hoague of Hermiston, Ore.; six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Valley Assembly of God building fund.
Daniel Shaw Tekoa, Wash.
Service for Daniel Joseph Shaw, 45, will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the Tensed (Idaho) Community Church. Burial will follow at the Woodlawn Cemetery in St. Maries. Kramer Funeral Home in Tekoa is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Shaw, who was born in Moscow, Idaho, died Monday from heart disease.
He had lived in the Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls area and was active in Special Olympics where he won state awards.
Mr. Shaw moved to Tekoa in 1994.
Survivors include his parents, Eldon and Mary Ann Shaw of Desmet, Idaho; three sisters, Eldonna Gossett of Tekoa, and Cathy Horlacher and Teresa Westbrook, both of Desmet, Idaho; and his grandmother, Mary Shaw of Tekoa.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Idaho Special Olympics, 8426 Fairview Ave., Boise, ID 83704 or to Tekoa Care Center in Tekoa, WA 99033.
Josephine ‘Anita’ McNeese Spokane
Graveside service for Josephine “Anita” McNeese, 75, will be at 2 p.m. today at Greenwood Memorial Terrace. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. McNeese, a 26-year Spokane resident, died Monday.
She was born in Cle Elum, Wash., and in 1940 married Paul McNeese in Grand Coulee.
Mrs. McNeese was a homemaker and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Eagles auxiliaries, both in Aberdeen, Wash.
Her husband died in 1976.
Survivors include two sons, Robert McNeese of Spokane and Paul McNeese of Heber Springs, Ark.; two daughters, Lilian Dowler of Spokane and Bonnie McBride of Loon Lake, Wash.; two brothers, Bill Copner of Yakima and Robert Copner of Puyallup, Wash.; 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
Ellis Connerley Spokane
Graveside service and burial for Ellis B. Connerley, 80, will be at 11 a.m. today at Fairmount Memorial Park. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Connerley, who was born in Polson, Mont., died Saturday.
He was a 57-year resident of Spokane and worked as a shoe buyer for The Crescent department store.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Mary Jane; a son, Blaine Connerley of Albuquerque, N.M.; a daughter, Patty Kilcup of Spokane; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
Mary Jane Houghton Spokane
Service for Mary Jane Houghton, 79, will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Fairmount Memorial Park Sunset Mausoleum. Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Houghton, who was born in Bingham Canyon, Utah, died Saturday.
She was a homemaker and lived in Spokane for 47 years.
Her husband, Fred Houghton, died in 1989.
Survivors include three daughters, Sandra Olson of Spokane, Margaret Pierce of Seattle and Evelyn Roe of Walla Walla; three granddaughters and two great-grandchildren.
Edwin Broe Spokane
Service for Edwin Broe, 88, is set for 11 a.m. Friday at Riplinger Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Mr. Broe, who was born in Manfred, N.D., died Friday.
He served with the Army during World War II and had lived in Spokane for 47 years.
Mr. Brow worked as a grocery store clerk.
He was a member of First Covenant Church in Spokane and the American Legion in Gresham, Ore.
Survivors include a daughter, Maxine Grant of Spokane; a son, James Broe of Portland; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Grace Allen Spokane
Vigil service for Grace E. Allen, 89, will be at 8:30 a.m. Friday at St. Paschal Catholic Church. Resurrection Mass will follow at 9 a.m. at the church. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery in Trentwood. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Allen, who was born in Rural Valley, Mont., died Sunday.
She moved to Spokane in 1925 and worked as a legal secretary for Federal Land Bank, Teamsters Union Local 334 and various attorneys.
Mrs. Allen was a member of St. Paschal Parish and the Legal Secretaries International.
Her husband, Les, died in 1975.
Survivors include a daughter, Diane Taylor of Palm Springs, Calif.; two sons, Michael Allen of Spokane and Gerald Smith of Visalia, Calif.; 10 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Lottie Sparks Spokane
Memorial service for Lottie V. Sparks, 75, will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Riplinger Funeral Home.
Mrs. Sparks, who died Monday, was a 40-year Spokane resident.
She was born in Bremerton and worked for a telephone company for 30 years before retiring.
Mrs. Sparks was active with the Disabled American Veterans, was president of the Telephone Pioneers, was active with and supported the Order of the Eastern Star Amaranth, Daughters of the Nile, Ladies of Oriental Shrine, White Shrine of Jerusalem, Grotto, York Rite, Odd Fellows and Ladies of Elks.
Survivors include her husband, Harry; a daughter, Teddy Jane Pedersen of Spokane; four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Frances Burroughs Coeur d’Alene
Memorial service for Frances Jo Burroughs, 91, will be at 11 a.m. on May 6 at Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel. A reception will follow at the Yates Hayden Chapel Gathering Center. Private burial will be held at Fairmount Memorial Park in Spokane.
Mrs. Burroughs, who was born in Spokane, died Sunday.
She attended North Central High School in Spokane and settled in Rathdrum, Idaho, in 1946.
Mrs. Burroughs was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star Clover Chapter 33 and the Royal Neighbors of America in Rathdrum.
Her husband, Frank, died in 1973.
Survivors include a daughter, JoAnn Schauer of Rathdrum; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Grand Order of the Eastern Star of Idaho, c/o Grand Secretary, Pauline Grant, Box 416, Horseshoe Bend, ID 83629.
Gerald Hawkins Spokane
No service will be held for Gerald K. Hawkins, 84, at his request. The Cremation Society of Washington is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Hawkins, who was born and raised in Seattle, died Thursday.
He graduated from Lincoln High School in Seattle in 1931 and served with the Army from 1942 to 1946 as an officer.
In 1945 he was stationed at Geiger Air Base and remained in Spokane after that time. He received many accommodations during his military service including a bronze star.
Mr. Hawkins continued his service in the Army Reserve until his discharge in 1953 at the rank of major.
He then owned and operated the Tire Market and worked as regional sales representative for Mohawk Rubber Co.
Mr. Hawkins later worked as a manager for the National Association of Credit Management until his retirement in 1984.
He was a member of the Western Eagles Flying Club at Felts Field.
Survivors include three sons, Jerry, Mark and Todd Hawkins all of Spokane; a sister, Alice Heywood of Seattle; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Melva Worthy Spokane
Service for Melva L. Worthy, 82, will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Fairmount Memorial Park Sunset Mausoleum Chapel. Burial will follow. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Born in Genesee, Idaho, Mrs. Worthy died Monday.
She was a 50-year Spokane resident and was a homemaker.
Her husband, Marvin, died in 1992.
Mrs. Worthy is survived by a son, Paul Worthy of Spokane; a brother, Kenneth Currin of Moscow, Idaho; four grandchildren and five stepgrandchildren.
Cleo Wright Spokane
Memorial service for Cleo G. Wright, 96, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Fairmount Memorial Park. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Wright, a 50-year Spokane resident, died April 23.
She was born in Iconium, Mo., and worked as a beautician.
Mrs. Wright was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and Fowler United Methodist Church.
Survivors include a daughter, Regina Cosand of Spokane; four grandchildren seven great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.