Obituaries
Paul `Skeeter’ Bradley Spokane
Graveside service for Paul L. “Skeeter” Bradley, 38, will be at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Riverside Memorial Park. Memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. at Heritage Funeral Home.
Mr. Bradley, who was born in Spokane, drowned Thursday in Long Lake while trying to rescue his daughter.
He graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in 1979.
Mr. Bradley had been working at Kaiser Aluminum Trentwood for the past eight years.
He was a member of United Steelworkers Union Local 338 and St. Matthew’s Baptist Church.
Mr. Bradley was also an avid musician, primarily playing the tenor saxophone. He played in various bands, including with his father, Paul Bradley, Sr.
Survivors include his wife, Briana; four children, Jasminne, Javuana, Sheleis and Paul Bradley, III, all of Spokane; his parents, Paul Bradley, Sr. and Warner Bradley of Spokane; and a sister, Carlotta Wint of Fresno, Calif.
Memorial contributions may be made to the United Steelworkers Union.
William Rydell Spokane
Funeral for William John “Bill” Rydell, 65, will be at 10 a.m. today at Thornhill Valley Funeral Home. Burial will be at Pines Cemetery.
A 37-year Spokane resident, Mr. Rydell died Wednesday. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y.
He served with the Coast Guard as a seaman apprentice from 1954 until 1956.
Mr. Rydell went on to attend Wagner College in Staten Island, N.Y., and Montana State University in Bozeman.
He worked various jobs in sales, advertising and finance over the years. He most recently worked as a real estate investor.
Survivors include two daughters, Sheila Rydell of Honolulu and Rhonda Rydell of Spokane; a son, David Carey of Spokane; a sister, Tyra Hobbs of Kalispell, Mont.; and three grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Spokane or American Cancer Society.
Roger Ward Loon Lake, Wash.
Graveside memorial service for Roger V. Ward, a longtime Loon Lakearea resident, will be at 10:30 a.m. today at Woodland Cemetery in Deer Park. Lauer Funeral Home in Deer Park is in charge of arrangements.
Born in Cashmere, Wash., Mr. Ward died July 27. He was 60.
He attended Deer Park High School.
He was a truck driver.
Survivors include his wife, Faye; three sons, Doug Ward of Spokane, Terry Ward of Columbia Falls, Mont., and Andy Ward of Springdale, Wash.; a daughter, Teresa Ward of New Mexico; his father, Lelon Ward of Loon Lake; four brothers, Larry Ward of Walla Walla, Earl and John Ward, both of Spokane, and Joe Ward of Kellogg; three sisters, Nancy Lauderdale of Clayton, Wash., Patricia Welse of Colville, Wash., and Sharon Ward of Newport, Ore.; 16 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Howard Van Slyke Spokane
Graveside service for Howard Van Slyke, 87, will be at 11 a.m. today at Fairmount Memorial Park. Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-South is in charge of arrangements.
A lifetime Spokane resident, Mr. Van Slyke died Thursday.
He graduated from Hillyard High School in 1931.
Mr. Van Slyke served in the Army from 1933 until 1936. He married Dorothy Chapman in 1939.
He also served with the Navy as a Seabee during World War II in the Aleutian Islands.
Mr. Van Slyke was a carpenter in the construction industry. He worked for various companies, including Purvis Construction and S.G. Morin & Sons. He retired from AAA Construction in 1974.
He was a 55-year member of Carpenters Union Local 98.
Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Eleanor Borgardts of Kent, Wash., Lynda Benjamin of Newman Lake and Donna Bailey of Newport; three sons, Clifford Van Slyke of Antelope, Calif., Robert Van Slyke of Salem, Ore., and Gerald Van Slyke of Tigard, Ore.; a sister, Marion Dickerman of Tacoma; 14 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Liberty Park United Methodist Church memorial fund, 1526 E. 11th Ave., Spokane, WA 99202.
Carl Knott Spokane
Funeral for Carl W. Knott, a 73-year Spokane resident, will be at 2 p.m. today at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-North. Burial will be at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Mr. Knott, who was born in, Brazil, died Saturday. He was 89.
He worked as a plumbing contractor in the 1940s.
In 1952 he began farming grain in the Greenbluff area. He retired in 1993.
Mr. Knott was a member of the Church of God Seventh-day and was a charter member of the Greenbluff Grange.
Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Arlene; two daughters, Linda Rickey of Henderson, Nev., and Anne Benedict of Nampa, Idaho; a son, Robert Knott of Mead; a sister, Esther Scheele of Seattle; four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Church of God Seventh-day, 2929 N. Freya, Spokane, WA 99217, or to the Union Gospel Mission.
La Von Preston Spokane
Visitation for La Von L. Preston, a 33-year Spokane resident, will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and Wednesday at Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home. Graveside service is planned for 1 p.m. Thursday at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Preston, who was born in Sheldon, Iowa, died Friday. She was 80.
During World War II she worked in California building aircrafts and in the shipyards in Vancouver, Wash.
Mrs. Preston owned several service stations in the Coeur d’Alene area for 10 years.
In 1966 she moved to Spokane and began working as a clerk for Two Swabbies. She retired in 1972.
In 1968 she married Ben Preston. He died in 1977.
Mrs. Preston was a member of Valley View Baptist Church and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary. She volunteered with Camp Fire Girls and an elementary school reading program.
Survivors include her grandson, Cory Geisler of Spokane; and two cousins.
John George Elmer City, Wash.
Funeral for John Milton George, 89, is planned for 10 a.m. Wednesday at Coulee Dam (Wash.) Community Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow at Spring Canyon Cemetery, Grand Coulee, Wash. Strate Funeral Home in Grand Coulee is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Milton, who was born in Pearl, Idaho, died Thursday.
IN 1934 he married Dorothy Mae Johnson. In 1942 he moved to the Grand Coulee area.
Mr. George served with the Navy Seabees as a first class boatswain’s mate during World War II in the European Theater.
He returned to Elmer City after the war and worked through the Ironworkers and Boilermakers unions on several dams in the Inland Northwest. He also worked on other projects in Nevada and Alaska.
He was an organizing member of the Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department. Mr. George also was a member of Coulee Dam Community Presbyterian Church, where he was a choir member and elder.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, David and John George, both of Seattle; a daughter, Susan George Redd of Atlanta; five grandsons, 14 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Organ Fund Coulee Dam Community Presbyterian Church, c/o Pastor Brian Heath.
Louis Hoerner Spokane
Funeral Mass for Louis J. Hoerner, a former longtime superintendent of buildings and grounds at Gonzaga University, will be at 10 a.m. today at St. Aloysius Catholic Church. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Hoerner, who was born in Speier, Russia, died Saturday. He was 102.
He came to the United States as a child, settling in North Dakota.
In 1936 he came to Spokane and began working for Holy Names College as a private contractor, until joining Gonzaga University.
He was a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus and was a St. Aloysius parishioner for 63 years.
His wife of 62 years, Mary, preceded him in death.
Survivors include a son, Leonard Hoerner of Medford, Ore.; a daughter, Lorine Lynch of Spokane; four sisters, Ida Jeffries of Dallas, Claudia Helmer of Edmonds, Wash., and Lena Klein and Ann Kelsey, both of Spokane; two brothers, John Hoerner of Sprague, Wash., and Valentine Hoerner of Dickinson, N.D.; 10 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Morning Star Boys Ranch.
Sylvio Naccarato Ulen, Minn.
Funeral for Sylvio Naccarato, 90, will be at 10:30 a.m. today at St. William’s Catholic Church in Twin Valley, Minn. Burial will be at West Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery in Ulen. Anderson Funeral Home in Twin Valley is in charge of arrangements.
Born in Priest River, Idaho, Mr. Naccarato died Friday.
He was raised in Spokane by his grandmother. At the age of 12 he began working in logging camps in Idaho.
He returned to Spokane in his late teens and began working on a railroad section crew before returning to Idaho to work in the timber industry.
In 1933 he married Garbo Polello. They made their home in Idaho until 1936, when they returned to Spokane.
Mr. Naccarato became a welder for the Great Northern Railway, which later became Burlington Northern Railroad. He retired in 1974 and later worked as a part-time carpenter in the Spokane area.
He had been living in Ulen for the past three years.
Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Delores Begg of Ulen; two brothers, Vi Naccarato of Spokane and William Naccarato of Priest River; four grandsons and seven great-grandchildren.
Ellen (Jackman) Wilson Spokane
Visitation for Ellen (Jackman ) Wilson, 74, will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home. Graveside service is planned for 10 a.m. Wednesday at Greenwood Memorial Terrace. Memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.
A 55-year Spokane resident, Mrs. Wilson died Friday. She was born in Benewah County, Idaho.
Mrs. Wilson worked as a typist at Galena Air Depot during World War II and later as a clerk in retail stores. In the 1970s she was a Realtor.
Mrs. Wilson was a homemaker, a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and attended Trinity Baptist Church. She also was a member of the Women of the Moose, Spokane Eagles Lodge No. 2, Grandma’s Club and Order of Eastern Star in St. Maries.
Survivors include her husband, Cecil; a daughter, Bonnie Billingsley of Wenatchee; two sons, Robert Jackman of Spokane and Jerry Jackman of Portland; two stepdaughters, Catherine Pence of Spokane and Maxine Trenbeth of Salem, Ore.; two brothers, Glenn and Frank Stratton, both of Idaho; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Kenneth Owen Spokane
Memorial service for Kenneth D. Owen, is planned for 10 a.m. today at Faith Bible Church. Burial was held at the Peone Cemetery. Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-North is in charge of arrangements.
A lifetime Spokane resident, Mr. Owen died July 28. He was 55. He graduated from North Central High School in 1961 and served in the Army from 1965 until 1967.
In 1968 he married Billie Fawver. He graduated from Spokane Community College in 1969.
Mr. Owen worked as a driver for Superior Fast Freight from 1974 until 1993. In 1994 he began working as a bus driver for the Mead School District.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Stefan Owen of Spokane; a brother, David Owen of Kodiak, Alaska; a sister, Linda Davis of Mead; numerous stepbrothers and stepsisters; and three grandchildren.
William Green Spokane
Funeral for William T. Green, 63, will be at 3 p.m. today at Sunset Mausoleum Chapel at Fairmount Memorial Park. Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
A lifetime Spokane resident, Mr. Green died Friday.
He served in the Marine Corps from 1953 until 1956, and worked as a warehouseman for a freight company for several years.
He was a member of Glad Tidings Assembly of God Church.
His wife, Patty, preceded him in death.
Survivors include two sons, Scott Piazza of Spokane and Troy Piazza of Phoenix; a sister, Jessie Groth of Moses Lake; and three grandchildren.
Mary Page Spokane
Funeral Mass for Mary Elizabeth Page, 73, will be at 10 a.m. today at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Inurnment will be at St. Joseph Cemetery in Trentwood. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Page, who was born in Birmingham, Ala., died Friday.
She moved to Spokane in 1949 and was a homemaker and a longtime member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Mrs. Page is survived by her husband of 54 years, Harold; two daughters, Patricia Power of Spokane and Pamela Parker of Pasco; a son, Harold Page of Mount Vernon, Wash.; two sisters, Bennie Jean Chambers of Birmingham and Martha Lage of Scottsdale, Ariz.; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Walter Bemis Spokane
No service will be held for Walter A. Bemis, 67. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
A 26-year Spokane resident, Mr. Bemis died Saturday. He was born in Spencer, Mass.
He graduated from David Proudy High School in Spencer. In 1949 he entered the Air Force. He served during the Korean War as a weapons mechanic.
Mr. Bemis worked for Beacon Sales Co. in Worchester, Mass., eventually becoming manager of the company.
In 1973 he moved to Spokane and began working as a sales representative for American Building Supply.
Survivors include a son, Walter Kittridge of Spokane; a brother, Paul Bemis of Otis Orchards; two sisters, Florence Loppes of Springfield, Mass., and Alice Gamboli of Weaverville, N.C.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Spokane.
Victor Anderson Spokane
Funeral for Victor E. Anderson, 84, will be at 9 a.m. today at Heritage Funeral Home.
Mr. Anderson, who was born in Spokane, died Friday.
He served in the Air Force during World War II and later worked as a mail carrier for the Postal Service. He retired in 1983.
In 1984 he married Martha Beard.
Mr. Anderson was a member of the Moose Lodge.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Brian Anderson of Clarkston, Wash.; a daughter, Vickie Anderson of Seattle; two brothers, Adolph Anderson of California and Wally Anderson of Spokane; and three grandchildren.
Iris Connors Spokane
Vigl for Iris A. Connors, 71, will be at 7 p.m. today at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home. Funeral Mass is planned for 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Aloysius Catholic Church. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Mrs. Connors, who died Friday, was born in Meerut, India.
She was a 31-year Spokane resident and worked as a conference coordinator in the banking industry for several years.
Mrs. Connors was a member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church and Altar Society, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary and St. Andrews Scottish Society.
She was one of the first female heart transplant recipients in Spokane.
Her husband, William Connors, died in 1972.
Survivors include two sons, Michael and James Connors; and two daughters, Linda Clawson and DeLores Kegley, all of Spokane; a brother, Thomas Laing of Edinburgh, Scotland; two sisters, Pearl Snell of Essex, England, and Daphne Laing of Cocoa, Fla.; nine grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sacred Heart Organ/Tissue Procurement Agency, 101 W. Eighth Ave., Spokane, WA 99220.
Eleanor Schmedding Spokane
Funeral Mass for Eleanor Schmedding, 83, was Monday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Otis Orchards. Burial was at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Trentwood.
Mrs. Schmedding, who was born in Butler, Mo., died Thursday.
She was a homemaker and a longtime member of St. Mary’s and St. Joseph’s Catholic churches.
Survivors include her husband of 64 years, Harry; two daughters, JoAnn Percy and Carol Olson, both of Spokane; four sons, Larry, David, Floyd and Steve Schmedding, all of Spokane; a son-in-law, Robert Reilly; 22 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and four step-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, or the Annual Catholic Appeal, P.O. Box 1453, Spokane, WA 99210.
Carl Wrenn Eloika Lake,
Burial for Carl Wrenn, 85, was held at the Linn Cemetery in Estacada, Ore. Mr. Wrenn, who was born in Culdesac, Idaho, died July 18.
He served in the Army from 1936 until 1939.
Mr. Wrenn worked as an immigration inspector with the Department of Justice. He worked out of the office in Northport, Wash., for many years and retired in 1972 He also lived in Spokane, Deer Park and Elk over the years. He moved to Eloika Lake a short time ago.
Survivors include a son, Russell Wrenn of Kettle Falls, Wash.; and a daughter, Linda Walters of Eloika Lake.