Obituaries

Grace McWilliams Worley, Idaho

Funeral Mass for Grace L. McWilliams, 82, will be held today at 10 a.m. at St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church in Worley. Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d’Alene is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. McWilliams, who was born in Bayonne, N.J., died Saturday.

She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Douglas College for Women (Rutgers University) in 1939 and worked as a psychiatric social worker for Marlboro State Hospital and Greystone Park Hospital in New Jersey.

In 1943 Mrs. McWilliams joined the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, which later became Women’s Army Corps, and was honorably discharged in 1946.

She worked for the Washington State Department of Public Assistance in Seattle from 1947-53.

Mrs. McWilliams married Lowell McWilliams in 1947; the marriage ended in 1959.

She received a masters of social work in 1961 from the University of Washington and worked at Children’s Home Society and Kline Galland Home for the Aged during graduate school.

She continued working at Kline Galland until 1965. She served on the staff at Family Counseling Service of Spokane and became executive director there in 1968 and served in that capacity until 1979. She began working at Children’s Home Society and retired in 1984. She later moved to Worley.

Mrs. McWilliams was a member of the Academy of Clinical Social Workers (ACSW), and was also an Alzheimer’s respite care volunteer.

During her career, she served as a field instructor for the UW School of Social Work, was treasurer for the Washington Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and president of the Immaculate Heart Retreat Center Auxiliary.

She was also active in needle arts, traveling, gardening, art and classical music, and was involved in marriage counseling and Parents Anonymous.

Survivors include three children, Peter and James McWilliams, and Janet Monaco; two sisters, Edith Klarman of New Hampshire and Mary MacDonald of Monaco; and several grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to St. Michael’s Church, c/o D. Van Trease, 22150 S. Lakeshore Drive, Worley, ID 83876, or Immaculate Heart Retreat Center, 6910 S. Benburr Road, Spokane, WA 99223.

Gladys Horn Spokane

Memorial service for Gladys Emma Horn, 82, will be at 2 p.m. today at the Northeast Community Center. Spokane Cremation and Burial Service is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Horn, who was born in Enterprise, Ore., died Saturday.

She graduated from high school in Salem, Ore., and in 1937 married Tyrus Horn.

During World War II she worked in the shipyards in Portland, and received a three-plate degree in welding.

Mrs. Horn and her husband lived in West Lynn, Ore., for 34 years.

As well as being a homemaker, she worked as a secretary for the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers Union in Oregon.

She moved to Snohomish, Wash., in 1977 and then to Spokane 19 years ago.

In the mid 1980s she began working for the Volunteers of America.

Her husband died in 1971.

Survivors include two sons, Tyrus Horn of Spokane and John Horn of Canby, Ore.; two daughters, Donna Burke of Greenacres and Lynda Ganos of Carson, Wash.; 13 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Bernell Sebby Spokane

Memorial service for J. Bernell Sebby, 83, will be at 3 p.m. today at Millwood Community Presbyterian Church. Thornhill Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Sebby, who was born in Fingal, N.D., died Sunday.

He received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from North Dakota State University in Fargo.

Mr. Sebby served in the Navy as an electronics officer aboard the USS West Virginia from 1942 to 1946.

He married Twilliwod Etheridge in 1948.

Mr. Sebby worked as a testing engineer for Westinghouse in Vancouver.

He and his family moved to Spokane in 1952 and Mr. Sebby worked for Bonneville Power Administration for more than 30 years. He retired in the 1980s.

He was a member of the Tau Delta Pi and Phi Kappa Phi fraternities, the Elks Lodge and the Millwood Community Presbyterian Church. He was past president of the Orchard Avenue Irrigation District.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Erik Sebby of Lynnwood, Wash.; a daughter, Kolleen Ledgerwood of Kennewick; a brother, Calmer Sebby of Valley City, N.D.; a sister, Evelyn Warner of Reno, Nev.; and two grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Millwood Community Presbyterian Church.

Loretta Bean Osburn, Idaho

Private family graveside service for Loretta G. Bean, 74, will be held at a later date at Greenwood Cemetery in Kellogg. Shoshone Funeral Service in Kellogg is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Bean, who was born in Lenore, Idaho, died Friday.

She moved to the Silver Valley in 1941 from Southwick, Idaho, and graduated from Kellogg High School in 1943.

Mrs. Bean worked for the Shoshone County Treasurer and Assessor’s offices.

She married Jim Bean in 1963; he died in 1982.

Survivors include two sons, Mike Biotti of Pinehurst, Idaho, and John Biotti of Clearfield, Utah; a daughter, Connie Lehtola of Grangeville, Idaho; a brother, Jim Southwick of Corvallis, Ore.; seven grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, PMB 134, 212 Ironwood Drive, Suite D, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.

Janet Parker Spokane

Memorial service for Janet Irene Parker, 70, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Heritage Funeral Home.

Mrs. Parker, who was born in Havre, Mont., died Saturday.

Her family moved to Spokane when she was a child. She graduated from North Central High School.

As well as being a homemaker, she had worked for the Spokane Press Club and for her husband, Albert, in his restaurant design business.

Mrs. Parker was a member of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary Post 45, where she also served as chaplain for three years.

Her husband died in 1985.

Survivors include her companion, O.T. Gullickson of Spokane; four daughters, Allyn Parker of Spokane, Peggy Parker of Deming, Wash., Merri Ann Allan of Calgary, Alberta, and Becky Parker of Olds, Alberta; her mother, Laverne Achen of Spokane; a brother, Lou Achen of San Diego; and four grandchildren.

Marjorie `Margo’ Gower Spokane

Memorial service for Marjorie Ann “Margo” (Rooney) Gower, 62, will be at 1 p.m. today at Fairmount Memorial Park. The Neptune Society of Washington is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Gower, who was born in Missoula, died Thursday.

She graduated from Marycliff High School in 1955, and in 1956 married Jim Gower.

Mrs. Gower received a bachelor’s degree in education from Eastern Washington University in 1972.

She taught for the Central Valley School District for 22 years, before retiring in 1994.

After retiring she and her husband moved to the home they had built on the Pend Oreille River. They moved back to Spokane last August.

Survivors include her husband; two sons, Greg and Brian Gower, both of Spokane; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Rita Holden Spokane

Memorial service for Rita Marie Holden, 73, will be at 9 a.m. today at St. Paschal’s Roman Catholic Church. The Neptune Society of Washington is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Holden, who was born in Seattle, died Sunday.

Her family moved to Spokane when she was a child, and she graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in 1943.

Mrs. Holden worked as a telephone operator for Western Union and later worked as a secretary for Medical Service Corporation.

She was a member of St. Paschal’s Catholic Church and T.O.P.S.

Her husband, Ray, died in 1992.

Survivors include two daughters, Jackie Yeager of Chattaroy and Pamela Beitel of Lincoln City, Ore.; a brother, Ashley Holden Jr. of Tonasket, Wash.; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paschal’s Catholic Church.

Melvin Lee Spokane

Memorial service for Melvin E. Lee, 70, will be at noon today at the Colville (Wash.) City Park. Thornhill Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

A lifetime Spokane resident, Mr. Lee died Saturday.

He served in the Navy during the Vietnam War, and later worked as a logger.

He was a member of the National Rifle Association.

His wife of 32 years, Johannah, died in 1994.

Survivors include three stepsons, Tony Lee of Spokane, Kelly Lee of Vancouver, Wash., and Grant Lee of Germany; a stepdaughter, Georgie Hartwig of Kettle Falls, Wash.; a sister, Marilyn Kilgore of the Seattle area; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Margaret Severson Spokane

Memorial service for Margaret Severson, 84, will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Fourth Memorial Church. Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Severson, who was born in Fairmount, Minn., died Sunday.

She was a 55-year Spokane resident.

Mrs. Severson worked as a secretary for the Spokane Guilds’ School.

After retirement, she and her husband, R.B., spent the winter months in Arizona.

She was a member of Fourth Memorial Church.

She is survived by her husband of 58 years.

Memorial contributions may be made to Fourth Memorial Church or the Riverview Care Center’s Eden Program.

Wendell `Wink’ Casper Priest River, Idaho

Graveside inurnment for Wendell Lee “Wink” Casper, 61, will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Evergreen Cemetery in Priest River. ShermanKnapp Funeral Home in Newport, Wash., is in charge of arrangements.

A longtime Bonner County resident, Mr. Casper died Saturday. He was born in Cushing, Okla.

In 1979 he married Kathy Watkins and they lived in Laclede, Idaho, for 18 years.

He owned and operated Wink’s Barber Shop in Sandpoint.

They moved to Priest River in 1997, where he owned and operated another barber shop. He also had worked as a carpenter and contractor.

Mr. Casper was a member of the Newport Eagles Lodge.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Greg Casper of Spokane and Larry Casper of Cuba; three stepdaughters, Jennifer Park of Spokane, Rebecca Casper of Post Falls and Kimberly Pate of Hayden Lake, Idaho; his parents, Elma and Leon Pizzolato of Sagle, Idaho; a brother, Phil Pizzolato of Laclede; and six grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to a local hospice organization.

Larry Hooper Spokane

Memorial service for Larry C. Hooper, 72, will be at 5 p.m. Thursday at the family home. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

A lifetime Spokane resident, Mr. Hooper died Monday.

He served in the Army during the Korean War.

Mr. Hooper worked in the wholesale department at Standard Oil for 20 years. He retired in the 1980s, and worked for a short time in the inventory department for the state of Washington at Spokane Falls Community College.

Mr. Hooper was a member of St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church.

Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Clareen; a daughter, Kara Contonio of Spokane; a brother, Robert Hooper; and a grandson.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Spokane.

Hazel (Ringenbach) Watson Blanchard, Idaho

Service for Hazel Clara (Ringenbach) Watson, 85, will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Newport (Wash.) Assembly of God Church. Burial will follow at the Blanchard Cemetery. Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home in Newport is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Watson, who was born in Ferndale, Wash., died Sunday.

She graduated from Cleveland High School in Seattle, and in 1932 married John Watson.

They lived in Seattle and moved to Richland in 1944. In 1977 they moved to Blanchard.

Mrs. Watson was a homemaker.

Her husband died in 1996.

Survivors include three sons, John Watson Jr. of Blanchard, Timothy Watson of Seattle and Auggie Watson of Alberta; three daughters, Betty-Ann Barley of Blanchard, Grace-Ellen Dolly of Seattle and Jo-Anne Miehn of Cranbrook, British Columbia; two brothers, Richard and Doug Ringenbach, both of Auburn, Wash.; three sisters, Mina-Lynn Ringenbach of Olympia, Delores Nason of Brier, Wash., and Ruby Gordon of Texas; 14 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.