Obituary: Eades, Elmer W.
Elmer was born in Endicott on December 19, 1924 approximately two years after his parents, Walter and Lillian Eades, moved from the Mesa, WA area.
The Eades family farmed at various locations in the St. John area until they purchased the Brandon farm in 1932.
That property became the Eades family farm for several decades and was operated by Elmer throughout his adult life until his retirement in 1990’s.
With the exception of one year, Elmer spent his retirement years as a revered member of the St. John community.
His countless friends and neighbors throughout the community as well as those he encountered in his travels will surely miss his delightful dry wit, sense of humor and a willingness to assist those in need.
Elmer spent his youthful years combating the playful antics of his older sister Bernice and in the company of his lifelong friend, Allen McSweeney.
Beginning in even their early preschool years, Elmer and Allen became notorious for adventurous and daring escapades.
From less than total success experimenting with Elmer’s hidden stash of roll-your-own tobacco to their exploits in rebuilding horse drawn buggies and later the same with Model T’s and Model A’s, Elmer and his buddy Allen always embraced adventure in all forms.
They became somewhat notorious around the area for exhibiting their skills in operating their vehicles at a high rate of speed, generating volumes of dust and much noise that often created a bit of apprehension in the local livestock population.
And all of this well before they were of legal driving age!
There were also great hunting exploits to be pursued in those early days and there wasn’t a squirrel, hawk or pheasant in the St. John region that could rest easy when Elmer and Allen were “on the hunt”.
The inseparable friendship bonds that were forged between Elmer and Allen endured throughout Elmer’s lifetime.
Highlights of his high school days included student body president and a member of the basketball team that earned St. John High School its first of eight Washington State Basketball championships in 1942.
After high school, Elmer continued his long association with and love of farming.
He operated the family farm with his father, Walter until his passing in 1966.
Thereafter, Elmer continued on the family farm where he became one of the most successful farmers in the region.
His work ethic was only surpassed by his generosity in assisting many others in need of assistance throughout his life.
Until the age of 37, Elmer was considered by many as one of the most eligible bachelors in the St. John region although Elmer had little time for such frivolousness.
By that time, he was the primary operator of the family farm, had started and operated Hi-Way supply, a commercial trucking business and became one of the area’s “go-to guys” to solve problems relating to most any type of mechanical equipment.
However, during his frequent visits to McSweeney Tractor Company, Elmer caught the eye of the company bookkeeper, Jean.
And the rest is history.
Elmer and Jean were married in 1962 and so ended Elmer’s bachelor days.
For nearly the next half century, the pair formed an inseparable team that managed the family farm and the trucking business.
Even with their heavy work demands, Elmer and Jean managed to work in recreation activities.
Most of those activities centered around their Priest Lake cabin, especially snowmobiling, fishing and hosting good friends.
They also traveled throughout much of the country including road trips to Alaska and Georgia as well as various ocean cruises and a vacation to Trinidad and Tobago in 1968.
Elmer leaves a legacy of generosity, selflessness and an exceptional work ethic which he consistently displayed throughout his lifetime.
Elmer was preceded in death by his beloved wife Jean and sister Bernice and is survived by step-son Randall Phelps, brother Richard Eades, nephews Scott Eades and Rick Eades.
A memorial service will be held in St. John at a later date that will be announced.
For further information, please contact Randy at 208-610-3872.