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Charles Esparza Jr.
Charles Esparza, Jr. passed away January 8, 2011 at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital. Charles was born in Los Angeles, CA on February 21, 1945, but lived in Yakima most of his life.
Charles had three great loves in his life: his family, his friends and Ringside Boxing Club that he started and ran for 15 years. He loved the club, the kids and people he met while running it. He remained close to many of them even after he had to close his club because of his health.
Charles is survived by his loving wife, Betty; his three daughters, Connie (Bob) Jensen, Monica (Gary) Fenn and Cindy Esparza; nine grandchildren, Rory, Jens, Chantal, Zachary, Michael, Daniel, Ryan, Geno and L.J.; two great-grandchildren, R.J. and Ryder; and three sisters, Jane Razote, Sally Thomas and Rosie Franco.
He will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him. A celebration of life will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, January 14, 2011 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 705 S. 38th Ave., Yakima. WA.
Alice Louella Glore
Alice Louella Glore, 90, of Yakima died Friday, January 7, 2011 in Yakima.
Mrs. Glore was born in Ahtanum. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include three daughters, Jerry Ann Langston of Moxee, Judy Lynn Wimber of Idaho and Jeanie Sue Glore of Yakima; four grandchildren and nine-great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Terrace Heights Memorial Park. Arrangements are by Valley Hills Funeral Home of Yakima.
Gail Darwin Shewmaker
Gail Darwin Shewmaker, 66, of Union Gap died Thursday, January 6, 2011. Mr. Shewmaker was born in Yakima. He was an owner of Shewmaker, Olsen and Sanford Metal Fabricators. He later worked for Chain and Gear, Michelson's Packaging and Edwards Equipment.
Survivors include a son, Richard Shewmaker of Union Gap; two daughters, Kim Cowles of Yakima and Terry Brenneman of Republic, Wash.; two brothers, Dale Shewmaker of Yakima and Duane Shewmaker of Sedro Woolley, Wash.; two sisters, Mildred Kraus of California and Donna Buchanan of Missouri; and three grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held at a later date. Arrangements are by Valley Hills Funeral Home and Crematory of Yakima.
Nathan "Ev" Jenkins
Nathan "Ev" Jenkins, 83, of Selah died Tuesday, January 4, 2011 in Yakima.
Mr. Jenkins was born in Spokane. He worked for JJ Welcome as a heavy equipment mechanic, and then at the Wenas Cemetery.
Survivors include two daughters, Linday Shehan of Seattle and Suzy Moran of Lynnwood, Wash.; and a son, Edward Jenkins of Florida.
A graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Monday in the Wenas Cemetery. Arrangements are by Valley Hills Funeral Home and Crematory of Yakima.
Alan Leydig Matson
Alan Leydig Matson, 84, passed away suddenly on January 3, 2011. He was born in Yakima, Washington, on March 29, 1926, to Roger Emmanuel Matson and Catherine Alice (Leydig) Matson, the second of four sons.
Al was raised on the family fruit ranch in Selah Heights and graduated from Selah High School. From a young age he enjoyed fishing, going to the mountains, horses, cars, and being a member of various clubs. He enlisted in the United States Navy three weeks after his 18th birthday in 1944 and proudly served his country in the Pacific aboard the USS Shields. He attained the rank of Petty Officer 3rd Class and received the Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign, American Area Campaign, World War II Victory and Philippine Liberation medals by the time of his honorable discharge in June 1946.
Following his military service, Al returned to Yakima where he attended junior college then transferred to the University of Washington to study business administration. Al was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Fraternity. He went on to work in management positions in the fruit industry and in the construction industry. He belonged to too many clubs over the years to list and was active as a community volunteer for many decades. He was an avid reader, a patron to northwest artists and travelled extensively. All of his life, Al remained a supporter of our personal rights to access our public lands.
Al loved to ski, and was one of the founding members of White Pass Ski Company. He was also an avid Jeeper and snowmobiler, being among the founding members of the Washington State Snowmobile Association and Pacific Northwest Four Wheel Drive Association, and a plank member of the Ridgerunners, the “World’s First Jeep Club.” He was fondly known as “Magoo” by his many friends, and both White Pass and Goose Prairie were very close to his heart. He made dozens of road trips with either his “mouse house” or snowmobile trailer in tow.
Al was preceded in death by his parents, his grandparents, S.A. and Emily Matson and Jonathan and Suzanna (Nix) Leydig, his brother and sister-in-law, Keith and Mary Ellen, his niece Jeanne, nephew David, and great-great-nephew Micheal.
He is survived by his brothers and sisters-in law, Marc and Dorothy, and Paul and Joyce, of Selah, his nieces and nephews, Tim, Jon, Lyn, Suzie, Chris, Roger, Mike, Janet, Beth, Dee, Terri and Doug, as well as numerous great-nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews. He is also survived by many good friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for Thursday, January 13, 2011, at 11am, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Selah with graveside services following at Terrace Heights Memorial Park. A time of viewing will be offered just prior to Mass at the church. A reception will follow at the church.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to a charity of your choice.
Fred H. Koekkoek
Frederick (Fred) H. Koekkoek, 90, of Zillah went to be with his Savior, whom he loved all his life, on Monday, January 3, 2011 at Toppenish Nursing and Rehab.
Born in Zillah, January 5, 1920, to Fred and Lena Koekkoek, he attended Zillah Schools graduating in 1938. After graduation, he worked as a farm laborer in various orchards alongside his dad. On December 31, 1941, he enlisted in the Army Air Corp, serving as a mechanic overseas for 6 months. After excelling at a typing test, he was transferred to office work. When he was discharged in 1945, he entered J.M. Perry Institute on the G.I. Bill and received degrees in Electronics and Refrigeration. While working at Stokley Van Camp, he used his God-given talents, opening his own business, Fred’s T.V., from which he never really retired.
Fred loved singing, music, and as part of a mixed quartet, he sang at many church functions, and was a life-long member of Faith Community Church in Zillah. He also loved Country/Western and Gospel Music and would play his guitar for family. He enjoyed camping, rock hunting, and tinkering with televisions and radios. Most of all, he loved time spent with his family. He will always be remembered as someone selfless with his time, ready to lend a hand whenever his family needed help.
He is preceded in death by his 1st wife, Fannie, an infant brother, Harold, his son, Ron, and granddaughter, Tara Lynn. He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Beverly, sister, Leitha Bol, brother, Arnold (Carol) Koekkoek, daughters: Sandra Nugent, Nancy (Earl) Holden, step-children: Ralph (Ann) Van Winkle, Barbara (Jim) Halversen, Glen Van Winkle, Roy (RaMona) Van Winkle, 7 grandchildren, 8 step-grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, 10 step-great grandchildren, and many other loved ones.
Visitation will be 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Friday, January 7, 2011 at Valley Hills Funeral Home in Zillah. Funeral Services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 8, at Faith Community Church in Zillah with graveside following. Valley Hills Funeral Home in Zillah is in care of the arrangements.
Memorials may be given to Faith Community Church and Union Gospel Mission.
