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Joe Herrera
Our beloved father, Joe Herrera, passed away early Friday morning after a short and courageous battle with lung cancer. Dad was in the presence of family at the time of his passing.
Joe was born on December 25th 1926 in Casper, Wyoming to John and Ruth Herrera. He was one of seven children. When Joe was a teenager his family moved from Wyoming to the Yakima Valley. It was there that he met and married Bernice Pino Herrera. Joe and Bernice lived in Toppenish and settled in Zillah to raise their family Joe, Jim, Sandra and Steven.
Joe often reminisced about the olden days and how tough it was. Mom and dad often used to compare notes on their experiences about his time in Wyoming, the people they knew and the in hospitable winters. Joe's strong work ethic began as a young man when he worked in the beet fields. Calling in sick was not an option when you supported a family back in those days. He took those early work lessons with him and applied them to 40 years of construction work. Dad had many colorful stories about his work life. Construction work lead him on a journey where he worked on many of the dams in Oregon and Washington and finally Hanford. Joe worked as a sand blaster, a foreman and general foreman at Hanford where he supervised and coordinated the pouring of cement. Dad's supervision skills were well known and respected. He was known to be tough, demanding, and ornery as the day is long but one you wanted on the job.
After a very successful (40 year) career, Joe retired to work on his many interests and hobbies. He loved to work on his yard, play Yahtzee with mom, walk, have coffee with his buddies, and watch old movies (the Cutting Edge was his favorite). He was the prime benefactor of mom's cooking. Mom could cook and dad could put it away! Dad was an extrovert that had no trouble finding people to talk with. He was always an upbeat and positive man that never complained. Above all, Joe's greatest interest and greatest love was his family. Anything that involved his family was when he was at his happiest. He especially enjoyed when the entire family vacationed together at the Oregon beach. He loved the beautiful views, laughter, teasing, good food, and time spent together. Words cannot describe how much he was loved and will be missed.
Survivors include three sons, Joe (Debbie) Herrera of Redding CA, Jim (Kathy) Herrera of Olympia WA, Steven (Teresa) Herrera of Yakima WA; a daughter, Sandra Herrera of Yakima WA; six grand children Rachel Herrera, Jennifer Herrera, Melissa Herrera, Nick Howle, Lisa Howle, Isabella Herrera; seven great grand children Damon Herrera, Winter Baker, Lillian Struble, Gabrielle Herrera, Matthew Phipps, Austin Phipps, Logan Phipps; one brother John Herrera: five sisters Mary Leija, Ramona Del Villar, Shirley Padilla, Henry Alvarez and Ruth Juarez.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 10-5pm at Valley Hills Funeral Home in Zillah. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008 at 10:00am at Resurrection Catholic Church in Zillah. Burial will follow in the Zillah Cemetery.
Roy Carl Ettlin
Roy Carl Ettlin, 73, of Yakima passed away Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at home.
Mr. Ettlin was born August 21, 1935. He served four years in the U.A. Air Force. He later joined the Army National Guard where he served for 20 years, retiring as a Tech Sergeant.
He is survived by his wife, Karen of Yakima and a daughter, Debbie Ettlin of Omaha, NE.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Gene Hauver
PORTLAND, OR - Gene Hauver, 81, of Grandview, passed away in Portland, OR following a short illness. Gene was born in Phillipsburg, Kansas on March 8, 1927 and moved to Prosser, WA in 1936. He attended various schools in Washington and graduated from Yakima Senior High School. He worked at Valley Iron Works part time while attending High School.
Gene served in the U.S. Navy, and on June 22, 1956 he married Rita Temple in Yakima, WA. In 1966 they bought a farm in Grandview, raising cows, calves and alfalfa. Son Gary took over the work on the farm a few years ago. Gene also worked at Hanford, first with J.A. Jones, then General Electric, and finally retired from Battelle N.W. in 1988. Gene was a very hard worker, a loving husband to Rita, and a devoted father to Glen and Gary. He loved his family ver much, helping them in any way he could, teaching them what he had learned.
Gene is survived by his wife Rita, 2 sons, Gary (Lorena) Hauver, and Glenn (Cheryl) Hauver, all of Grandview, WA. He is also survived by 4 grandchildren, Alan, Aric (Brooke) Christy, P.J. (Tiffeny) and Jenna Rose and great-grandchildren: Phenex, Cannon, Carter, Chloe and Autum. He was preceded in death by his parents, 3 sisters and one brother.
Memorial services for Gene Hauver will be held at Valley Hills Funeral Home, Sunnyside on Saturday, October 25, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.
Rodolfo R. Bass
TOPPENISH - Rodolfo Rolando Bass Sr., 76, our beloved father and grandpa departed from this earth and made his journey into heaven this past Tuesday evening in the presence of his family at Toppenish Community Hospital.
Rodolfo Rolando Bass Sr., of Toppenish was born in Nueva Rosita, Mexico, September 11, 1932 to Armandina Hernandez and Cornelius Bass. Rodolfo entered the United States December 8, 1953 with his wife, Maria Bass, and his mother, Armandina. He worked the fields of Idaho, California, and Washington. In 1967 he settled down in Harrah. There he raised his eight children and later, his grandchildren. Rodolfo continued to work in the fields until 1987. He then worked for AlWood components until his retirement in 1995. Rodolfo was a very hard worker and enjoyed the presence of his family. He loved to tease his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His personality and humor will be deeply missed. His values and beliefs are instilled in the lives he touched.
Rodolfo is survived by his sons; Armando Bass of Texas, Rudy Bass of Harrah, and Albert Bass of Zillah, daughters; Mercedes (Herminio) Cervantes of Toppenish, Frances Perez of Harrah, Rosemary (Juventino) Romero of Zillah, Mary Bass of Wapato, Lupe (Roy) Anderson of Yakima, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his loving wife; Maria, mother; Armandina, step-father; Jose Benevidez, and father; Cornelius.
His family would like to thank the staff at Toppenish Nursing and Rehab Center for his care. At his request, there will be no formal services but instead a grave site gathering at a later date for close family.
The family has entrusted Valley Hills Funeral Home and Crematory with funeral arrangements. You may send condolences to the Bass family at valleyhillsfh.com.
John Wesley Bunyan
John Wesley Bunyan, 67, of Selah died Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008 at home.
Mr. Bunyan was born and raised in Los Angeles and served in the Navy during the Vietnam War. He came to the Selah area in 1984, where he worked as a self-employed truck driver.
Survivors include a son, Christopher Lee Bunyan of Selah.
At his request, no formal services will be held.
Valley Hills Funeral Home of Yakima is in charge of arrangements.
Edna I. Nance
Edna I. Nance, 72, of Yakima died Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at Garden Village.
Mrs. Nance was born in Kennewick. She worked as a hairdresser, first at Summitview Manor for about three years, and then at Golden Eagle Retirement Home for 20 years. She later owned and operated a house- cleaning business.
Survivors include her husband, Charles Nance of Yakima; a daughter, Rebekah Nance of Yakima; a brother, Chuck Clapp of California; and three sisters, Esther Young of Yakima, Carol Smith of California and Dorothea Gerlitz of Canada.
A memorial service is pending at the Kingdom Hall of the Jehovah's Witnesses, 96th and Summitview avenues, Yakima.
Valley Hills Funeral Home and Crematory, Yakima, is in charge of arrangements.
Leo Gene Kelley
Leo Gene Kelley, 81, of Toppenish died Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008.
Mr. Kelly was born in Ryder, N.D., and came to the Yakima Valley in 1947, settling in Toppenish. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Hazel Kelley of Toppenish; two sons, Kim Kelley of Granger and David Hoyt of Richland; two daughters, Kathleen Skaug of Soap Lake, Wash., and Jayne Hoyt of Zillah; a brother, Richard Kelley of Toppenish; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct.25 in Terrace Heights Memorial Park. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Valley Hills Funeral Home of Zillah.
