6B
| April 12, 2017
ThE mineR
obits: From Page 5B
to use one of his many talents to help someone else whether it was a family member, a friend, or a complete stranger. Red is survived by his loving wife Christine, the love of his life with whom he was married to the last 49 years; his son Kevin Huggins (Michelle), daughter Tina LaVille (Don); his five grandchildren that he was so very proud of: Bethany, James Kaehlin, Aiden, Garrett and Abby; three sisters, two brothers their spouses and numerous nieces and nephews.
James E. “Jim” O’Neill Newport
James E. “Jim” O’Neill was born May 29, 1930, to John W. and Helen O’Neill in Millbury, Mass. Jim passed away peacefully in O’Neill Newport, on April 5, at the age of 86. In his early years he set his sights on moving to Alaska and made it as far as Eastern Washington with his wife Beth and daughter Micki in 1955. Jim spent the rest of his interesting life in Pend Oreille County. Jim supported his family of six children by snow plowing for the state highway system, working as a cattle breeder and milk tester, co-owning a real estate agency, and his true love, farming and ranching.
He married his wife Mary and they farmed 157 acres near Furport for 36 years. Jim is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Barb. He is survived by wife Mary at home; sisters Fran and Sis; children Michelene (George) Weisbarth, Robin (Gary) Wright, Heidi (Marc) Genty, Duane (Barb) O’Neill, Shaun (Bryce) Mideke, and Darin (Argentina) O’Neill. Jim was Grandpa to 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Jim loved to spend time bowling and playing golf with his friends and shooting pool at the American Legion Hall in Cusick. A celebration of Jim’s life will be held on June 24, at the American Legion Hall in Cusick. In lieu of flowers please direct memorial contributions to The American Legion Hall Post 217 in Cusick. The family would like to thank all of the people that cared so diligently for Jim, especially daughters Shaun and Micki and their spouses, as his health declined. Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home in Newport is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.shermanknapp.com.
Pearl Wilson Cusick
Althea Pearl (Porter) Wilson was born Sept. 13, 1928, in Beulah, N.D.
to Jessie (Haas) Porter and Hobart Judd Porter. She was the oldest of four children, the other three being identical twin brothers Wilson Kenneth and Keith and sister Alice Marie. She passed away April 4, 2017, at Hospice House North. She was 88. The family moved from North Dakota to Spokane, in 1936. They lived for a short time in Metaline. Pearl graduated from Libby Junior High in 1944 and Rogers High School in 1947. On Aug. 24, 1947, she married Ray Howard Wilson at Grace Lutheran Church in Spokane. To this 54-year marriage four sons were born: Paul R., Robert J. (Jimmy), Keith W., and David H. Pearl and Ray lived at various times in Spokane, Lind, Wash., Springdale, Wash., Cheney, Wash, Cusick and moved to Bond Road in Pend Oreille County in 1955, where she lived at the time of her passing. Pearl was a very talented and active individual who loved to crochet, knit, cook/bake, can, flower/vegetable garden, read, do cross word puzzles, dance. Many members of her family and extended family have received something that she had made or raised with her own hand. Pearl was all about family. She could give you the
names and birthdays of grandchildren, greatgrandchildren, nephews and nieces, cousins and second cousins and there are many. Pearl worked at several jobs through the years including the Triple X Drive-In, where she was a carhop, bookkeeper for her husband’s Aluminum Box Co., Cross Roads Café as a waitress and Key Tronic Corporation assembling keyboards. She volunteered her time over the years as a school board member, Grange member, 4-H Leader, Food Bank volunteer and Legion Auxiliary member. However she excelled at being a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend. Pearl loved her neighbors on Bond Road, and her many friends from the library and the Loosely Knit Group for whom she was always baking a cake. Pearl was preceded in death by her parents Judd (1970) and Jessie (1994); husband Ray (2001); son Jimmy (1963); and brothers Keith (1952), and Kenneth (2011). Pearl is survived by her sister, Alice Gingrich (Richard) of Spokane; sons Paul Wilson (Diane) of Newport; Keith Wilson of Cusick, and David Wilson (Shannon) of Cusick; grandchildren, Brad Wilson (Jenny) of Chelan, Wash., Penny Longshore (Jason) of Spokane, Christy Johnson (Scott)
of Boise, Sarah Sirott (Mike) of Spokane, William Wilson (Heather) Columbia Falls, Mont., Jessica Bezanson (John) of Cusick, and James Wilson (Ashley) of Cusick. Great grandchildren: Connor & Isaac, Chelan, Wash.; Spencer, Spokane; Tyler and Emily, Boise; Blake and Olivia, Columbia Falls, Mont.; Sawyer and Aspen, Cusick, and Cali, Cusick; sisters-in-law, Betty Kallas, Hoquiam Wash., and Ruth Brown Corvallis, Mont., and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. April 14, at Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home and Crematory, 423 W. 2nd St., Newport, WA. A reception and luncheon will follow immediately after at the Usk Community Center, 2442 Black Road, Usk. Memorials in Pearl’s name may be made to the Cusick Library, Usk Community Club or Cusick Food Bank. Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home in Newport is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.shermanknapp.com.
Leslie B. Mattoon Spokane
Les B. Mattoon, 81, passed away March 30, 2017, at Park Place Assisted Living after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease. Les
was born in Gouverneur, N.Y., Aug. 7, 1935. He joined the Marines at age 17 and during his 20-year career in the Armed Forces, he had also served in the Army, Air Force, and Navy. When Les retired from the military, he moved to Cheney to attend Eastern Washington University where he met and married his wife Mavis. Les and Mavis lived outside of Cusick and then in Newport for more than 35 years. He will be remembered by his long walks in the woods, the strong love he had for Mavis, and his appreciation for solitude and his fondness of practical jokes. He is survived by his wife Mavis; his son, Christian Hayasako residing in Japan; Mavis’ five children: Cliff Adams, Dave Adams, Anita Filliger, Eileen Lopeman and Lee Adams; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; a sister, Lois Virkler; and nieces and nephews from all over the world. Les requested that there would be no service; his memory lives on in the hearts and minds of those he touched with his loving spirit. We will always remember Les’ ready smile and generous heart. See ya around Sgt. Smiley. Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home in Newport is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.shermanknapp.com.
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