Hanford resident Woodrow “Woody” Harrell, 89, died April 12, 2007. Woody was born on June 9, 1917 in Tamms, Illinois to Minnie Beaty Harrell and Richard Harrell.
He was a Pearl Harbor Survivor, stationed aboard USS Tennessee (BB-43) during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He later retired from the US Navy as a Chief Boatswain's Mate.
He twice married Frances Vivian Bliner, on July 15, 1941, and on March 24, 1956.
Frances V. Harrell "Petie", 90, passed away February 6, 2009 of natural causes at the home of her youngest daughter in Olympia, WA.
Petie, an elder of the Skokomish tribe, was born in Comox, B.C. January 13, 1919. She was the fourth of five children born to John and Anne Bliner. She was a retired Teamster, yet continued to work at the Emerald Queen Casino until she was 88 years of age.
She was a thirty-plus year survivor of breast cancer.
Petie, a great-great grandmother, is survived by her three children, Leo W. Bliner (and wife Patricia), Louise M. Harrell, and Dickie A. Stenz (and husband Bill). She is further survived by eight grandchildren, Jolene Timmons, Sharlene Wagner, Karen Hartnett, W. Warren Robbins, Crystal Newman, Stephanie Smith, Autumn Robbins and Matthew Baker. She is survived by fifteen great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild soon to be born. She is survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her ex-husband Woodrow W. Harrell, sisters and brothers Edna, Horace "Buster," Mary, and Warren "Uncle Ducky."
She was married twice to Woodrow William Harrell, 15 Jul 1941 and 24 Mar 1956.
Dwight Donald Keegan, and his twin brother, Duane, were born on March 18, 1935, in Sioux City, Iowa. Dwight grew up on the family homestead in Wynot, Nebraska. Despite the hardship of the Depression, he fondly remembered the years farming with horses, caring for livestock, and the brisk walk to school in the harsh Midwestern winter.
In 1943, his family moved to Auburn, Washington, where Dwight graduated from high school. During these years, he was an active member of the Boy Scouts, Future Farmers of America, and the Washington Air National Guard. Inducted into the Air Force in 1951. Dwight served his country stateside at Edwards AFB, where he was an eyewitness to the "Quest for Space" and the original X-1 tests. Dwight married Elizabeth Twitchell on September 1, 1950. After his enlistment with the Air Force, the family returned to Auburn, where Dwight completed a machinist apprenticeship with the Northern Pacific Railroad. He worked as a machinist with the railroad and Boeing until he found an opportunity to purchase a farm in Soap Lake, Washington. In 1973, Dwight took a risk and moved the family to Alaska. In Alaska, Dwight found employment that he truly loved. Working the rest of his career as a diesel mechanic in Wrangell, Dwight found his niche and joy in this village community. On the night of November 23, 2018, Dwight passed away peacefully in his home in Butte Alaska, following a family Thanksgiving dinner. He is preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Myrtle Keegan; his brother, Robert Keith Keegan; his twin, Duane Ronald Keegan; and his infant daughter, Kathleen. Dwight is survived by his wife, Betty, and their five adult children. Dwight's life was one of service, hard work, and love for family and community. His legacy will live on in the hearts of those who knew him.
Former Wrangell resident Elizabeth "Betty" Ann Twitchell Keegan, 90, passed away on March 31 in Moses Lake, Washington, following complications of a stroke.
She was born April 19, 1932. As a child, Betty and her mother traveled the Lower 48 following Betty's father from Seattle to San Diego and Miami with stops in between while he served as a career sailor in the U.S. Navy. During World War II, Betty and her mother lived with her grandmother in Wilkeson, Washington, when her father fought in the Pacific Theater of the war. It was in nearby Auburn, Washington, where Betty met Dwight at a local skating rink, fell in love, and married in 1950. As a young family, the Keegans lived in several locations in Washington before buying a farm in Soap Lake, where they intended to settle down - "until the call of the north brought them to Alaska and their beloved Wrangell," her family wrote. Betty and her family moved to Wrangell in 1973, living here for 44 years. In Wrangell, she raised two daughters, worked at the Medical Center, and then later managed the Wrangell Senior Apartments. She was active in the Wrangell Community Church of God, was an avid reader, loved sewing, quilting, and gardening. "Betty and her husband enjoyed lunches at the senior center where they could partake in a warm meal and visit with friends. She adored her grandchildren and kept her door open for breakfast or afterschool TV and snacks." In 2017, Betty and Dwight moved to Palmer to live closer to their youngest daughter and great grandchildren. Betty is preceded in death by her 3-year-old daughter Kathleen (1956), and husband Dwight (2018.) She is survived by five children, she also leaves behind 20 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. "A small graveside service is planned on July 15 in Wilkeson, Washington, where she and her husband Dwight will end their travels."
Orlando William Burson, 94, a longtime resident of Ephrata, Washington, went home to be with his Lord Jesus Christ on Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018.
He was born in Glenwood, Iowa on March 29, 1924, to Denton and Leota Burson. Orlando graduated from Maryville High School in Maryville, Missouri. Orlando met the love of his life, Coleen Wiley, and they were married on Feb. 1, 1948, on the Wiley family home in Squalicum Lake, Washington. Orlando and his wife were married over 70 years and lived the majority of those years in Ephrata, where he worked as a route salesman for House Laundry and Drycleaning. Orlando and Coleen were members of Memorial Christian Church, where he served as a deacon for 50-plus years. Orlando had a positive impact on those who knew him. He modeled integrity, work ethic, and kindness, as well as many more qualities we could aspire to. He was a devoted family man, putting the needs of his wife and kids above his own. His faith and love of family were of most importance, and will be greatly missed. Orlando is survived by his wife, Coleen of Ephrata; daughter Orlanna (Dwight) Keegan of Chelan, Washington; sons, Larry (Rochelle) Burson of Queen Creek, Arizona, and Ronald (Kim) Burson of Colbert, Washington; brother, Robert Burson of Tarkio, Missouri; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, and two sisters.
Coleen Burson of Ephrata, WA went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday February 25, 2024.
Coleen was born to Dale and Ethel Wiley on June 8, 1925 in Pickering Missouri. She was united in marriage to Orlando Burson on February 1, 1948 in a small ceremony at her parents’ home in Sumas, WA. They spent the first year of their marriage in their home state, Missouri where Orlando worked as a farmer. They soon left the Midwest to be near family here in Washington, and in 1949 settled in Ephrata. Orlando and Coleen moved here in time to see most of the streets unpaved and witness the release of irrigation water to the Basin farmers. Orlando and Coleen were life members of the Memorial Christian Church, and a Godly example to us all. Coleen worked hard as a home maker and mother. Anyone who had the privilege of sharing a meal with Coleen would agree that cooking was her love language. For over 20 years she worked as the Avon representative to Ephrata Heights and family members. She always walked to her client’s homes and could daily be seen lugging her heavy sample bag around town. With the passing of Orlando in 2018, Coleen moved to live in Garden Oasis Assisted Living in Ephrata. There she found new family and old friends. She especially enjoyed the activities and gained a mountain of stuffed animals which she treasured. In Oasis she loved the staff and spoke adoringly of them to family. The five years she spent at Oasis and the following year in the adjoining North Wing were a time in her life when she received excellent, loving care. Coleen was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years. She is survived by her three children; Orlanna Keegan (Dwight) of Chelan, Larry Burson (Rochelle) of Queen Creek, AZ, and Ronald Burson (Kim) of Colbert, WA. She also leaves behind eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Coleen was a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Her family was her love and joy.
We make every effort to document our research. There is a lot of information that I do not have, and I know there are mistakes in this tree. My feelings will not be hurt if you give me corrections or additional information, especially if you can provide sources for the information.