Obituaries
Catherine Roche Coeur d’Alene
Mass of Christian Burial for Catherine Mary Roche, 89, will be Monday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Coeur d’Alene. Burial will follow at St. Thomas Cemetery. English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene is in charge of arrangements.
Ms. Roche, a lifelong Coeur d’Alene resident, died Wednesday.
She attended school at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy, graduating in 1924. She later went to work for Montgomery Ward, where she worked for more than 50 years before retiring in 1971. She continued to work for the company part time after her retirement.
Ms. Roche was a charter member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas and served as past president of the Retail Credit Association. She was a member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club, the Credit Women’s Breakfast Club and the American Contract Bridge Club. She was a lifelong member of St. Thomas Catholic Church.
Ms. Roche was once recognized by the Coeur d’Alene mayor as Senior Miss Coeur d’Alene for a Day.
Survivors include three nieces, Agnes Roche of Seattle, Marilyn Frei of Royal City, Wash., and Theresa Ruscio of Spokane; four nephews, Pat Roche of Seattle, Terry Roche of Bainbridge Island, Wash., Jim Richardson of Oregon and Kevin Roche of New York City.; five grandnephews and two grandnieces.
Gertrude Johann Moscow, Idaho
Viewing for Gertrude Louise Johann, 94, will be held today from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Short’s Funeral Chapel in Moscow. Vigil service will be Sunday at 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Moscow. Funeral Mass will be Monday at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s. Burial will follow at the Moscow Catholic Cemetery.
Mrs. Johann, who was born in Thorncreek, Idaho, died Wednesday from complications following a stroke.
She grew up in the Thorncreek area and attended country school. She later cooked for harvest crews before moving near Genesee, Idaho.
Mrs. Johann later moved near Moscow and helped operate the family farm. She was also a bee keeper and raised canaries.
She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Mrs. Johann was preceded in death by her husband, Ben, in 1993.
Survivors include two daughters, Rita Neely of Moscow and Arleen Thornton of Lewiston; one brother, Joseph Sprenger of Genesee; one sister, Cecilia Johnson of Spokane; eight grandchildren, three stepgrandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Jean Davidson Spokane
Memorial service for A. Jean Davidson, 77, will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home.
Mrs. Davidson, who was born in Roundup, Mont., died Wednesday.
She was a 52-year Spokane resident and worked as a registered nurse.
She was a volunteer for many years with Volunteers of America Crosswalk, Hospice of Spokane and Cancer Patient Care.
She is survived by three daughters Barbara Lindgren of Rochester Hills, Mich., Ginny Monroe of Spokane and Jan McGee of Sacramento, Calif.; one brother Robert Clinton of Jamestown, N.D.; five grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Memorial contributions may be made to V.O.A. Crosswalk, 525 W. Second, Spokane, WA 99204.
John Gaffney Sprague, Wash.
Rosary service for retired farmer John Michael Gaffney, 81, will be at 7 p.m. Sunday at Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church in Sprague. Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the church, with burial at the Maccabee Cemetery in Sprague. Danekas Funeral Home in Ritzville, Wash., is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Gaffney was born on the family farm near Sprague. He died Wednesday from cancer.
He entered Gonzaga Prep when he was 11 and graduated in 1930. He later attended Gonzaga University and graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.
He married Betty Clare Brislawn in 1940 in Sprague. They moved to Seattle that year and to Portland in 1941. In 1943 they returned to Sprague and took over his family’s farm in the late 1940s. He farmed until he retired in 1984.
Mr. Gaffney served as a director for the Edwall Grain Growers from 1965 to 1979 and was a trustee for Lincoln Electric Co-Op for more than 33 years.
He was a member of Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and the Sprague Grain Growers.
His wife died in January.
Survivors include two sons, Mike and John Gaffney Jr., both of Spokane; four daughters, Anne Machala of Cupertino, Calif., Mary Jaggars of Athena, Ore., Maureen McDonough of Ontario, Ore., and Kathleen Gaffney of Seattle; one brother, Leonard Gaffney of Spokane; three sisters, Bernice Reilly and Beatrice Orchard, both of Spokane, and Rosemary Marto of Chicago; and 10 grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church Steeple Fund.
Crawford Brown Spokane
Memorial service for Crawford A. Brown, 89, is planned for 2 p.m. today at Rockwood Manor. Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-South is in charge of cremation.
Mr. Brown, who died Monday, was born in Carlton, Neb.
He had owned International Fuel, Bonners Ferry Sawmill and Royal Fuel.
He had lived in Spokane since 1936 and was a member of Manito Lions Club and Manito United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Sue Brown; two sons, Joe and Jeffrey Brown, both of Spokane; one daughter Betty Sue Adams of Walla Walla; two sisters, Iona Wabaunsee of Minnesota and Mary Laflen of Missouri; 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Health Care Center at Rockwood Manor.
Gretchen Walden Spokane
Memorial service for Gretchen M. Walden, 83, will be at 1 p.m. today at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-South is in charge of cremation. Inurnment will be at Republic (Wash.) Cemetery.
Mrs. Walden, who was born in Marcus, Wash., died last Saturday.
She grew up in the Northport and Republic, Wash., areas.
She had worked for the Forest Service in the Colville National Forest at the Columbia Lookout.
In 1959 she moved to Oregon with her husband, Edward Walden.
They moved to Spokane in 1980. Her husband died in January.
She is survived by one son, George Walden of Republic; one daughter, Patricia Gendron of Kent, Wash.; one brother, Paul Hill of Hemet, Calif.; and one sister, Eva Christenson of Ajo, Ariz.
Alden Graves Seattle
Service for Alden J. Graves, 82, is set for 10 a.m. today at Heritage Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Riverside Memorial Park.
Mr. Graves died Wednesday in Seattle, where he had lived since 1989. He was born in Rhinelander, Wis.
He moved to Spokane with his family in 1928 and graduated from North Central High School.
He worked for Nalley’s Inc. until 1942, when he entered the Army and served with the 11th Armor Division.
He later worked for the Manito Post Office and retired in 1981.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Beulah; two sons, John Graves of Spokane and Lon Graves of Ridgecrest, Calif..; two daughters, Beverly Hamilton of Federal Way, Wash., and Linda Johnson of Kirkland, Wash.; one sister, Eunice Newcomb of Spokane; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association or to the National Organization of Rare Diseases, P.O. Box 8923, New Fairfield, CT 06812-8923.
Elaine (Imus) Holt Parowan, Utah
Memorial service for Elaine (Imus) Holt, 46, was held in Parowan.
Mrs. Holt died May 23 at Red Cliffs Convalescent Center in St. George, Utah, from lymphoma cancer. She was born in Spokane.
She graduated from University High School and Eastern Washington University.
She had worked in the display advertising department of The Spokesman-Review until 1988, when she moved to Utah.
She is survived by her husband, John Holt; two sons, Andrew and Benjamin Holt, both at home; three stepsons, John Holt Jr., at home, and Daniel and David Holt, both of Alaska; her father, Keith Imus of Spokane; and one brother, Romaine Imus of Tacoma.
Frances ‘Francie’ Morissey
Spokane Service for Frances M. “Francie” Morissey, 55, is planned for 11 a.m. today at St. David’s Episcopal Church. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Mrs. Morissey, who died Wednesday, was born in Plains, Mont.
She moved to Spokane after graduating from high school in Hot Springs, Mont. She worked for Medical Service Corp., and married Dennis Morissey. Mrs. Morissey worked as a liaison teacher for Spokane School District 81 and was a member at St. David’s Episcopal Church.
She is survived by her husband of 33 years; one son, Shawn Morissey of Spokane; one daughter, Shannon Billeter of Spokane; her mother, Marie Muster of Spokane; one sister, Marlene Muster of Spokane; and one grandson.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. David’s Episcopal Church.
Steve Decker Moses Lake
Memorial service for Stephen F. “Steve” Decker, 40, will be at 9:30 a.m. today at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Moses Lake. Kayser’s Chapel of Memories in Moses Lake is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Decker, a former Coeur d’Alene and Spokane resident, died Wednesday. He was born in Coeur d’Alene.
He graduated from high school in Coeur d’Alene.
He married Kristy Hjort in 1975 in Coeur d’Alene, where they lived until moving to Spokane in 1984.
In Spokane, he co-owned and operated Inland Foundry. He sold that business and moved in 1990 to Moses Lake, where he built and co-owned D&L Foundry. Most recently he owned and operated Back Country RV in Moses Lake.
He was a board member of the Coeur d’Alene Public Golf Course, the Moses Lake Golf and Country Club, and Ducks Unlimited.
He is survived by his wife of 21 years; one daughter, Stephanie Decker, and one son, Rob Decker, both at home; his mother and stepfather, Connie and Jack Prosser of Hayden Lake, Idaho; two brothers Robert and Michael Decker, both of Pritchard, Idaho; and his grandparents, Bob and Mavis Ross of Coeur d’Alene.
Gladys Stoll Newport, Wash.
Memorial service for Gladys M. Stoll, 90, was Friday at Newport Hospitality House.
Mrs. Stoll, a 19-year Newport area resident, died Sunday. She was born in Cashmere, Wash.
In 1928 she married Harvey Stoll. They farmed at Pease Bottom in Montana for many years and also lived in Cook City, Mont.
Mrs. Stoll was a member of the Newport Senior Citizens’ Center and the Newport Quilters.
She is survived by her husband; two sons, Raymond Stoll of Kent, Wash., and Robert Stoll of Laurel, Mont.; two daughters Judy Rexford of LaSalle, Colo., and Linda Bergerson of Oldtown, Idaho; 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Newport Senior Citizens’ Center.
, DataTimes