06/23/09 Death Notices

Jimmy Albert

Jimmy Albert, 71, of Yakima died Monday at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital. Mr. Albert was born in Wapato and served in the Air Force. He worked as an automotive mechanic and owned and operated J & M Auto in Seattle before moving it to Yakima in 2002.

Survivors include his wife, Doris Albert of Yakima; a stepson, Rick Kautzman of Zillah; a daughter, Debbie James of Sea-Tac, Wash.; two stepdaughters, Kim Mittlieder and Sharon Rank of Union Gap; a brother, Terry Albert of Greensville, N.C.; three stepbrothers, Erman Evans of Orlando, Bill Evans of Alexander City, Ala., and Marvin Evans of Sea-Tac; two sisters, Goldie Sapp of Orlando and Linda Sandall of Yakima; 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to noon Friday at Valley Hills Funeral Home of Yakima. Graveside service will follow at 1 p.m. Friday in Tahoma Cemetery.

Timoteo Arriaga

Timoteo Arriaga, 83, died Saturday in Yakima. Mr. Arriaga was born in Real Del Oro Estado De Mexico. He was a painter most of his life.

Survivors include four daughters, Irma Valencia, Josefina Arriaga and Estella Villa of Yakima and Reyna Garcia of Calexico, Calif.; a sister, Conception Arriaga; and a brother, Octaviano Arriaga, both of Mexico; 22 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren.

Vigil service will be at 6 p.m. today at Keith and Keith Ninth Avenue Chapel. Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, Yakima.

Dixie A. Devine

Dixie Ann Devine, 67, of Yakima died Saturday at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital. Mrs. Devine was born and raised in Yakima. She had worked for the Kennewick School District, Ermey Vineyards, Underwood Veterinary Clinic, Motorola Service Center and Wellness House.

Survivors include her husband, Jim Devine of Yakima; two sons, Brennan Devine of Palm Springs, Calif., and Darin Devine of Yakima; a daughter, Kim Mauch of Toppenish; a sister, Donna Williams of Corte Madera, Calif.; a brother, Frank Williams of Brush Prairie, Wash.; and seven grandchildren.

Viewing will be from noon until 5 p.m. Sunday and 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Keith and Keith Ninth Avenue Chapel. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. June 30 at First Presbyterian Church.

James L. Ellinger

James L. Ellinger, 87, of Yakima died Monday at Landmark Care Center. Mr. Ellinger was born in Tacoma and served in the Navy as a pharmacist's mate during World War II. He worked as a pharmacist in Seattle, Moses Lake and then at Providence Medical Center for 11 years.

Survivors include a daughter, Suzann Noe of Yakima; four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Vigil will be at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. Paul Cathedral Chapel. Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, also at St. Paul. Inurnment will be in Holy Rood Cemetery in Seatle. Arrangements are by Valley Hills Funeral Home and Crematory of Yakima.

Virginia M. Green-Higginbotham

Virginia Mae Green-Higginbotham, 75, of Yakima died Sunday at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital. Mrs. Green-Higginbotham was born in Yellville, Ark., and moved to Yakima as a child. She worked as a paraprofessional at Garfield Elementary School, retiring after 24 years.

Survivors include her husband, William Higginbotham of Yakima; two daughters, Robin Easter of Yakima and Tina Duvall of Tollgate, Ore.; two sons, Philip Green and Robert Green of Yakima; her mother, Eunice Underwood of Yakima; a sister, Ann Hathaway of Yakima; a brother, Talmadge Underwood of St. George, Utah; eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Fifth Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1414 S. 72nd Ave., Yakima. Burial will follow in West Hills Memorial Park. Arrangements are by Langevin-Mussetter Funeral Home.

Walter R. Hunt

Walter R. "Walt" Hunt, 67, of Yakima died Wednesday at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital. Mr. Hunt was born at home in Cowiche and served in the Navy. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service in Yakima as a clerk, retiring after 30 years.

Survivors include a son, Dennis Hunt of Vancouver, Wash.; two daughters, Christina Brader and Michele Phelan of Selah; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday in Tahoma Cemetery. Those attending should meet at the cemetery. Arrangements are by Langevin-Mussetter Funeral Home.

Marion S. Johansen

Marion S. Johansen, 92, of Ellensburg died Saturday at Kittitas Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center. Mrs. Johansen was born and raised in Rush Point, Minn. She had lived in Minneapolis and California before moving to Ellensburg three years ago. While in California, she worked for the U.S. Postal Service.

Survivors include two daughters, Marjorie of Burlingame, Calif., and the Rev. Mary Johnsen of Ellensburg; two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at First Lutheran Church, 512 N. Ruby, Ellensburg, to be followed by a reception at 2 p.m. at Dry Creek Assisted Living. Inurnment will be in Minnesota. Arrangements are by Affordable Funeral Care of Ellensburg.

William E. Johnson

William E. "Willy" Johnson, 57, of Yakima died Sunday at home. Mr. Johnson was born in Denver and was a retired teacher, having taught at Adams Elementary School.

Survivors include his wife, Jana of Yakima; his mother, Elda Mae Johnson of Yakima; a son, Ryan Messer of Yakima; a daughter, Alicia Gagne of Prosser; and two grandchildren.

At his request, no formal service will be held. Arrangements are by Langevin-Mussetter Funeral Home.

Donald A. Kitting

Donald A. Kitting, 90, of Toppenish died Saturday at Summitview Health Care Center. Mr. Kitting was born in Portland.

Survivors include his wife, June of Toppenish; four children, Susan Adams of Henderson, Nev., Linda Thomson of Sun City West, Ariz., Michael Kitting of Toppenish and Judi Peterson of Newcastle, Wash.; two siblings, Jack Kitting of Damascus, Ore., and Barbara Huggins of Woodland, Wash.

A private family graveside service and memorial service will be held at a date to be announced. Arrangements are by Colonial Funeral Home of Toppenish.

Mary L. Lawson

Mary L. Lawson, 77, of Sunnyside died Saturday at Sun Terrace. Mrs. Lawson was born in Bentonville, Ark., and moved to Grandview in 1952.

Survivors include a son, John Lawson of Kennewick; a daughter, Marilyn Lawson of Grandview; and six grandchildren.

Graveside service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in the Grandview Cemetery. Arrangements are by Smith Funeral Home.

Ada D. (Wilson) Menard

Ada Dean (Wilson) Menard, 96, of Wapato died Sunday at Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center. Mrs. Menard was born in Tellico Plains, Tenn., and moved to Wapato in 1930. She worked for various businesses in Wapato, including Morgan's Grocery and numerous restaurants. She retired from Eakin Fruit.

Survivors include two sons, Bob Wilson and Bill Wilson of Yakima; 12 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and 27 great-great-grandchildren.

Viewing will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Merritt Funeral Home in Wapato. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday, also at Merritt Funeral Home. Burial will be in West Hills Memorial Park.

Francis E. Millay

Francis Ernest Millay, 92, formerly of Yakima, died May 30 in Spokane. Mr. Millay was born in Lewiston, Idaho, and served in the Army during World War II. He had a career in sales.

Survivors include a sister, Elsie Mann; and two daughters, Grace Millay Ott and Marjorie Millay.

A celebration of life will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Alwin Chapel of Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home, 1306 N. Monroe St., in Spokane.

Hector Sosa

Hector Sosa, 23, of Mabton died Saturday. Mr. Sosa was born in Mexico. He was working as an iron worker at Hanford.

Survivors include his parents, Carmen and Estella Sosa; his daughter, Amy Marie Sosa; his companion, Laura Ortiz; two sisters, Sara Sosa and Magaly Sosa; and two brothers, Omar Sosa and Gael Sosa, all of Mabton.

Viewing will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, with an evening service at 6 p.m., at Smith Funeral Home in Sunnyside. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Grace Brethren Church, 428 B St., Mabton, with burial to follow in the Mabton Cemetery.