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Dixie R. Smith
Former Toppenish resident Dixie Smith, 77, passed away October 19th at the Welcome Home Adult Family Home in Puyallup, Wash.
Dixie was born on October 23, 1932 in Buhl, Idaho to Fay Hunt and Nellie Mills. She spent her childhood in the small town on her parents’ farm with her five siblings. She was a compassionate sister and daughter, with an adventurous streak that sent her speeding up and down the back roads of Buhl in her 1938 Chevy Coupe. She loved her hardworking farm life and remained close to her family throughout her life.
After graduating from Buhl High School, Dixie met and married Darwin Smith in 1952. The couple moved to Toppenish, Wash., where Dixie raised her six children and was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
She lived in Toppenish for 55 years before moving in with her children, where she continued to dedicate herself to her church and to her ever-expanding family.
Dixie was someone who carried her loved ones on her shoulder. Forever thinking of others, there was nothing too small in the life of a friend to go unnoticed or uncelebrated. She saw beauty in everyone she met and was always the first to believe the best of others.
To all who had the blessing to know her, Dixie was a living reminder of the capacity that people have to love. She continues to be a testament to her friends and family of the strength and the innate kindness of the human spirit.
She is survived by her siblings Richard Hunt (Kimberly, Idaho), Duane Hunt (Paul, Idaho), Howard Hunt (Pocatello, Idaho), Helen Anderson (Buhl, Idaho), and Pauline Bigler (Snowflake, Ariz.); children K. Smith, Lucinn Steinmetz (Tacoma, Wash.), Patsy Bronson (Graham, Wash.), Janice Wentz (Yakima, Wash.), Jerri Thetford (Graham, Wash.), and Mitch Smith (West Linn, Ore.); 17 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at The LDS church in Toppenish on Monday, October 25th, at 10:00 a.m. Graveside service will follow at the Zillah cemetery. There will be a viewing on Sunday, October 24th, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the Valley Hills Funeral Home in Zillah.
Larry Wilder
Lawrence "Larry" Wilder, 70, of Yakima died Monday October 18, at home. Mr. Wilder was born in Yakima and served in the Army. He worked for PIE Trucking and Yellow Fright Trucking, and later as a transit driver for the city of Yakima.
Survivors include his wife, Arlene Wilder of Yakima; two daughters, Shelly Enstrom of Kirkland, Wash., and Penny Wilder of Everett, Wash.; two sons, Todd Bayles of Portland and Scott Bayles of Snohomish, Wash.; his mother, Mary Wilder of Yakima; a sister, Janet Long of Yakima; and six grandchildren.
Viewing will be from 1 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Valley Hills Funeral Home, Yakima. Graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Terrace Heights Memorial Park with a memorial service following at 11:30 a.m. at the Stone Church in Yakima.
Danny Shafer
Danny D. Shafer, 47, of Naches died Sunday October 17. Mr. Shafer was born in Yakima. He worked in the Valley as a heavy equipment operator.
Survivors include his wife, Fiona Shafer of Naches; a son, Dustin Shafer of Helendale, Calif.; a daughter, Danielle Shafer of Helendale; two stepdaughters, Teressa Drysdale of Naches and Brenda Cabana of Fort Leonardwood, Mo.; his father, Gerald Shafer of Yakima; his mother, Jennie Fought of Othello, Wash.; a brother, Monty Shafer of Othello; and one stepgranddaughter.
Private family services will take place later. Arrangements are by Valley Hills Funeral Home and Crematory, Yakima.
Carol Crawford
Carol Marie Crawford, 72, of Ellensburg died Sunday October 17 at home. Mrs. Crawford was born in Shelton, Wash. She worked as an office manager in the Vancouver, Wash., area.
Survivors include her husband, Jack Crawford of Ellensburg; two sons, Terry Crawford and Tim Crawford of Camas, Wash.; a daughter, Jackie Peebles of Ellensburg; two sisters, Linda Mathes of Vancouver and Pat Cole of California; and nine grandchildren.
A private family celebration of life will be held later. Arrangements are by Valley Hills Funeral Home and Crematory of Yakima.
Elida Guzman
Elida Guzman passed away on October 16, 2010 in Seattle Washington. Born October 30, 1957 to Tiburcio and Nestora Vela in Fresno California she traveled with her parents as a migrant worker across the United States eventually residing in Washington.
Elida met her husband, Armando Guzman in 1981 and they married in 1982. She was a homemaker and with her husband they worked together on the farms and had 3 sons. Elida loved her family and friends and enjoyed cooking and planting flowers. They lived in Zillah for over 30 years.
Elida was preceded in death by her son, Raul Guzman; sister, Maria Angela and her grandparents. She is survived by her parents; husband ,Armando Guzman; Sons, Rafael and Rodolfo Guzman (Zillah, WA); Brothers, Tiburcio Vela (Texas), Adan Vela (Mexico), Jose Angel Vela (Warden, WA) Rene Vela (Moses Lake, WA); Sisters, Ermila Martinez (Warden, WA) Consepcion Valdez (Warden, WA) Diana Vela (Moses Lake, WA) Adriana Mendoza (Corpus Christi, TX).
Recitation of the Rosary will be held 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 19, 2010 at Valley Hills Funeral Home in Zillah, WA. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday October 20, 2010 at the Resurrection Catholic Church in Zillah with burial following at the Zillah City Cemetery. Arrangements are in care of Valley Hills Funeral Home in Zillah.
Donald Middleton Sr.
Donald Lee Middleton, Sr. passed away peacefully after a long illness on Friday, October 15, 2010 where family surrounded him. Born June 2nd, 1930, he resided in Granger most of his life.
He was preceded in death by his wife Lois, son Joey, his parents Joe and Anna Middleton, three brothers and one sister. Survived by son Don Jr., daughters Diana Rick (Mike) Damascus, Oregon, Donnetta Derrey (Mike), Wapato, Debbie Anderson (Randy), Granger, grandchildren Derrick Middleton (Rose), David John Middleton, Christopher Mike Jr., Shane Rick, Mitchell and Molly Derrey, Jode Murphy (Quinn) and Amanda Anderson, great grandchildren Baylee, Jack and Miles Middleton, Makayla Middleton, Emily Rick and baby Murphy due November 23rd, sister Joanne Clayton and brother J.D. Middleton, both of Freemont, California.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Yakima Valley Regional Hospice. The family would like to send special thanks to nurse Karen Gamache and he staff at Yakima Valley Regional Hospice for their wonderful care. Also, a special thanks to brother-in-law Jack Zyph.
Lonnie Thomson
Lonnie Thomson, 55, passed away Wednesday October 13, 2010 at his home in Zillah. Lonnie was born August 21, 1955 in Toppenish Washington to Raymond and Ruby Thomson.
Growing up Lonnie and his older brother Terry moved around a lot with their parents, spending most of his childhood in Kelso, Long Beach and Ocean Shores, Washington before moving to Zillah in 1972. He went through his senior year at Zillah High School graduating in 1973. After graduating he moved back to the Kelso, Longview area where he worked in management for various retail stores. After that, he shoed horses during the summer until he moved back to the Yakima Valley in the late 1990’s.
After returning to the valley he lived with his Aunt Audrey and Uncle Johnny Walker on their ranch outside Toppenish where he was able to help out doing what he loved, working with and riding horses. He took a lot of pride in and loved being a cowboy, you never saw him without his cowboy hat & boots even up to the day of his death.
Lonnie was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother Terry, his aunt Audrey Walker and his uncle Cloice Purdy.
He is survived by two daughters Dana and Jennifer and his grandchildren, also his uncle Johnny Walker of Toppenish, aunt Frances Berg of Washington and his close friends Grant & Michelle Rhode of Toppenish and his dog Partner as well as numerous other aunts, uncles, & cousins.
At Lonnie’s request there are no services.
