Leola Swearingen, 86, of Kamiah passed away, Sunday, June 23, 2019 at Grangeville Health and Rehabilitation Center Minnie Leola Swearingen was born May 9, 1933, to Charles and Clara Hill James in Little Rock, Washington. At the age of 16 her father took a logging job in the Clearwater Valley. The family moved to a cabin on 6 Mile creek just outside Kamiah. Leola meet John Elvin Swearingen and a year later they were married. Leola was a dedicated wife and mother. While John worked she took care of the family and home. They moved several times over the years but always remained in the Clearwater Valley. Leola enjoyed fishing and being in the outdoors. She was a great cook and was known for her homemade bread. But most of all, she loved her family, children and especially her grand-children. One of her favorite things was to give the grandkids their first bath in her tub. She is loved and will be missed by all her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband John Elvin Swearingen, a son Larry Swearingen, her sister Winnie Swearingen and her parents. She is survived by her sister Ona Burnside, two sons John (Karen) Swearingen and David (Joann) Swearingen, two daughters Judy (Mike) Swearingen and Shirley (Chris) Rieger, and many Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren. Viewing will be 1:00pm – 2:00pm Saturday June 29th 2019 at Trenary Funeral Home in Kooskia. The Graveside Funeral Service will be 3:00pm Saturday June 29, 2019 at Pinegrove Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.trenaryfuneralhome.com Arrangements have been made through Trenary Funeral Home of Kooskia
Archives for June 2019
Jesse E. Weddle
On Thursday, June 20, 2019, Jesse E. Weddle, passed away at the age of 77 losing his battle with cancer. He was the loving partner to Patsey Carpenter and a father to three children. Jesse was born July 26, 1941 to Woodrow “Pete” and Mildred Weddle in Safford, AZ. He was the eldest of five children. The family moved to Idaho in 1959. Jesse married Shirley Jean Rogers on September 3, 1965. They had three children, Shannon, Jesse Jr. (Sonny) and Sheryl. They later divorced. Jesse served in the National Guard 1963-1969. He spent his early years in the logging industry as a sawyer cutting down big timber, he loved the woods and took pride in teaching others the industry. He purchased his first log truck in September 1991 from Dan Eller. Jesse and Patsey started J and P trucking. He retired January 23, 2004. Jesse had a passion for fishing, hunting, gold mining and watching old western’s on TV. He and Sonny loved watching PBR and talking about it after each episode. Anytime he could spend time in the great outdoors, he took advantage of it. In His later years he enjoyed spending time at Sonny’s Ranch. Jesse was preceded in death by his parents Woodrow Pete and Mildred Weddle, and his step sister Jane Eller. He is survived by his long time partner Patsey Carpenter, three children Shannon Snyder, Sonny Weddle and Sheryl Schilling (Stevie Schilling), two step-children Mike and Sam Havard, 9 grandchildren, two brothers, Terry Weddle (Tooele, UT) and Lavelle Weddle (Kamiah), two sisters, Linda Scheibe(Troy, Id) and Dianna Chamberlin (Queen Creek, AZ). Two step brothers Don and David Weddle (Arizona), one step sister Ann Gardner (Idaho). Jesse has a big family with many nieces, nephews and cousins. Services will be held at Noon, on July 6, 2019, at The Life Center, in Kamiah. Dinner and stories to follow at Sonny’s home in Winona. Condolences can be left at www.trenaryfuneralhome.com
Leola Swearingen
Leola Swearingen, 86, of Kamiah passed away Sunday, June 23, 2019, at Grangeville Health and Rehabilitation Center. Funeral Service will be held Saturday June 29, 2019. The Viewing will be 1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. at Trenary Funeral Home in Kooskia. The Graveside Funeral Service will be at 3:00 P.M. at Pine Grove Cemetery. Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of Trenary Funeral Home.
Jesse Weddle
We will be Celebrating the Life of Jesse Weddle, Saturday, July 6, 2019 at Noon at The Life Center in Kamiah, Idaho.
Barry Seth Thompson
Barry (Bear) Thompson passed away June 4, 2019 at his home in Kooskia. He was born Oct. 5, 1960 to Francis Truman and Janice Wileen (Muhs) Thompson in Wallace. Idaho. He graduated high school in Wallace. He then moved to Garden City, Kan. for a brief time before moving to the Kooskia area. He worked for the YCC program shortly before beginning a long career for the Forest Service. He began working for the Clearwater National Forest in 1981 on the Lochsa Ranger District then went to the Powell District. He moved on to the Nez Perce National Forest and finished his career on the Moose Creek Ranger District. He started as a wilderness trail crew member and moved up the ladder, finally retiring as a district trails specialist in 2012. After retiring he also worked hunting seasons for Ritchie Outfitters as a camp cook/tender and a mule babysitter. He married Julie Dawkins in 1988 and they had a daughter named Christina. Bear and Julie were later divorced. Bear had a love for animals. He was an avid gardener with a green thumb and loved canning. He would can hot peppers and asparagus and enjoyed giving them all away. He was also an excellent cook whether in the backcountry or a kitchen. He had a kind heart and would go out of his way to help someone. He is survived by his daughter Christina Thompson, her partner Gary, and his granddaughter Lily. Bear was preceded in death by his brother Jeff Thompson and his parents. He will be cremated and a gathering of family and friends will be held at a later date this summer. Happy trails Bear and we will see you on the other side of the pass.
Alyce Mae Murphy
Alyce Mae Murphy of Kooskia passed away Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 of cardiopulmonary arrest. She was 77. She was born Feb. 5, 1941 in Bowbells, N.D., to Richard Finley Dodge and Edith Augusta Rogers. Alyce attended school in Great Falls, Mont. She married Robert Reginald Murphy and worked at many jobs as they traveled to different states, though the job she liked best was modeling for department stores before her marriage. She is preceded in death by her parents Richard and Edith, her husband Robert, grandparents David and Rebecca Dodge, and Westley and Dena Rogers. Alyce is survived by son Michael (Janis) of Tacoma, Wash.; daughters Barbara Murphy of Tacoma and Roberta (Jonathan) of Seattle, Wash.; brother Ervin (Cindy) Dodge of Stevensville, Mont.; sisters Sharon Dodge of Great Falls, and Gloria (Keith) Flugstad of Kooskia; uncle David Jr. (Hazel) Dodge of Sparks, Nev., and numerous cousins, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Services will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 15, at Pine Grove Cemetery in Kooskia. Trenary Funeral Home of Kooskia is assisting the family.
David “Buzz” Michael Raynor
David “Buzz” Michael Raynor was born, July 17, 1942 in Sandpoint, Idaho, to Guy and Louise Raynor also of Sandpoint. David passed away May 30, 2019 at the home he shared with his sister, Sandra, in Nezperce, Idaho. David was preceded in death by his Wife, Susan, his Mother, Louise Davis, his Father, Guy Raynor, his Sister, Linda Coleman and his Nephew Michael Baker. He is survived by his Sister Sandra Dulgar, Niece Rebecca Hammond, Nephews Don Baker, Rick Coleman and David Coleman, 14 Nieces and Nephews and numerous great nieces and nephews. David “Buzz” got his nickname from his baby sister, Linda, who couldn’t say “brother”, but made do with “Buzzer”, and so it became Buzz. Buzz joined the Army in 1958 and was Honorably Discharged in 1962. He subsequently and recently joined the American Legion here in Nezperce, Idaho. He spoke of his admiration for all they do for service men and women and their families. Buzz was also a thirteen-year Friend of Bill W. and spoke of his gratitude for all that this has meant to him over the years. “Buzz” was a bit of a modern day Renaissance man in that he could do almost anything. He was a logger, ranch hand, carpenter and all around construction worker, auto mechanic, roofer, painter, poet, writer, crafter of jewelry, art painter, amateur geologist and knowledgeable lover of all kinds of music. He had no children of his own and so especially treasured his relationships with his multigenerational family, especially the little ones. He relished and treasured his friendships from long ago and those he made here in Nezperce, especially his relationships with Fred and MaryAnn Hess. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. A memorial service will be held Sunday, June 16, 2019 at 3:00 P.M., at the American Legion Hall in Nezperce, Idaho. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to Syringa Hospice in Grangeville, Idaho. Their care of Buzz was amazing and very needed.
Donald Roy (Bud) Chambers
Donald Roy (Bud) Chambers was born to Roy and Gladys (Bovey) Chambers on February 9, 1928 in Lewiston, Idaho. He graduated from Reubens High School in 1945. He served in the U.S. Army in 1945-46. On June 14, 1947 he married his high school sweetheart Maxine Stellyes in Portland, Oregon. They lived on the family farm near Reubens until 1962 when they moved to Grand Canyon, Arizona where Bud began a career with the National Park Service. After Grand Canyon they subsequently lived in Page, Arizona; Grand Tetons National Park, Wyoming; Medora, North Dakota; and Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona. After retiring to Rimrock, Arizona they moved back to Idaho to live near Kooskia. Bud died peacefully in his home near Kooskia on May 30, 2019. He is survived by his five children: daughters Peggy (Fred) Udall, Kathy Herndon, and sons Jim (Karma), Bill (Cindy), and Andy (Angie), as well as 22 grandchildren, 46 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. A son Mick died in 1978. Funeral service will be held at Good Hope Lutheran Church near Gifford, Idaho at 1:00 P.M., on June 8, 2019. Reverend Val Beesley will preside. There will be no graveside service. Trenary Funeral Home in Kooskia is assisting the family.
Wayne Grogan
Wayne Grogan, 73, of Kamiah, died May 28, 2019 at Clearwater Valley Hospital in Orofino, Idaho. Wayne was born on July 11, 1945, in Mineral Wells, Texas to his parents George and Dorothy Grogan. However, he viewed his stepfather Donald Sparks as his father figure. He admired and loved his parents deeply. He graduated from high school and then enlisted in the Navy. During his service he earned the navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for service in the Vietnam War, and the National Defense Service Medal. On April 30, 1971, he married Peggy Simmons in Lewiston, Idaho. Together they raised four beautiful children together: Michael, Michelle, Mark, and Matthew Grogan. During this phase of his life, he worked as a Sales Manager, Sales Representative and Long-Haul Truck Driver. His favorite pass times were Scouts, art, computer programming, woodworking, listening to music, and researching his family’s genealogy. However, he also loved to build, paint and help others. His lifelong dream was to have a family and get to watch his children and grandchildren grow. Wayne’s love for his family and children was always present and often presented itself through personal sacrifices of time and not fulfilling his own material desires. Peggy and Wayne divorced in 2009. On August 17, 2010, Wayne married, Blessilda “Bless” Virrey Bolanos in Orofino, Idaho. They resided in Kamiah, Idaho with their dog Max. In the almost nine years of marriage they explored the Northwest, took walks and bonded over a cup of coffee or meal. He also spent time in the Philippines bonding with Bless’ family. During this phase of his life, Wayne spent time expanding his family research and creating a website: http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~mwgrogan/geneaology/index.html. He loved to tinker, yard sale and baby a variety of items from tents to movies. He spent hours telling stories about his children and grandchildren to those he was friends with and cherished every minute he was able to be in the same room with them. Wayne is survived by his wife Bless, son Michael and wife Nicole, daughter Michelle and husband Cody, son Mark and his wife Heather as well as his son Matthew and his wife Staci. He also is survived by his two grandchildren Realynn and Collin. A memorial potluck will be held on June 8th from 11:30 am-2:00 pm at the Life Center in Kamiah on Highway 12. The family welcomes all who know the family. A prayer will be given at noon followed by a slideshow that will play throughout the luncheon. Trenary Funeral Home of Kooskia is assisting the family.