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Skagit River Journal

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Biographies and obituaries of Skagit county
Pioneers and their descendants: M

Continually updated, last time: May 17, 2011
      You will find the type of story in brackets [ ] behind the file link. (Bio) indicates a Journal story link. (Obit) leads to an obituary on this page. If you have suggestions for people you want to read about, please email us and we will add them to the list. Meanwhile, just click on the link and it will take you to the obit for each person, along with our notes, if we have more information, or a link to another page that will tell you more about him or her. Please note that if a woman was the descendant of a pioneer family, her link will be listed under the first letter of both her maiden name and her married name at the time of her death. And please email us if you have family memories or copies of documents or photos you would like us to include. We never ask for your originals.
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(Plumeria)
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Florence [maiden Richford] Marihugh, Sterling
Sedro-Woolley Courier-Times, Oct. 20, 1938
      A host of sorrowing friends gathered in the Lemley chapel on October 17 to pay final tribute to Florence Richford Marihugh, pioneer resident of this city and wife of Lloyd Marihugh. She died in the Memorial hospital last Thursday night after a long illness. The Rev. Arthur Sanford, pastor of the Baptist church, and members of the Rebekah lodge conducted the services, following which the remains were cremated at Bellingham.
      Earl Webster, Earl Clinchard, Lester Finsen, Victor Brown, Carlson Carsten and Ray Thompson served as casketbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Mrs. Hattie Brown, Mrs. Alma [Sapp] Fender, Mrs. Ellen Carsten, Mrs. Ethel [Van Fleet] Harris, Mrs. Adeline Finsen and Mrs. Lillian Clinchard.
      Florence Richford Marihugh, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. James Richford, founders of the Sedro-Woolley greenhouses, was born at Sterling on May 29, 1898, and with the exception of a few years in Seattle, had spent all her life in Skagit county. She is survived by her husband, Lloyd Marihugh, two sons, James and Lloyd Jr.; a daughter, Rose Marie; a sister, Mrs. Charles Leidl of Berkeley, Calif., and three brothers, Cecil and Guy Richford of Seattle and Royal Richford of Vancouver, B.C.
      Mr. and Mrs. Marihugh have operated a neighborhood grocery store and service station on State street in this city for a number of years [in 2003 it is the Handy Mart on State street]. The sympathy of the entire community is with Mr. Marihugh and family in their great bereavement.
      Ed. note: Florence's father was the brother of blacksmith George Ratchford and theirs is the strangest sibling story of early Skagit county. For the strange story of how James's name changed from Ratchford to Ritchford to Richford, see this website.
      Florence's husband, Lloyd Lester Marihugh, was the descendant of Bayview pioneers; he was the son of Clarence Arthur Marihugh, 1871-1945; grandson of Silas Wright Marihugh, 1845-1913; great-grandson of Russell Marihugh of Ohio, 1810-80. Lloyd's son, Lloyd Jr., is still living and quite interested in genealogy, as is his son, Jim Marihugh. We hope that a reader will have more information about the combined family so that we can share it with them.
(Henry Martin)
Henry Martin
Henry Martin, Illabot creek
Concrete Herald, August 2, 1951
      Death closed the long and interesting life of one of the last of the original upper valley settlers last Thursday when Henry Martin died at the home of this son in Vancouver, Washington. Mr. Martin was born in [1860] and in 1889 poled a canoe up the Skagit river to homestead at Illabot Creek. He lived on this homestead and raised his family there, leaving it only the past year to make his home with his son Fred. He had been ill for the past three months.
      Mr. Martin's story of the early days is well known by his many friends in the valley and was a feature of the recent historic edition of the Herald. He was a wonderful character, whose pioneer spirit did much to develop the upper valley all through his active life. Needless to say, his passing was a great loss to the valley and to his hundreds of friends.
      He is survived by five daughters, Mrs. Mabel Pressentin of Marblemount, Mrs. Ed Pressentin of Rockport, Mrs. Evelyn Powell of Hamilton, Mrs. Marie Ryan of Bellingham and Mrs. William Hudson of Seattle; three sons, Fred Martin of Vancouver, Rod and Jerome of Port Angeles; 21 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
      Funeral services were held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sedro-Woolley Monday morning. Requiem Mass was conducted by Rev. Father Murtaugh of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Seattle, formerly of Sedro-Woolley and a long-time friend of Mr. Martin.
      Pallbearers were six grandsons: Jack Hudson, Bruce Pressentin, Fred Martin Jr., Robert Swettenam, Robert Ryan and Richard Brinck. Honorary pallbearers were the other grandsons: Martin Pressentin, Norman Pressentin, William Swettenam, Warren Pressentin, Bernard Pressentin, Kenneth Martin, Harry Martin, Jay Martin and Pat Martin. Rosary was held at the Lemley Mortuary Sunday evening. Burial was made at the Sedro-Woolley cemetery.
(Katherine Martin)
Katherine Martin
Katherine [maiden O'Connor] Martin, Illabot creek
Concrete Herald, July 23, 1937
      Sunday morning [July 19, 1937] at her home at Rockport put a close the interesting and active life of Mrs. Katherine Martin, pioneer of the upper valley and wife of [Henry] A. Martin, one of the first settlers on the upper Skagit. Mrs. Martin had been ill for several months, so while her death was not unexpected it was with deepest regrets that here hundreds of friends learned of her passing. She leaves her husband and nine sons and daughters, with 23 great grandchildren.
      Funeral services for Mrs. Martin were held Wednesday from the St. Mary's Catholic church in Sedro-Woolley with Rev. Father [Murtaugh] conducting the services. Rev. Trunet of Anacortes assisted by singing high requiem mass. The services were attended by throngs of friends. Hundreds of floral offerings attesting their love for the deceased. Active pallbearers were the six oldest grandsons, Warren and Vernon Pressentin of Marblemount, Norman Pressentin of Rockport, Billy [Swettenam] of Hamilton, Jay Martin of Marblemount and Bernard Pressentin of Bellingham. Honorary pall bearers, representing the pioneer families of the upper Skagit, were Thomas Thompson of Marblemount, Jake Stafford, William Porter and Carl Olson of Rockport, Ed O'Brien and Otto von Pressentin of Concrete, P. v. Pressentin of Alger, Albert Bingham, Dave Donnelly, Pat McCarthy and Max Stafford of Sedro-Woolley, Verne Brannigan of Mount Vernon and Percy Heal and Eli Heaton of Bellingham. Following the services, interment was made in the Sedro-Woolley cemetery.
      Mrs. Martin was born Katherine O'Connor in New Brunswick, Canada, Feb. 20, 1858. While still a resident of that locality she met and married Henry Martin, soon afterward moving to Minneapolis. In 1889 they came west and were among the first settlers in the upper Skagit. Their first trip from Mount Vernon to their new home at Rockport was made in an Indian canoe. They built a home and remained to watch the country grow to its present state. During the passing of years nine children were born to them.
      Four years ago Mr. and Mrs. Martin celebrated their golden Wedding Anniversary at their home on Oct. 9 and at that time old friends from all over the state visited them. Sons and daughters of the respected pioneer couple are Fred Martin of Rockport, Roderick and Jerome Martin of Port Angeles, Mrs. Frank Pressentin of Marblemount, Mrs. Ed Pressentin of Rockport, Mrs. Thomas Ryan of Vancouver, Mrs. Harry Swettenam of Hamilton and Mrs. William Hudson of Seattle.
James H. Mathews, Utopia
Unknown newspaper, Sept 13, 1926:
      G.A.R. members and other friends of James H. Mathews, old soldier and pioneer resident of Skagit county, who died at his home here on Monday at the age of 82 years, attended funeral services for him which were held here yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Baptist church. The Rev. Guy W. Jones had charge of the services at the church, and the G.A.R. conducted services at the Union cemetery where interment took place. Mr. Mathews, who was born on September 8, 1844, at Chittenango, N.Y., came to Skagit county 20 years ago and has made his home here since that time. He was married twice, having three children, Will Mathews, Ray Mathews, and Mrs. Ethel Clifton all of Los Angeles, by his first wife Mary Peck, and two children, Josephine and Helen Mathews of this city, by his second wife Allie Everett Summers, who died about ten years ago. [Submitted by his daughter Helen Burns and granddaughter Lorna Marks.]
Carol (Wigner) McCann, Sedro-Woolley
Born in Seattle, WA on Mar. 22, 1947 . . . Departed on Aug. 25, 2006
(Carol McCann)
      Carol McCann let go of life and its fight against her on Friday, August 25, her 39th Wedding Anniversary. Her husband and family were with her in body and spirit. She was 59 years old.
      Carol was born March 22, 1947, in Seattle, WA, the daughter of Wilbur and Bertha (Mannikko) Wigner. She grew up in Mount Vernon and graduated from Mount Vernon High School with the class of 1965. She married William R. "Bill" McCann on August 25, 1967.
      Carol loved Sedro-Woolley and she loved to teach. She raised three children here, and made it her home for over 31 years. She taught English, speech, service learning, and various other courses over the course of her 19 year teaching career. Seventeen of those years were spent at the school she loved most, Sedro-Woolley High School. She was totally involved with her community, but family, education, and her students were her main purposes in life.
      Carol graduated with her Associates' Degree from Skagit Valley College. Her energy and drive helped her complete her bachelors' degree at the age of 39 in 1986 from Western Washington University. She began teaching right away, and continued her education, earning her masters' degree from WWU in 1990. Proving she was a life-long learner, in 2005, she earned her prized National Board Teacher Certification. Her work with education provided her numerous opportunities to participate in conferences, panels, and committees.
      Carol leaves behind a family who misses her more than words can say. She is survived by her husband and soul mate, Bill McCann of Sedro-Woolley; her daughter and son-in-law, Whitney and Tony Meissner, and her grandchildren, Jack and Molly, of Port Ludlow, WA; her daughter Betsy McCann of Mount Vernon; her son Geoffrey McCann of Sedro-Woolley; two sisters and brothers-in law, Nancy and Ed Skay of Mount Vernon, Kate Wigner and Stuart Harpel of Camano Island; a brother and sister-in-law, Bill Wigner and Bonnie Yeager of Sedro-Woolley; her mother-in-law, Gladys McCann of Sedro-Woolley; brothers and sisters-in-law, Robert and Barbara Sofferman of Colchester, VT, James and Judie McCann of Burlington and James and Nancy Rickey of Grapeview and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles. She was preceded in death by her parents, Wilbur and Bertha Wigner, and her father-in-law, Dr. Joseph McCann.
      A Memorial Celebration of her Life will be held Sunday, September 3, 2006, at 2 p.m. in the Sedro-Woolley High School Auditorium with Pastor Wendy Tingley of Trinity United Presbyterian Church officiating. Donations in her honor may be made to the Carol S. McCann Memorial Scholarship in care of the Sedro-Woolley Rotary Club, PO Box 726, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.
Journal Ed. note:
      The Sedro-Woolley School District has lost one of the finest teachers in its history. To me, Carol McCann ranks right up there with Mary Purcell, Betty McLean, Ruth Harms, Bernie Leaf, Alcina Harwood and Kathy Reim, teachers who had an impact on their students many years after graduation. Carol started teaching when she was almost 40 and she always felt she had a lot of time to make up for. In fact, she was a student teacher for Kathy Reim when she prepared to be a teacher, herself.
      I got to know Carol well when I returned to Sedro-Woolley in 1992. Bill and I were classmates at the high school and acted in plays together in the auditorium that has been restored and will be the site of a tribute to her. Carol asked me for suggestions on how to reinvigorate interest in her students about area history. It was always a pleasure to visit and guest-lecture for her classes, where the students were bright, attentive and very interested in the subject because Carol convinced them how important history is to their lives. She had several rules and a philosophy that her students got to know well after being in her class. She used to say that to know a subject is just a small part; to imagine what can be done or what can learned is most important. And she put in many hours with her "at risk" students who had the hardest time in school. She told her students that, in order to respect and admire others, you have to learn to respect and admire yourself.
      I am still in shock about her passing. And my heart goes out to Bill, who has truly lost a soulmate, in the deepest meaning of that word. Anyone who knew Carol can remember how much she talked about her family and how proud she was of them. Carol and I had discussed earlier this summer a series of projects to follow up on this school year. I strongly urge you to visit the Lemley Chapel website and record your thoughts for Bill and their three children and her siblings. And nothing would be more fitting than donations to a scholarship fund set up in her name. She will be missed.
Wyman D. McClintock, Sedro-Woolley
Sedro-Woolley Courier-Times, Nov. 19, 1964
      Wyman McClintock, well known Sedro-Woolley merchant, died suddenly [Nov. 15] at his home near Big Lake, following a heart attack. He was the proprietor of McClintock's Drug Store, which he started in 1934. He was born at St. Ignace, Michigan, on Aug. 21, 1889 [the year that Washington became a state]. He graduated from McGill University and came to Sedro-Woolley in 1919. He worked for some time in the woods and then purchased an interest in the Rex Drug Company in 1922. He moved to California in 1925 and lived there for nine years. He returned to Sedro-Woolley in 1934 and started his drug store.
      He was married to Catherine McIntyre of this city in 1927. He served in the Army in the First World War. McClintock was a member of the Masonic Lodge for fifty years; a member of the Shriners Club; charter member of George Baldridge Post, American legion; member of the Sedro-Woolley Rotary club; member of the BPOE [Elks], No. 1604, of Mount Vernon; member of the Presbyterian Church of Chico, California; and a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity.
      Funeral services were held at the Lemley Mortuary on Tuesday afternoon followed by cremation at Hawthorne Lawn Crematory, Mount Vernon. Rev. Carlos Shafer, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, officiated at the funeral service.
      He is survived by his wife, Catherine; a daughter, Mrs. George Hass of Pullman; two grandchildren, George E. Hass and Wyman D. Hass of Pullman. The family requests that remembrances be in the form of donations to the United General Hospital Pioneer Guild.
      Honorary pallbearers were as follows: Dr. G.A. Jones, Porter LaPlant, Dr. Joe McCann, Laurence LaPlant, Dr. Robert B. Hunter, George hammer, P.A. Stendal, Frank Evans, Carsten Carlsen, A.H. Ward, W.A. McLean, George Johnson, Charles Bingham, Fred Butler, Ray M. Couch, Ernest Jones.
      Active pallbearers were Robert Allen, Gordon Dewey, Hugh Ridgway, Douglas Robinson, Jack McIntyre and Bud Leaf. Mrs. George Miller was organist at the service and Mrs. George Bellos, soloist.
      Ed. note: It is hard to imagine a more representative "fun couple" here in mid-century than Wyman McClintock and Catherine McIntyre. Catherine and her pal Emma Ridgway were the leaders of Sedro-Woolley High School in 1921, seemingly running everything and renaming the annual the "Kumtux." In the roaring 1920s they headed off to Columbia University together, living in New York's Greenwich Village during the post-war intellectual rebirth. Wyman returned from California in 1927 and married Catherine in Seattle.
      When they moved back to Sedro-Woolley in 1933, Wyman instantly became a leader in business. After the C.J. Brier company folded, Wyman took over their space in the Thompson building at 821 Metcalf, where Valley Hardware is today. There were two other druggists in the same block — Holland across the street and Rex Drug up the block, but they all thrived. Catherine made a mark of her own, interviewing the surviving Sedro-Woolley pioneers and writing biographies in the Courier-Times that are invaluable to us today.
      Syd Greenstreet recalls working as a soda jerk for the Rex store, but he preferred the lunch counter at McClintock's because Wyman lured Millie Disbrow over from the Gateway café in 1943 and she became famous for her sandwiches at the McClintock store. Robert Allen was the store manager in the early days and Henry Brakebush and Maxine Adams Sumner were key employees. In 1939 the store was the scene of a horrendouse murder when Romeo the Alley Cat killed Henny and Penny, two pet chickens at McClintock's. Wyman retired in 1959 and sold out in 1961. The store declined in the 1960s.
David McIntyre II, Sedro Woolley
Seattle Times, Aug. 6, 1991
      What people will remember about David McIntyre 2nd of Sedro Woolley, say those who knew him, is not just that he was a success, but that he liked to help other people become successful, too. Mr. McIntyre, 69, was a Skagit County industrialist, executive, resort operator and family man who died of a heart attack Thursday (August 1). Services were to be held today.
      "He was the backbone and the pillar of this area as far as getting things done," said Robert Miller, a longtime friend and business associates, "He will be missed by many."
      At the age of 12, Mr. McIntyre began working at his grandfather's [David G. McIntyre] company, Skagit Steel and Iron Works, later named Skagit Corp. He attended Stanford University, majoring in Mechanical Engineering and graduated in 1943. In World War II, he served as a master sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps P-38 fighter squadron in Europe.
      He met and married Jean Francis Robertson in 1947. After the war, Mr. McIntyre returned to the family owned steel company, becoming its president in 1962 and its chief executive officer in the 1070s after the company was purchased by the Bendix Corp.
      In 1972, he and his wife bought the Deer Harbor marina on Orcas Island, which they developed into a family resort and sold in 1989. Miller, who worked with McIntyre at the Skagit Corp. and in real-estate ventures, said Mr. McIntyre "was a doer, a fella that takes a lot of pride in taking on projects and making them work."
      Many people in Skagit County's Sedro Woolley area knew Mr. McIntyre as someone they could meet for a cup of coffee and get advice, strategy, counsel - perhaps even capital - to get a business started, Miller said.
      Mr. McIntyre was a member of the Rainier Club, the Washington Athletic Club and the Sedro Woolley Post of the American Legion. He served a term on the Sedro Woolley City Council and the local school board and assisted many local projects.
      In addition to his wife, he is survived by brothers Sidney McIntyre of Sedro Woolley, and Maurice "Jack" McIntyre of Seattle, a sister Mary Soldate, of California, two sons, David 3rd of Seattle and Hal of Pierce County, and three daughters Lisa McIntyre of Pullman, and Martha Garet and Linda Dow of Sedro Woolley.
Donald F. "Danny" McLennan, Sedro-Woolley
Skagit Valley Herald , March 3, 2002
      Donald F. "Danny" McLennan a longtime resident of Sedro-Woolley passed away Sunday, March 10, 2002 at the Life Care Center of Skagit Valley in Sedro-Woolley, WA at the age of 84 years. He was born July 23, 1917 on Orcas Island, WA the last of 13 children of Colin F. and Syrena Elizabeth McLennan.
      Danny grew up in Port Angeles, WA attending school and later resided in Port Townsend where he worked as a brakeman on the railroad. He was married to Lois V. Hanson in October of 1943 and she preceded him in death on July 2, 1992. In 1946, he and Lois moved to Sedro-Woolley where he began working for Safeway as a meat cutter and in 1947 he owned and operated Dan's Food Market on State St. until 1956. He then operated Star Shake Co. until his appointment as the Sedro-Woolley Postmaster in 1960. In 1963, he received his permanent appointment by President John F. Kennedy and served as Post Master in Sedro-Woolley for the next 12 years until transferring to Mount Vernon and eventually retiring in 1980 after 20 years of service.
      Danny was very active in his community serving as a Sedro-Woolley Councilman and a member of the Planning Commission. He was a representative on the Selective Service Board for 5 years receiving a certificate of appreciation from President Richard Nixon in 1974. Danny was one of the four original Little League coaches that started Little League in Sedro-Woolley and he was also one of the founders of the Skagit Chief's Semi Pro Baseball Team.
      He was a past member of the Masons, lifetime member of the Elks, and a member of the Eagles and American Legion. Danny was a member of NAPUS and was its National Hospitality Chairman for 4 years which involved a lot of traveling for the Postal Service. He enjoyed gardening, hunting, fishing, and especially his pheasant hunting trips to Eastern Washington.
      Danny is survived by his son, Jorde and his wife Sharon McLennan of Sedro-Woolley, and his daughter, Pam Burress of Kenmore, WA; his companion Elsie Olsen of Burlington; 8 grandchildren: Kim Walley, Peggy Wade, Holly Williams, Danny McLennan, Scott Burress, Chris Burress, Terri Parker, and Susan Anderson; 7 great-grandchildren: Tonya, Tiffany, Ryan, Dustin, Antony, Jamie, and Rindala; 2 great-great-grandchildren: Payton and Alysa.
      Memorial Services will be Friday, March 15, 2002 at 11:00 AM at Lemley Chapel with Pastor Wendy Tingley of the Trinity United Presbyterian Church officiating. Private inurnment will be at the Sedro-Woolley Union Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday and Wednesday at Lemley Chapel. A reception will follow the Services at the Sedro-Woolley Eagles at Warner & Metcalf. Memorials are suggested to North Puget Oncology, Sedro-Woolley.
Elsie D. Schulze Meyer, Illinois and Sedro-Woolley
Sedro-Woolley Courier-Times, Jan. 23, 2008
      Elsie D. Schulze Meyer, 72, a resident of Sedro-Woolley, passed to a new life on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008, at Eisenhower Hospital in Rancho Mirage, Calif. She was born on Aug. 2, 1935, in Chicago, the daughter of Ernest and Karolina (Schwabenbauer) Schulze. Elsie was united in marriage to Orlin Meyer on June 15, 1957, in Chicago Heights, Ill. In 1971 they relocated to Sedro-Woolley. In 1996, they began spending winters at the Imperial Mineral Spa, near Niland, Calif.
      Elsie lived life serving her community. She held multiple leadership roles in the Sedro-Woolley Soroptimists, volunteering hundreds of hours at their fund-raising thrift store. She also served as the recording secretary for the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Sedro-Woolley for 17 years.
      She and Orlin owned and operated the Parkwood Mobile Manor and in 1987 they opened the Woodshed, an arts, crafts, framing and business supply store in Sedro-Woolley. Elsie lobbied for the continuance of services at United General Hospital in Sedro-Woolley and volunteered in the gift shop as a member of the hospital auxiliary. She volunteered at the Sedro-Woolley museum and was dedicated to preserving local logging and city history. She was a member of the Alpha-1 support group in Washington to which she volunteered passionately, not seeking personal recognition for her efforts, but instead promoting the group, organization and outcome.
      She was a caring friend, wife, mother, mother-in-law and grandmother. She was famous for her cards with multi-page letters sent for each holiday and event or just because she was thinking of you. She made many friends participating in league bowling and was on a state championship team.
      She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Karolina Schulze. She is survived by her husband, Orlin, of Sedro-Woolley; her sons, Craig and his wife Rhonda of Fort Defiance, Ariz., and Richard and his wife Denise of Seattle; and four grandchildren, Trey, Cameron, Emma and Connor.
      Memorial services will be held on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2007, at 1 p.m. at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Sedro-Woolley with Pastor Walt Rice officiating. Memorials can be made in Elsie's name to the Alpha-1 Association, 2937 SW 27th Ave., Suite 106, Miami, FL 33133. Services are under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley. Share memories of Elsie and sign the online guest register at www.lemleychapel.com
Frank M. Meyers, Lyman
Sedro-Woolley Courier-Times, June 24, 1954
      Frank M. Meyers, a pioneer resident of Lyman, passed away at his home, Tuesday, June 15, following a heart attack. He was born Nov. 25, 1881, at Valley Falls, Kansas, and came to Lyman in 1899. Before coming to Lyman he had enlisted in the U.S. Navy's Revenue Service at the age of 16 and had served two years.
      He was united in marriage to Henrietta Cooper at Lyman in 1908 and the couple had made their home in Lyman since that time. He was superintendent of the Skagit Mill Company in Lyman for 32 years and had been a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge for the past 48 years.
      Funeral services were held in the chapel of the Lemley mortuary last Friday afternoon, June 18, at 2 o'clock, with Rev. Glion T. Benson of the St. James Episcopal church of Sedro-Woolley officiating. Interment was in the family plot of the Lyman cemetery where graveside services were conducted by the Knights of Pythias.
      Honorary pall bearers, members of the Knights of Pythias lodge, were Dr. G.A. Jones, Robert Parker, Jess Burford, Earl Allen, H.B. Romer and Walter Deierlein. Pall bearers were frank Gee, Jack Healey and Arthur Lane of Lyman; Henry C. Sloan of Anacortes and George E. Duffy and Ira Morris of Sedro-Woolley, all of whom had worked under his supervision at the Skagit Mill company.
      Surviving are his wife, Henrietta; three children, Charles (Bud) Meyers of Lyman, Tom B. Meyers of Seattle and Mrs. Bertha Patrick of Seattle; one brother, Laurel T. Meyers of San Diego; one sister, Mrs. Aubert Gardner, also of San Diego, and six grandchildren.
Florence [first husband Ruel] Morgan, Sedro-Woolley
Sedro-Woolley Courier-Times, Nov. 5, 1942
      In the sudden death of [Florence] Morgan on November 1, Sedro-Woolley lost one of her most kindly and beloved pioneers. The widow of the late Wilfrid Ryan Morgan died following a heart attack early Sunday morning while visiting old friends, Mr. and Mrs. C.L. Wagner of Yakima.
      Funeral services were held in St. Mary's [Catholic] church on Nov. 4 with the Rev. Father M. [Murtaugh] in charge, and burial was in the Union cemetery.
      Although in failing health for the past few years, Mrs. Morgan courageously carried on. She attended the dinner for Congressman Jackson here on Thursday night, and on Friday left for Yakima with her [stepdaughter], Miss Valerie Ruel, to visit the Wagners. After a pleasant dinner party on Saturday night, they retired at about 11 o'clock, and about 3 o'clock in the morning, Mrs. Morgan turned on the light and called to her daughter who occupied the twin bed close by. Miss Ruel, a nurse, administered treatment as she has done throughout her mother's illness and got her comfortably settled. However, within a half hour, Mrs. Morgan called to her again and passed away immediately.
      Florence Morgan, born March 20, 1870, in Galt, Canada, was married in Michigan to George Ruel, the couple coming here in 1892, where their two children, Valerie and James were born. Mr. Ruel died in 1904 and five years later, his widow married Mr. Morgan. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan enjoyed a stay of several months in Europe, a pleasant sojourn in Hawaii and frequent trips to California and the Eastern United States, but always were glad to return to their comfortable home and friends in Sedro-Woolley. Mr. Morgan died about thirteen months ago.
      Mrs. Morgan was a long-time member of Chapter D of the PEO society [of Sedro-Woolley]. She loved people of all ages in every walk of life and was happiest when among them. Her home was the center of hospitality for years, and friends throughout this city and the entire county join with her daughter, Valerie, and son, Lieut James Ruel, U.S. Army, in mourning her departure.
      Ed. note: James Ruel married Joyce Hammer, daughter of George Hammer, founding partner of Oliver-Hammer Clothes Shop. Mae and the late Robert Parker bought the Morgan home, a grand house at the northeast corner of Northern and Puget. The house next door, owned for years by Willard and Harriet Eaton, was built by W.R. Morgan as a honeymoon cottage for James and Joyce Ruel. W.R. Morgan came to Sedro-Woolley in 1902 to establish the city water company. George Ruel built the saloon at the south dead-end of Metcalf street that eventually became the B&A Buffet, owned by Jimmy Blackburn and Eddie Adams. It was torn down in 1965 when Metcalf street was opened up and a bank is now at that location.
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(bullet) Read about how you can order CDs that include our photo features from the first five years of our Subscribers Edition. Perfect for gifts.
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You can read the history websites about our prime sponsors
Would you like information about how to join them in advertising?
(bullet) Our newest sponsor, Plumeria Bay, is based in Birdsview, just a short walk away from the Royal family's famous Stumpranch, and is your source for the finest down comforters, pillows, featherbeds andduvet covers and bed linens. Order directly from their website and learn more about this intriguing local business.
(bullet) Oliver-Hammer Clothes Shop at 817 Metcalf Street in downtown Sedro-Woolley, 90 years continually in business.
(bullet) Peace and quiet at the Alpine RV Park, just north of Marblemount on Hwy 20, day, week or month, perfect for hunting or fishing
Park your RV or pitch a tent by the Skagit River, just a short drive from Winthrop or Sedro-Woolley — doubling in size for RVs and camping in 2011.
(bullet) Joy's Sedro-Woolley Bakery-Cafe at 823 Metcalf Street in downtown Sedro-Woolley.
(bullet) Check out Sedro-Woolley First section for links to all stories and reasons to shop here first
or make this your destination on your visit or vacation.
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