Obituary Project

Family Obituaries

Omak Chronicle No date kept in record The following family obituaries were submitted by Penny Schneider Neely with her permission.

Phyllis Jean Beckwith Phyllis J. Schneider-Beckwith, age 76, passed away at her home in Seattle. She came into this world during a heavy snow in 1932, and she left this world during a heavy snow in 2008. She was born in Omak, Wash., the fifth of nine children. Her parents, George and Helen Schneider, traveled in a wagon on a snowy night so that Phyllis could be born. As a child, she remembered riding a horse to school, and helping milk the family dairy cows. She enjoyed when the entire family went to the summer horse shows, and had a wonderful day riding horses and picnicking. Phyllis graduated from Omak High School in 1950. After high school, she worked as an operator for General Telephone until 1952 when she married George S. Beckwith. They settled in Seattle, where they began buying and remodeling estate. The family home was built in May Valley on 80 acres. Here they raised five children and ran a small farm. Always a lady, she was also a brave warrior as she did battle with cancer and never stopped focusing on life. She made the world a better place for having been in it. She was preceded in death by George Beckwith; her parents George and Helen Schneider; her sisters, Polly Truax and Helen Buzzard; her brother Jim Schneider and nephews Timothy Neely and Arnold Buzzard and niece Lana Asmussen. She is survived by her sisters, Dorothy Philmon, Marilyn Asmussen, Lois Beeman and Penny Neely; her brother Joe Schneider; her five children, Mary, Robert, Jim, Carolyn and Ann; and her six grandchildren; Bryan, Amanda, Jeffrey, Cherise, Jacob and Nicole. She will rest at Greenwood Memorial Cemetery Park in Renton, WA. She will bee greatly missed, and we will carry her with us for the rest of our lives. "Thank you, Mom, for bringing us here and giving us all so much love. You will never leave the place that matters most -- our hearts."

Helen Louise Schneider Buzzard Helen Louise Schneider Buzzard passed away from complications of COPD on Saturday, March 15, 2008. She was born May 9, 1927 to George and Helen (Wells) Schneider of Okanogan, Wash. The family homesteaded on the Colville Reservation for many years prior to moving to Malo, Wash. As a young girl, Helen was an extremely hard worker and a blessing to her family. She was a graduate of Curlew High School. She moved back to Okanogan where she met and married Gordon Buzzard. They worked side by side on their small ranch where they raised their only son, Wayne. Gordon passed away in 1983, leaving Helen to continue to look after their son and to work hard to keep up with the ranch. Helen enjoyed sewing, spending countless hours in her yard and garden, and baking her family-famous peanut butter cookies. She also was well known for recounting family stories, including the days of milking cows before she went to school and riding her horse to school. Due to health reasons she moved to Apple Meadows in 2004, but her heart was at her home where she had lived since 1950. In 2005 she was well enough to move home again until a recent stay at Emmanuel Rocking Chair Ranch. Helen showed kindness and compassion in all aspects of her life as well as strong love of family. She was extremely proud of her son and he of her. She was a wonderful wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend. She will be missed by us all but welcomed into heaven by those who preceded her in death, her mother and father; husband, Gordon; sister, Polly; brothers, Jim and Edward; and sister-in-law, Sadie Buzzard. She is survived by son, Wayne (Patti) Buzhardt; sisters, Dorothy (Larry) Philmon, Phyllis Beckwith, Marilyn (Howard) Asmussen, Lois (John) Beeman, Penny (Larry) Neely; brother, Joe (Luella) Schneider; special niece, Heather; and many more beloved nieces and nephews. Special thanks to her wonderful family for devoted love and care. Helen, we cherish the memories we have of you. Memorials can be given to the Fred Hutchinson Center or to Animal Foster Care. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 1 p.m. at the Precht-Harrison-Nearents Chapel. Interment will be held at the Okanogan City Cemetery. Precht-Harrison-Nearents Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Joseph Flannigan Freeland -- Joseph Flannigan, 80, a resident of Freeland since 1978 and formerly of Okanogan, died Wednesday, September 28, 1988, in Whidbey General Hospital at Coupeville. He was born December 5, 1907, in Gallion, Ohio. He married Erma Neely December 5, 1957, in Chelan. He was a retired upholsterer for Elmway Upholstery in Okanogan, WA. Mr. Flannigan was a member of St. Hubert's Catholic Church in Langley. Survivors include his wife, at home; four sons, David Flannigan, Los Angeles, Kenneth Neely of Spokane, Bobby J. Neely of Renton and Larry Neely of Omak. One sister, May O'Neill; and nine grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son and grandson. Arrangements are by Hedgcock-Visser Funeral Home in Langley.

Mary Erma Flannigan SPOKANE -- Former Okanogan and Malaga resident Mary Erma Flannigan, 71, of Whidbey Island, died Wednesday, April 29, 1992, at Spokane. She was born May 21, 1920 or 1919, to Ira M Morris and Edith Eva Davis Berg, at O'Fallon, Illinois. She married L.L. Neely on November 6, 1937, at Fordyce, Arkansas. They moved to Washington in 1948. She married Joseph Anthony Flannigan on December 5, 1957. The owed and operated Elmway Upholstery Shop at Okanogan until 1964, when they moved to Malaga, where they owed and operated a market from 1966 to 1969. They then moved to Seattle, then to Whidbey Island in 1978, where she had lived since. Survivors include three sons, Kenneth Neely of Spokane, Bobby Joe Neely of Renton and Larry Neely of Omak; a stepson, David Flannigan, of Los Angeles; two brothers, Ira and Lawrence Berg of Mena, Arkansas and a sister, Florence Young of Eldorado, Arkansas; five grandchildren and two step-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1988, two sons, and one grandson. Arrangements are by Thornhill Valley Funeral Home of Spokane.

George E Schneider George E Schneider, longtime rancher and thoroughbred horse breeder, died September 26, 1981, at his home in Omak following an extended illness. He was 81. He was born August 13, 1900, in Waterville and was raised near Waterville, attending the Withrow School. On November 21, 1921, he married Helen Wells in Waterville. In 1925 they purchased a ranch at Timentwa on the south half of the Colville Reservation. Between the years of 1925 and 1943, he raised cattle and thoroughbred horses, which he raced throughout the area. In 1943, they purchased a ranch at Malo, Washington and operated it until 1949. They then moved to Omak and continued raising cattle and horses until an injury forced retirement in 1979. He was a member of the Malo Grange, the Boots and Saddle Club, the Omak Senior Citizen and the Washington Horse Breeders Association. Survivors include his wife Helen at home; six daughters, Dorothy Figlenski and Helen Buzzard of Okanogan, Phyllis Beckwith of Seattle, Marilyn Asmussen of Mansfield, Lois Beeman of Cashmere, and Penny Neely , Omak; two sons, George E Schneider Jr (Jim), of Curlew, and Joe Schneider of Tonasket; 29 grandchildren and 18 great- grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter, a son, two sisters, one brother and one great grandson. Funeral Mass was at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church Sept. 30, the Rev. James Mangan officiating. Burial was in the Okanogan City Cemetery. The family suggests memorials to a charity of the donor's choice. Bergh Funeral Service, Oroville, was in charge of arrangements.

Helen L. Schneider OMAK -- Helen L. Schneider, 81, Omak, a longtime North Central Washington resident, died Friday, October 17, 1986, in the Wee Haven Nursing Home, Bridgeport. She was born November 1, 1904, at Chandler, Oklahoma, and moved west with her family when she was a young girl, settling in Sumas, WA. and then on to the Waterville-Mansfield area. She attended school there. She married George Schneider of Waterville on November 17, 1921. In 1925 the family moved to the south half of the reservation near Okanogan. They farmed on the reservation until moving to Malo in 1943. They moved to Omak in 1949. Following the death of her husband in 1981, Mrs. Schneider moved to the home of her daughter, Mr and Mrs Larry Neely and family. Mrs. Schneider was a member of the Omak Senior Citizens, Boots 'N' Saddle Club, and the grange. Survivors include two sons, George, Omak, and Joe, Tonasket; six daughters, Dorothy Philmon and Helen Buzzard, Okanogan, Phyllis Beckwith, Seattle, Marilyn Asmussen, Mansfield, Lois Beeman, Cashmere and Penny Neely, Omak; two brothers, George Wells, Okanogan, and Jack Wells, Bridgeport; three sisters, Mary Wood, Omak, Bessie Knapp, Benton City, and Rose Kelly, Roosevelt; 29 grandchildren; and 36 great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by one son and one daughter. Bergh Funeral Service, Oroville, is in charge of arrangements.

Annie Pauline Dalsin Schneider Sutor MRS. GEORGE SUTOR PASSED AWAY. Mrs. Geo. Sutor who had been seriously ill with pneumonia at the Smith hospital for two weeks, and just as nurse and physician were hopeful for her recovery, on Wednesday morning at 7:30 she suffered a heart attack and died suddenly. Deceased had been a resident of Douglas county for 30 years. She was born in Minnesota in 1876, where she resided until coming to Douglas county. A short time before coming west she was united in marriage to Tony Schneider and when they first came to Douglas county they purchased the farm which in 1908 they sold to Henry Sutor. They left here for a time and lived near Chewelah and Medical Lake. They returned here and lived near Lamoine until 1917 when Mr. Schneider died. To them: five children were born, one passing on when a baby. The four children who survive her are: George and Leo Schneider of Timentwa, Okanogan county, Mrs. Clarence Bonwell of Lamoine and Marie at home. In 1920 Mrs. Schneider was untied in Marriage to Mr. George Sutor who with her children survive her. The funeral will be held from the Catholic church in this city Saturday forenoon at 10 o'clock, conducted by Father Joda.

Waterville Empire Press

June 8, 1908

DEATH OF MRS. MARGARET JACOBS SCHNEIDER The funeral of Mrs. Margaret Schneider occurred on Friday from the Catholic Church, interment being in the cemetery two miles East of Waterville, Father Luyton conduction the funeral service. Margaret Jacobs Schneider was born in Prussia, Germany, on July 1826, and at the time of her death was nearly 82 years old. She married in 1852 to Goodhart Schneider and fifty years ago she came to America with her husband and settled in Wisconsin. They then moved to Blue Earth County, Minnesota. Mr. Schneider there 33 years ago and was buried at St. Clair in that state. She came to Waterville nineteen years ago with her son, John. Mrs. Schneider leaves eight children to morn her loss. There are three daughters, Mrs. Dr. Foster of Bellingham, Mrs. Joe Rubenser, Mrs Fred Richter, and five sons, John, Leonard, Philip, Tony and Joe.

November 21, 1912 JOSEPH SCHNEIDER'S DEATH Joseph Schneider died at the Everett hospital last Friday night from the effects of the injuries he received while working for the Great Northern. The body was taken to the old cemetery East of town for interment. Joseph Schneider was born in 1867 in Racine County, Wisconsin. He became an engineer by profession and ran an engine for a number of years on the Great Northern. About eight years ago he came to Waterville where his brothers resides and has made his home here since. A short time ago he went to work for the G.N. on the relief crew out of Leavenworth. At the time of the accident it seems that he was taking his engine out. The brakeman had uncoupled the car attached to the engine, but not the air. When Joe discovered it he got off his engine and stepped back to uncouple the air. As he did so, the release jerked the engine back, striking him violently. He was taken to the Everett hospital. His brothers, Philip and John and Leonard reside here and Tony in Spokane. Mr. Schneider was never married.

DEATH OF AN INFANT Edward Anthony Schneider, three month old son of Mr and Mrs George Schneider who reside on the old Ed Deatley ranch northeast of town, died September 2. The little fellow was taken sick one day and died the next with some kind of throat trouble. Burial took place on Wednesday, in Fraternity cemetery, the funeral being conducted by Rev. Boppell. The sympathy of the community is extended to the bereaved family.