Archived Marriage Records
Ethel B. Ward
Almo - Our beloved mother, grandmother, and sister, Ethel B. Ward, of Almo, passed away peacefully Tuesday morning, Dec. 7, 2004, at Parke View Care and Rehabilitation Center.
Ethel was born in Elba on Nov. 2, 1914. She was the second of five children born to Samuel Henry and Mabel Idaho Roberts Barker.
She married Wilbur Carl Taylor on Dec. 24, 1930. They lived and raised their family of six children in Almo, Idaho. Wilbur passed away in April of 1956, and Ethel married Harold K. Ward in December of the same year. Harold passed away in 1985. Ethel was briefly married to Ellis Boden.
Ethel worked hard throughout her life, teaching her children the value of hard work. She loved beautiful things and flowers were in abundance in and around her home, as she loved gardening and planting flowers of every type and color. Ethel drove a mail route from Almo to Sublett and back every day for forty-eight years, raising her two youngest children on that mail route. She was the secretary of the Mail Carriers Association for several years and enjoyed attending the conventions. She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in many callings during her lifetime. She loved visiting with her lifelong friends.
Ethel is survived by her children: Ellen (Ed) Davidson of West Valley, Utah; Merlin (Suzy) Taylor of Burley; Patty (Dan) Neddo of Coulee Dam, Washington; Pamela (Goldie) Teeter of Heyburn; and Douglas (Jayne) Ward of Almo; 19 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren and 19 great-great-grandchildren; and her sister, Thelma Taylor of Heyburn.
Ethel was preceded in death by her daughter, Betty Florine Taylor; her parents; two sisters, Susan "Brownie" Taylor and Cleo Son; one brother, Homer Barker; her two husbands; and a great-grandchild, Cody Davidson.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, 2004, at the Almo Ward Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with Bishop Kent R. Durfee officiating. Burial will be in Sunny Cedar Rest Cemetery.
Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday at Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Saturday at the church.
Donald D. Schorzman
Donald Dwane Schorzman, 72, of Idaho Falls, passed away at his home Dec. 9, 2004.
He was born March 18, 1932 at Kulm, North Dakota; a son of Ted and Iona Kusler Schorzman. He spent his early years and was educated in Rupert and graduated from Rupert High School in 1950.
Funeral services were Monday, Dec. 13, 2004 at 11 a.m. at Hope Lutheran Church, 2071 E. 12th St. in Idaho Falls with Pastor Langdon Reinke officiating. Burial will be at Fielding Memorial Park with military honors by the Bonneville County Veterans Team.
DONALD C. OLSON
ALBION - Donald Clifford Olson, 80-year-old Albion resident died Saturday, Dec. 11, 2004, at his home in Albion.
He was born Feb. 18, 1924, in Genesee, the son of Clifford Lawrence and Rosalia Hasfurther Olson. Donald worked in Real Estate in California from 1955 to 1972. He moved to Idaho in 1973, where he was a cattle buyer out of Albion. He was a resident of Albion for 31 years. Donald was a life time member of the Elks Lodge. He was an avid fisherman and hunter and loved his family.
Survivors include his wife of 34 years, Eva of Albion; a son Larry Olson of Martinez, California; a daughter, Rosann Gilbert; and a son-in-law, Lloyd Gilbert, both of Laredo, Texas; four grandchildren; and five great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, and one brother.
Don's wishes were no services and that his ashes be scattered over his favorite hunting area. Arrangements are under the direction of Payne Mortuary, 221 West Main Street in Burley.
Edythe Elaine Merlo
Edythe Elaine Merlo, an 88- year-old Rupert resident, passed away Dec. 6, 2004, at Minidoka Memorial Hospital. She was born Jan. 29, 1916, in Asotin, Wash., to Robert Clark and Bertha Tate Campbell. She married John G. Merlo March 1, 1954 in Stevenson, Wash.
Elaine was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxillary and the National Wildlife Federation and was active in animal protection and rights.
She was an avid reader and an unpublished writer.
Elaine is survived by her daughter, Paula (Frank) Saunders of Meridan; son, Terence (Sandra) Merlo of Scottsboro, Ala.; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband; daughter, Teresa; one brother and one sister.
A private family burial will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Hansen Mortuary Rupert Chapel.
Bradford B. Jones
Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2004, Bradford Brent Jones returned to his Heavenly Father. Brad was born Feb. 27, 1969, in Burley, Cassia County, Idaho, to Rex Brent Jones and Noel Claudette Winter Jones.
He attended school in Burley, until his accident in the ninth grade. After his recovery, he achieved his goal and later graduated from high school in Cypress, Texas. Brad was a friend to everyone he met. He made friends easily. He was looked up to and loved by his nieces and nephews. Brad loved serving in the Elder's Quorum in his Ward and rarely missed a month of home teaching. He loved the outdoors and was often seen doing his daily chores, feeding and watering the horses, dogs, and cats. Brad will be greatly missed and will always hold a special place in the hearts of all those he knew.
He is survived by his mother, Claudette of Houston, Texas, and his father, Brent (Bonita) of Burley; two brothers, Rex (Nichole) Jones and Thaddeus Jones both of Burley, five sisters, Suzanne (Rick) Belger of Idaho Falls, Robyn (Chris) Patterson of Louisville, Kentucky, his twin sister, Barbara (Randy) Williams, LesLee (Greg) Hall both of Houston, Texas, and Cassandra Jones of Burley; sixteen nieces and nephews; his paternal grandmother, Eveline Jones of Sandy, Utah; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Rex Seth Jones, and his maternal grandmother, Bonita Day.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 13, 2004, at the Unity First and Second Ward Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 275 S. 250 E. of Burley, with Bishop Boyd L. Baggett officiating. Burial will be in Gem Memorial Gardens.
Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Sunday at Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Monday at the church.
MAX GILLETTE
Max Gillette, 87-year-old Burley resident, died Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2004, at the Cassia Regional Medical Center in Burley.
Max was born Oct. 16, 1917, in Soda Springs, the son of Samuel Chappell and Frances Cornia Gillette. He graduated from Declo High School and attended Duke University. Max served in the United States Army as a financial officer for six years during World War II.
Max married Elva Taylor on Jan. 4, 1943 in Declo. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He worked in real estate for six years and farmed for 34 years in the Raft River area. He was Chairman of The Board of Directors for the Burley Highway District for 11 years and a director of the Idaho PCA of Bosie for nine years. He was a life member of the Burley Elks. Max loved to fish and spend time with his grandchildren and great- grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife Elva of Burley; four sons, James Max (Cheryl) Gillette of Burley, Samuel Taylor (Chris) Gillette of Twin Falls, Thomas Dee (Aida) of Bogota, South America, William Jeffery Gillette of Raft River; one daughter, Sally (Keith) Couch of Burley; Thirteen grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, three sisters and a daughter-in-law, Colleen.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 17, 2004, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Burley West Stake Center, 2420 Parke Ave. with Bishop Tracy King, officiating. Burial will be in the Pleasant View Cemetery.
Friends may call at the Payne Mortuary, 221 West Main Street, Burley, on Thursday from 6 until 8 p.m. and at the church from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. prior to the funeral on Friday.
Willis Draper
Willis Draper, 104, formerly of Heyburn, passed away Dec. 7, 2004, at Heritage Retirement Center in Twin Falls.
He was born June 2, 1900 in Govan, WA to Tillie B and Lydia Draper. He spent his youth in Washington State and married Birdie Headrick on September 21, 1919. They had two children, Madge and Dorothy. He managed a grain elevator until his retirement in 1965. After retiring, Willis and Birdie moved to Rupert, Idaho where he helped his daughter and son-in-law farm until 1977. He lost his first wife in 1967 and married Eleanor Sommer in the fall of 1968. She preceded him in death in 1983. In 1985, he met Nellie Holden and they remained dear companions until her death in January, 2004. Throughout his life he enjoyed fishing and hunting. He remained very active even roofing his own house at the age of 90. He lived alone until he was 101 at which time he moved to Twin Falls.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Dorothy; two spouses; a great-grandson; his sister and two brothers.
He is survived by his daughter, Madge Hansen of Twin Falls; five grandchildren, Kay (Dwight)Tucker of Twin Falls, Rae (Perry) Meuleman of Rupert, Mary Jo (Jim) Bulawa of Redmond, Wash., Donald (Janie) Burtchin of Phoenix, Ariz., Charlene Moore of Lancaster, Calif.; eleven great grandchildren and 14 great-great granchildren.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 10, 2004, at Hansen Mortuary Rupert Chapel, 710 6th St. With Reverend Darcy Gritzmacher, officiating. Friends may call one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at the Rupert Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hospice Visions, Inc., 308 Shoshone St. East, Twin Falls, ID or the United Methodist Church, Burley.
Damon W. Lawson
Rupert - Damon W. Lawson, an 86-year-old resident of Rupert, passed away peacefully on Friday, Dec. 3, 2004, at his home.
He was born July 23, 1918, in Frankclay, Missouri, the son of Luther and Dora Fairchild Lawson. Damon was the oldest of 13 children and spent his childhood in the Frankclay / Leadwood, Missouri area. He joined the U.S. Army in 1941, and served during World War II. He married Pauline "Polly" Burns on June 23, 1944, in Elko, Nevada.
Damon worked in the mines in Missouri and Nevada, the shipyards in Portland, Oregon, and owned and operated a service station in the Boise area prior to moving to Rupert in 1953, where he enjoyed farming for 40 years before retiring.
Damon loved music and being outdoors. He especially enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting, and riding his horse.
He also liked woodworking and going to Jackpot. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren were always entertained by his many stories.
Damon never met a stranger and always had time to visit with people from all walks of life. He was always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone needing help. He had a special fondness for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and enjoyed their company. Damon will be greatly missed by all.
Damon was a member of the Rupert First Christian Church.
He is survived by his wife, Polly, of 60 years; four daughters, Susan (Cecil) Dickson, Linda Ball, and Margery (Roy) Sneddon all of Rupert, and Debra (Steve) Beem of Eden; 12 grandchildren, Deanna (Todd) Merrell, Michelle (James) Frost, Kimberly (Troy) Ward, Richard Ball, Bryan (Suzette) Ball, Shaunna (Rod) Gladfelder, Kristi (Jeff) Halford, Randy (Jacoby) Sneddon, Justin (Billie Jo) Sneddon, Mike Beem, Derek (Whitney) Beem, and Kyla Beem.
Damon is also survived by 23 great-grandchildren, who fondly called him "Poppa D," and by two brothers and six sisters.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son-in-law, Jim Ball; one brother; two sisters; and a brother-in-law.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 6, 2004, at Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., Burley. Officiating will be the Rev. Kevin Anderson.
Love is the only thing that we can carry with us when we go, and it makes the end so easy. Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened.
The family suggests that memorials be directed to Make a Wish Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, or to a charity of choice, in care of Rasmussen Funeral Home.
