Michael James Wright

Notes:

1975 BIRTH: WA,Yakima Co-Yakima: Michael James Wright born 18 Sep 1975, son of Bill & Joy Hankla Wright

1996 HISTORY: WA,Spokane Co-Spokane: Graduate from Mead High School 8 June 1994

2000 MARRIAGE: AZ-Flagstaff: Michael md Mindy Rhoda on 7 Aug 2000
Records of William Wright, father and personal knowledge Pam Wagner-Funeral program 8 Aug 2001, Spokane,Spokane,WA, buried Mtn View Cem by grandfather, Mel Hankla, no children

2001 DEATH,BURIAL: WA,King Co-Seattle: Michael James Wright died 5 Aug 2002 at U of Wash Medical Center after 10-mo battle with Lymphoma, fun svcs 8 Aug 2001 in Spokane WA, buried Mountain View Cem by his grandfather, Melvin Hankla in Walla Walla WA

OBIT: Walla Walla Union Bulletin, Aug 2001:

Michael James Wright passed away Sunday morning, Aug 5 2001 in Seattle at the U of Wash Medical Center, after a 10-month battle with Lymphoma. He is the son of Bill and Joy Wright, and the husband of Mindy (Rhoda) Wright. Michael was born in Yakima WA on Sep 18 1975. His family moved to Seattle WA, then to Spokane WA in Nov of 1985. He attended Woodridge Elementary, Northwood Ju High and graduated from Mead High School in 1994. He fulfilled a 2-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Phoenix, AZ area. He married Mindy Rhoda on 7 Aug 2000 in Flagstaff AZ. Michael is lovingly survived by his wife, his parents, brothers Scott and wife, Stephanie of Pullman WA, Rob and wife Jaynee, Mark and sister Cammie all of Bothell WA; 3 nephews, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wed, Aug 8 2001 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints North Spokane Stake Center, 401 W Regina in Spokane, followed by burial at Mountain View Cemetery in Walla Walla WA. Spokane Cremation and Burial in charge of arrangements.

NOTES: Funeral uplifting, reflected on atonement, repentence. Michael had turned himself around and gone on mission, where he was outstanding re leaders. Trilogy Eulogy by bros Scott and Mark, Bishop Terry Wintrode.

No children except a child by Mindy who was sealed to them on Aug 6 2001

Michael married Living [Group Sheet]

Notes:

BIR,MG,ORD: Records of William Wright. Son of William L Wright and ... Known as "Bill".

William married Living [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• AFN: 4ZVN-2W

Notes:

1927 BIRTH: NEB,Antelope Co-Tilden: Melvin LeRoy Hankla born 4 August 1927, son of Cecil & Pearl Hankla, known as Mel

1950 MARRIAGE: Personal knowledge of Janice Smith Hankla Griffiths: "Janice Smith md Melvin LeRoy Hankla at her parents home on 813 W. Willow Street, Walla Walla, Washington, February 10, 1950, by Bishop Jerry Davenport, two children: Joy Lynn Hankla and Tana Lee Hankla."

1988 DEATH,BURIAL: WA,King Co-Seattle: Melvin L Hankla died at University of Washington Hospital of acute leukemia; buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Walla Walla, Washingtron
Pam Wagner [some from Jan] "Mel not feeling well at Thanksgiving, when we were altogether at daughter, Joy Wright, in Spokane. He went to Dr, said he needed to go to U of WA Hosp. He had the feeling he would nor return home, walked around home, tears as he did so. Everyone worked so hard with him, his children giving blood for ... I talked with Jan and wanted to be with her, and at my children's encouragement and Bob's insistance [he was in Florida, taking a week's class at Pankey Institute], I flew to Seattle, where Joy picked me up at the airport. It was a very hard but uplifting time together - never saw Jan so strong, talking to family and being a help to them. Within a week's time, having him on dialysis machine, he slipped away and was gone. We had snowy roads, and Jan wanted me to drive her home to Walla Walla. I couldn't find lights or something else,and Jan decided she needed to drive, and it was good... she was very well occupied with the driving over those icy roads. We had a long but very wonderful trip home, talking about Mel & what led up to his death. Throughout the time before his burial, Jan was reaching out to everyone else, giving love and comfort to them. It was incredible.

[Cecil Hankla died 1991, and Pearl....]

NewFamily Search Ordinances: Sealing to parents in progress

Melvin married Living [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Information from Janice Smith Hankla Griffiths, given to her by Jean Hankla Williams about 2001

Cecil married Pearl Leona Stewart 14 Dec 1926, Neligh, Antelope, Nebraska, United States. Pearl was born 27 Jul 1909, Tilden, Madison, Nebraska, United States; died 14 Mar 2002, College Place, Walla Walla, Washington, United States; was buried 18 Mar 2002, Walla Walla, Walla Walla, Washington, United States. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• AFN: 4ZVN-6L

Notes:

1901 BIRTH: MO,Linn Co-Browning, Edward Vern Smith born April 7, 1901 to Marcus M Smith & Lennie Bell Brumbaugh Smith. Known as Vern

1910 CENSUS:OR,Umatilla, Echo Precinct, 20 Apr, pg3401, Dw 169: Edward V Smith 9/MO, son of Mark M & Lena Smith

1917 HISTORY [history hereafter is same one done by Grace Michael Smith]: Grace Michael: "We went back to the ranch in the spring & that is when I met the Smith family at another little red school house. There were 7 children in their family, 2 older girls who were married & 5 boys: Henry, Vern, Leo, Claude & Jule. The last 4 of them was going to this little red school house & Vern graduated that year from the 8th grade. He must have been 17 yrs old. Their family had moved a lot, & they didn't attend school regular."

1920 CENSUS: OR,Umatilla, Pr 59 (outside Pilot Rock): 12 Jan,Dw60/61-Stewart Crk: Vern E 19/MO,
son of Marcus M & Lennie B Smith

1922 MARRIAGE: Oregon, Umatilla Co-Pendleton: "His family moved to Hermiston & bought a small acreage, so the next spring Vern went to Hermiston, rented an acreage next to his folks, so we really made plans, so on June 12, 1922, (20 yrs old), we were married in Pendleton at the Parsonage. We had no car, so left for Hermiston on an old open car stage."

1922-23 HISTORY: Oregon, Umatilla Co-Hermiston: "Vern's father came to Hermiston after us & we was at our 1st home. My brother called it a peanut ranch, but I don't know. Vern planted 3 bunches of peanuts... our first home... We lived there about a year; there wasn't much to make a living on. Vern rode on a bicycle 3 miles & worked in a pipe yard to help out."

1923 HISTORY: Oregon, Umatilla County-Pilot Rock: "next spring, Vern got a job in a garage at Pilot Rock."

1924 HISTORY: "After we had just been married for 2 years, we found out he was diabetic"

1923-33 HISTORY: Oregon,Umatilla Co-Pilot Rock, Montana,Big Horn Co-Hardin: "That fall we moved on a ranch to work...We stayed there a year, then back to Pilot Rock. Vern had decided to shear sheep with his brothers in law, so that was our life for about 9 years-shear sheep through the spring & work wherever he could through the rest of the year."

1930 CENSUS: OR,Umatilla-Pilot Rock:Anc.com-Img 2/4[FA Roll T626_1956]pg2A,Dw 47/47-Birch St
SMITH, Vern-head 29/MO (MO,MO) md at 27yrs,renting, laborer, odd jobs;
Grace-wife 28/OR (PA,MO); June-dau 6/OR (MO,OR)

1934 HISTORY: Oregon,Umatilla Co-Pilot Rock; then Oregon, Umatilla Co-Milton Freewater: "Vern started shearing sheep again & somewhere he picked up a typhoid bug [didn't know then what it was]. Ran a temperature for awhile, but it was time to go to Montana, & he thought it was something he would get over soon. We got as far a Spokane, & he got so sick, we had to put him in a clinic & that is where they found out it was typhoid. He was there a week, then back to Pendleton in an ambulance, there in the hospital for 2 weeks, then home.
Vern rented a little meat market, & we thought that might solve the problem of a living, but it was such a hassle, that after 2 yrs we moved to Milton Freewater & he worked in a meat market."

1938 HISTORY: Oregon Umatilla Co-Pilot Rock-Grace: "That summer, moved 3 times before we got settled."

1939 RELIGION-Grace: "Vern, June & myself was baptized Feb 5, 1939, Milton Freewater Christian Church." Personal Rcd in brown bk of remembrance: "Vern was baptized by Irvin Lars Pearson, confirmed by Elijah Hiatt."



1940 CENSUS: WA,Walla Walla Co-Walla Walla: Anc Img 4 pg 2B,4-4,Dw 43-404 Elm Street:
SMITH, Edward-head 38/MO md, 8th grade, Pilot Rock,Umatilla Co OR
in 1935, meat cutter-retail grocery store; Grace-wife 37/OR,md, 8th
grade, sorter-fruit warehouse; June-dau 16/OR; Janice-dau 7/OR

1940 HISTORY: WA,Walla Walla Co-Walla Walla-Grace: "We lived in Milton Freewater for 2 1/2 yrs, the meat market was sold...a call came from Walla Walla wanting a meat cutter...Vern got the job...found a house & had to move in January."



1940-1956-Pam: "Vern worked for Ninth Street Grocery as a meat cutter and Grace as a seamstress for a tailoring shop, then Gardner's Dept Store until after I graduated from High School [1960]."

1956 DEATH, BURIAL: WA,Walla Walla Co-Walla Walla, Edward Vern Smith died on 28 April 1956 at his home. Working on his Studebaker, pulled a bolt from the engine, falling on him; buried on May 1 at Mountain View Cemetery


NOTES: May 1992: Kathryn Varko Smith (Leo): "...The Church was Vern's salvation, as he drank lot. When he died, the Bishop and everyone came, Uncle Leo too. When Uncle Henry died, the family were not at his funeral, and it hurt Aunt Norma."
June 1992: June Smith Hallmark: Grandad drank a lot. Even after he joined the church he thought a cold bottle of beer sounded good. He had diabetes and knew he shouldn't have been drinking, but he drank until he joined the church. The drinking made him difficult to live with at times. I remember Gram having a pot of coffee on the stove, in an old green teapot. Loved tea, hot or cold. Dad had shingles and walked the floor with the pain. Diabetes caused him some problems, especially when he went to the hospital - had a bad hot water bottle burn on his leg, took a long time to heal."
For Memories of Pam Wagner, see Word > Family History > Edward V Smith Memories

Edward married Grace Mae Michael 12 Jun 1922, Pendleton, Umatilla, Oregon, United States. Grace (daughter of Elery Lee Michael and Elsie Mae Wegner) was born 16 Apr 1902, Pilot Rock, Umatilla, Oregon, United States; died 14 Oct 1990, Walla Walla, Walla Walla, Washington, United States; was buried 17 Oct 1990, Mtn View Cem, Walla Walla, Walla Walla, Washington. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• AFN: 4ZVN-7R

Notes:

1902 BIRTH: Oregon,Umatilla-Pilot Rock, Grace Mae Michael was born on April 16 on a farm near Pilot Rock [1902-1940 Autobiography by Grace Michael Smith] ~000-3041-8364: Grace Mae Michael born 16 Apr 1902, no place shown

1906-08 HISTORY: Oregon,Grant-John Day, family moved back to Pilot Rock in about 1908.

1908 HISTORY: Oregon,Umatilla-outside Pilot Rock: the family moved to one of Grace's grandparent's [probably the Pearsons, as they lived a ways out of Pilot Rock], began school in a little red school house about a mile from home... didn't have warm clothes... I was the youngest and the smallest, so was hard for me to keep up."

c1909-17 HISTORY: Oregon,Umatilla-Pilot Rock..."father bought a 3-bedroom house - felt rich. Had kerosene lamps, wood stove... not very good light; hard to pump the water outside... tea kettle... singing on the wood stove made the nicest music... when feet too cold, could open up the oven door and toast our feet. Father bought a freight business...a quarter of a mile from the train depot to the stores, but that seemed a long way."

1910 CENSUS: OR,Umatilla Co-Pilot Rock, 25 Apr, Dw84: Grace M Michael 7/OR, dau of Ellery G & Elsie M Michael

c1913 HISTORY: "...1 school, 1-9th grades...good enough grades, specially in spelling...I was sent to Pendleton to a spelling contest (6th grade)... My dad bought a piano, & I took lessons for awhile; had to walk a mile each Saturday."

c1914 HISTORY-Article in Walla Walla WA Union Bulletin [c1987]: "Early Campfire Girl - Thought we had an old-timer Girl Scout lined up as the girls were celebrating their 75th anniversay, but it turned out to be the "other" girls organization, Camp Fire Girls.
We speak of Grace Smith, 305 Ash St, who has lived in the valley for nearly 40 yrs but who was reared in Pilot Rock, south of Pendleton. She recalled those early days and the coming of Camp Fire Girls to Pilot Rock.
'There was little for youngsters to do in the little town of Pilot Rock,' she says. 'The town has grown and sprawled all over now but in those days, it was pretty small. So, we were pretty excited when the Camp Fire Girls was started there.' This was 1914 and Smith was 12.
'We hadn't heard of the Camp Fire Girls then and the Boy Scouts were unheard of, too, I believe. I think it must have been one of the very first clubs org in town.' Belonging to the Camp Fire Girls and the activities proved of long recall, although she is now 85, Smith says. She also notes that the uniform was a prized possession for many years until she loaned it and the borrower failed to return it."

c1915 HISTORY: Oregon, Umatilla Co-Lehman Hot Springs "...for the summer, had a little store... a nice summer; we could hike, swim, really different from anything we had [done] before. We moved back near Pilot Rock, about 7 miles out of town."

1917 HISTORY: Oregon,Umatilla Co-Pendleton: "...lived with grandparents, Frank Michael... went to Catholic Sister High School [there was no high school in Pilot Rock then] - took a business course, oil painting & piano, never dated, Grandmother very strict... WWar I troops came thru town, train track went by our school, so someone would watch at the door, & we would all run for the windows & wave. We would feel so patriotic. Grandmother, my aunt, & I walked to the depot, which was at least 11 blocks, sang "Johnny Get Your Guns" & "Go There," waved our hankies, was so exciting."

c1918 HISTORY: OR,Umatilla Co-Pilot Rock, Pendleton: Summer at home, back to Pendleton for 2nd year of high school... 1st flu epidemic broke out,"Asian Flu." High school closed, back to Pilot Rock - 1st time anyone heard of flu. Everyone sick, a lot died. All in bed at home but dad, had 1 doctor, 1 nurse who went house to house, wasn't an antibiotic then. Back to Pilot Rock so her brothers could go to school, back to ranch in the spring..."

c1919 HISTORY: Oregon,Umatilla-Pilot Rock: "met the Smith family at another little red school house... went to Pendleton with dad, met Vern on the street, went to circus together. Pilot Rock fixed up a high school in the top floor of the best brick building... stayed with Grandmother Wegner that winter... very close to this Grandmother - told many stories of their life.. Vern & Leo went to school there, had to ride horseback at least 7 miles. The high school had a get acquainted dance, Smith boys were there, from then on, Vern was my date. By the middle of the year, we were engaged."

1919-1921 HISTORY: "...our engagement lasted 3 yrs. We planned twice to get married- even had a house & hauled winter wood from the mountains the last time, but not enough money."

1920 CENSUS: OR, Umatilla Co-out of Pilot Rk,Dw 17/19-Co Rd: Grace Michael 17/OR, dau of Elery L & Elsie M Michael

1922 MARRIAGE: Oregon,Umatilla Co-Pendleton: Grace Michael married Edward Vern Smith on June 12, 1922 (20 yrs old) at the Parsonage in Pendleton.
"Vern's family moved to Hermiston, bought small acreage... next spring Vern went to Hermiston, rented an acreage next to his folks... were married in Pendleton at the Parsonage... not a fancy wedding, but it meant as much to me. We had planned & waited so long. My mother, Vern's sister Ninetta, another sister Peggie & his brother Claude was with us. Peggie had given me a piece of white organdy & I made my dress, had a grey silk going away dress made over from an old old dress... no car, so left for Hermiston on an old open car stage..."

1922-23 HISTORY: Oregon,Umatilla Co-Hermiston: "Vern's father came to Hermiston after us... at our 1st home. My brother called it a peanut ranch... Vern planted 3 bunches of peanuts. I never did see anything from them..."
...our first home: 3 small rooms & 3 in the basement... a kitchen up stairs was at one time a glassed in porch... windows were bare, sent to Montgomery Ward for yards of curtain material at 9 cents a yard... sure helped the kitchen... I always had a few pillows & pictures to make the rooms more homey. We lived there about a year."

1923 HISTORY-CHILD #1: OR,Umatilla Co-Pilot Rock: "..next spring, Vern got a job in a garage at Pilot Rock. Ever one knew all about ever one there, called all by first names... a friendly town."
"My folks moved bk to Pilot Rock, so when we left Hermiston, we moved in with them. I was expecting my first baby, who was born Aug 11, 1923, a baby girl, who we named June Bernice.
That fall we moved on a ranch to work...We stayed there a year, then back to Pilot Rock."

1924 HISTORY: "After we had just been married for 2 years, we found out he was diabetic..."

1923-33 HISTORY: "Vern decided to shear sheep with his brothers in law, so that was our life for about 9 years-shear sheep through the spring & work wherever he could through the rest of the year. It was always a struggle, but we seemed happy & didn't have too many worries.
Trips to Montana were nearest we ever had for a vacation, did see a lot of country & it always was nice... children always had a lot of fun... had an umbrella tent, camp stove, always quite comfortable... had to worry abt wood ticks & rattlesnakes with the children, but we got through it without anything serious... came back thru Yellowstone Park 1 yr, Glacier Park another..."

1930 CENSUS: OR,Umatilla-Pilot Rock: Dw 47/47: Grace Smith 28/OR (PA,MO), wife of Vern Smith

1933 HISTORY-CHILD #2: OR,Umatilla Co-Pilot Rock: "June & I always went to Montana in June with Vern, to shear, but the last yr I got pregnant & March 17, 1933, had a baby girl, Janice Mae. Ever one in Pilot Rock said she was the prettiest baby there.. she was a good baby, after 10 years it seemed so nice to have more family."

1934 HISTORY: WA-Spokane, then OR-Pendleton:"Vern started shearing sheep again & somewhere he picked up a typhoid bug. Ran a temperature for awhile...time to go to Montana, he thought he would get over soon. We got to Spokane, he got so sick, we had to put him in a clinic & that is where they found out it was typhoid... there a week, then back to Pendleton in an ambulance, in the hospital for 2 weeks, then home... with typhoid & diabetes, another struggle all summer... stayed with him in the hospital & took care of him.
Vern rented a little meat market.. it was such a hassle, after 2 yrs we moved to Milton Freewater & he worked in a meat market... salary $100 a mo: $25 on a car & $75 rent & whatever else besides paying on doctor bills... big change in our lives."

c1938 HISTORY: [1st yr high school] "June had a good voice, turned out for choir. Music teacher put her in accapella choir... went down to Penneys to look for material. Didn't have money that week but had 4 yards of red taffeta at 98 cents a yard layed away, until the next week. By that time I didn't have much time to get it done-didn't even have a pattern. I had made over so much of the girls & my clothes, I figured out a pattern & had it ready. Her teacher thought it so pretty, she had to model it at a style show in Home ec. I was told June was the best dressed girl in school. I was always thankful I was blessed to sew, as I never had to feel ashamed of my girls' clothes, even through our sickness & lack of money. I always canned fruit & vegetables, so we always had plenty to eat.
That summer, we moved 3 times before we finally got settled. Each time we moved a big old piano & range stove, which had to be plumbed each time & different stove pipe, not easy in those days."

1938-1939 RELIGION: OR,Umatilla Co-Milton-Freewater: "Vern, June & myself was baptized Feb 5, 1939, Milton Freewater Christian Church. ...we went to the house of Br Hiatt & there was confirmed a member of the Church. Br & Sr Vause said "Would you like to come to our place to eat?" They had a big kettle of chili beans, so went & ate with them, & that sure made a happy day for us... membership quite small, every one had 1-2 jobs...had a lot to learn & get used to, wasn't just a Sunday Church. The Welfare program: we all had to take part - sowing, planting gardens, & getting the vegetables canned, but that all seemed so important working together."

1940 CENSUS: WA,Walla Walla Co-Walla Walla: Anc Img 4 pg 2B,4-4,Dw 43-404 Elm Street: Grace Smith age 37 born Oregon, 8th grade, sorter for fruit warehouse, wife of Edward Smith

c1940-DRIVING: "I learned to drive the car enough to go up the back alley to visit a friend but never got a driver's license... drove Janice to birthday party but not so good coming home... that was my last driving experience."

1940 HISTORY: WA,Walla Walla Co-Walla Walla: "We lived in Milton Freewater for 2 1/2 yrs... meat market was sold, so hunting for another job. We went to Church that Sunday & Vern had $1.75--all the money we had. He decided to pay it as tithing, went home, hadn't been home very long,l a call came from Walla Walla wanting a meat cutter, so Vern came over & got the job. Then it was house hunting & moving again. We finally found a house & had to move in January."
[lived on Elm Street, re Janice-dau]

1940 HISTORY: "...the church was having a Gold & Green Ball... a big event--several girls chosen for Queen & June won... in LaGrande Stake, all queens go there to compete. June chosen, so all of Walla Walla people felt very proud & honored." [Gram was tired & didn't finish her family story - intended to do more later]"

1941 HISTORY as Written in by Pam Wagner: "David & June were married & lived with Grandad & Grandma in their home, 813 W Willow St in Walla Walla. Pam Bernice born, had problems with milk... tried different types of milk. Gram spent a lot of time working with me. Later, David & June moved into their own apartment."

HISTORY: Grace was a talented and gifted seamstress. She could make her own patterns for clothing she would see in the stores and made them for her daughters and granddaughters. She worked for Sorenson Tailoring in Walla Walla.

1947-1960s HISTORY: She later became a seamstress in the tailoring department at Gardner & Co Dept Store in 1947, continuing there until the early 1960s. She was also a seamstress for Sparks Cleaners and Holiday Clearners, but continued to sew out of her home.

1956 DEATH of husband: WA-Walla Walla: Edward Vern Smith died 28 April 1956, buried Mtn View Cemetery.

1956-c1985 HISTORY: WA-Walla Walla: Lived in apartment in home with daughter Janice Hankla. Grdau Pam lived with her until married in 1962, then Dianna a couple of years, then Jill. Many good memories of living with Gram for each of the granddaughters.

c1985-c1990: WA-Walla Walla: Lived in apartment in north Walla Walla [get address], where she baked pies, etc. for neighbors in complex, then moved to a more needed care facility, the Odd Fellows Home, where she lived until her death.

1990 DEATH,BURIAL: WA,Walla Walla Co-Walla Walla, Grace Mae Micheal Smith died Oct 14, 1990; buried beside husband at Mountain View Cemetery in Walla Walla on Oct 17.