OBITUARIES
Harvey Tarleton Echols

December 29, 1933 – January 17, 2025
WASHINGTON – Harvey Echols, 91, passed away at home after a long struggle with vascular dementia.
The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. with a viewing at 10 a.m. Jan. 25, 2025 at Mountain View Funeral Home in Lewiston with Pastor Herb Boreson of Gateway Church in Lewiston officiating.
A time of fellowship and refreshments will follow the service. He will also have military honors at the Washington State Department of Veterans Cemetery, Medical Lake, WA at 11 a.m. sharp.
Harvey was born December 1933 to D. Debbs Echols and Effie Mae Taylor Echols in Deleon Texas. The family moved to Forestburg, TX where he attended school until eighth grade. He left home and was working at a bakery at age 13.
In 1952, Harvey joined the Navy and served during the Korean war. He served a short stint on the USS Ashtabula (AO-51), but mainly on the USS Burton Island (AGB-1) as a culinary specialist. He married Reba Clary and they had two daughters, Mickie and Vicki, but their marriage didn’t last long. He has three grandchildren, Charlotte Kelley, Brandi Wiatrek and David Jones and five great grandchildren, Logan Sotello, Crystal Caudill, Abby Jones, Reiley Brumfield and Steely Jones.
After the Navy he went home for a visit and then to California to live with his brother for a couple of years. In 1958, he moved to Moscow and then to Pullman in 1959. He never wanted to go back to Texas. Harvey married Pearl Hall Echols on March 25, 1960. He passed two months shy of his 65th wedding anniversary. They had two daughters, Denise and Deanna. He has six grandchildren, Joshua Flett, Sabrina Swindell, Baltimore Roundtree-Echols, Kristopher and Jackson McAuliffe and Kelsey Feston and five great grandchildren, Milla Flett, Barry King Scroggin, Aurora Fuller, Emilily and Maisie Feston.
Harvey learned many different fields of work after moving to this area. In Moscow, he worked at Commercial Builders laying gas pipeline. He worked for the Pullman school district as a custodian, the Compton Union Building and WSU housing. In 1965, he began working in the WSU Animal Science department as a maintenance mechanic. He was in the farm shop for 35 years until he had to medically retire because of a work injury. Harvey enjoyed fixing and building things. It was really difficult for him after he was injured and no longer able to do it. In the 1960s, he built a cabin cruiser; in the 1970s a knee exercise machine for his wife after knee surgery and a back stretching machine that flipped upside down. He would have been a millionaire had he patented his ideas. He had so many.
In 2003, he moved to Clarkston with Pearl to care for his mother-in-law, and remained there after she passed in 2007. Harvey was a loving husband, father, grandfather and uncle who would do anything to help his family, friends and even strangers out.
He also was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Joyce Leeper, Carol Beckner, Sandra Whaley and Hazel Greenwood; his twin brothers, Tommy and Howard, and Jimmie Echols; and his daughter Mickie Morton.
Harvey is survived by his wife Pearl; his children, Vicki Sorrell (TX), Denise Echols (WA) and Deanna McAuliffe (WA); his siblings, Laveta Mills (LA) and Elvin Echols (TX); and all his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the Asotin County Fire/EMTs in Clarkston Heights and Elite Home Health & Hospice for the professional care and love the staff has shown Harvey during his final days.
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Merchant Funeral Home • 1000 7th St.| Clarkston, WA 99403 | 509-758-2556
OBITUARIES
Wade Shelton

November 24, 1929 – April 28, 2025
NOCONA – Wade Shelton, 95, died on April 28, 2025 in Bowie.
A visitation was at 11 a.m. on May 3 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel. A funeral service followed at 2 p.m. at the gazebo at Molsbee Chapel Cemetery on May 5 officiated by Pastor Phillip Weitner.
He was born on Nov. 24, 1929 in Nocona to Walter Shelton and Mildred Kidwell Shelton. He was a hard-worker most of his life working mostly as an industrial machine mechanic and also managing the drive-in movie theater in Nocona. He was a member, deacon and sometimes ministered at Molsbee Chapel Church of the Brethren. He married Thelma Wright on Nov. 24, 1956 in Lubbock. She preceded him in death in 2012.
He is preceded in death by his wife; parents; brothers, Weldon Shelton and Paul Shelton; and sisters, Oleta and Bonnie Baggett.
He is survived by his children, Serina Thomas, Bowie, John Shelton, Sunset and Steve Holcomb, Nocona; four grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.
OBITUARIES
Fern Hollaway Caswell

July 7, 1925 – April 28, 2025
BOWIE – Fern Hollaway Caswell passed on April 28, 2025 at the age of exactly 99 years, nine months and three weeks.
A graveside service took place at 11 a.m. on May 1 at Sunset Cemetery in Sunset with Doyle Wade officiating.
Fern was born at her parents’ home just outside of Sunset on July 7, 1925, she was the youngest child and only daughter of J. A. (Jim) Hollaway and Arah Sigler Hollaway. Growing up with three older brothers, she learned quite early on how to hold her own when faced with difficulties. She graduated from Sunset High School as the salutatorian of the Class of 1941. While in school, she was a talented and celebrated volleyball player on winning teams coached by J. I. (Speck) Caswell, the man who would eventually become her husband of 48 years.
Before her marriage, Fern worked at what is now known as the North Texas State Hospital, Wichita Falls Campus, first on the wards and eventually in the business office. After her marriage, the birth of the couple’s children, and the family’s move to Alvord in 1954, she devoted herself to rearing her daughters and working alongside her husband on the family ranch.
After the girls left home, she worked for the Lorch Company, managing their outlet stores in Decatur and Gainesville until the company closed. After her husband’s death, she began a long and varied career at DFW International Airport, driving carts and working in customs and security, all jobs which clearly suited her love of people watching. After getting up at 2 a.m. and driving to the airport three days a week for many years, she eventually retired at 89. Regardless of when and where she was working, she was always Granny and always available to the grandsons and great grandchildren she adored.
An excellent seamstress, Fern had a strong work ethic and a keen fashion sense, both of which she imparted to her daughters. An avid reader of biographies, she was also a lover of all animals, particularly Siamese cats. A longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Alvord, she also served as the District President of the Parent-Teachers Association of Texas.
Fern was predeceased by her husband; parents; three brothers, Berniece, Clay and Harold Hollaway; niece, Deanna Hollaway Hooper and great-niece, Tonya Davis Wallum.
She is survived by her daughters and their spouses, Lana Caswell-Garcia and H.S. (Bert) Garcia, Sherman and Karen Caswell Fowler and Donald Fowler, Chico; grandsons, Wes Fowler, and Kase Fowler and his wife Leslie Bain Fowler, all of Alvord; and great grandchildren, Rachae Fowler Richey and her husband Senior Airman Hunter Richey, Colorado Springs and Keegan Fowler, Alvord; nephews, Billy Dean Hollaway and his wife Sheri, North Little Rock, AR, Bernis Hollaway, Carr, CO and Bruce Hollaway, Buena Vista, AR; and several great and great-great-nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
Paid publication
OBITUARIES
Gary Leo Fergueson

November 11, 1944 – April 19, 2025
BELLEVUE – Gary Leo Fergueson, 80, died on April 19, 2025.
A graveside service will take place at 11 a.m. on April 24 at Vashti Cemetery with Michael Brannon and Jeff Brannon officiating.
He was born on Nov. 11, 1944 to Vera (Chappell) and Lewis Fergueson. He worked in the food and grocery industry at multiple store chains beginning in Fort Worth and ending in Bowie. He also worked as a rancher at his family farm in Vashti. Fergueson proudly served his country in the United States Army, he completed his basic training in San Fransico and was stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War.
He is preceded in death by his parents, and sister, Alta Fergueson Brannon.
He is survived by his nephew, Jeff Brannon; niece, Krista Brannon Blackrock; brother-in-law Michael Brannon and a very special friend of 60 years, Helen Ulbig.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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