Garold K. Harkins

Private family graveside services for Garold K. Harkins will be conducted at the Laurel Hill Memorial Park in Cle Elum.  A celebration of life will be held later this spring at Steward & Williams Funeral Home in Ellensburg.  Mr. Harkins, a veteran of World War II, passed away at his home on Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at the age of 100..

Garold was born on August 25, 1919 in Burley, Idaho, the third of five children born to Jasper & Chlora (Alspaugh) Harkins. Garold was jokingly told by his father that “you entered the world by an old crow leaving you on a fence post and the sun hatched you out!”. He completed most of his schooling in New Plymouth before graduating from Payette High School in 1938. In the fall of 1942, Garold enlisted in the United States Army where he was trained as a Radar Technician.  He served four years, part during World War II, before being honorably discharged as a Technical Sergeant in 1946.

He married Marcella Faye Dawson on May 26, 1940 and they were blessed with three children – Glenna, Harriett and Kenneth.  After his military discharge, Yakima was home for the young family until moving to Cle Elum in 1954 when Garold accepted a position with the Washington Department of Natural Resources.  He was able to “work his way up” in the forestry division of the DNR, becoming a forester – one of the few without a college education.  His position with the DNR moved the family to the Chehalis/Centralia area in 1972 and Garold retired 1981 after 27 years of service.  After Marcella passed away in 2001, he continued to live in Chehalis for a few more years until moving to Ellensburg in 2005 to be closer to his family.

Garold enjoyed woodworking, bowling, fishing, gardening and watching sports on TV.  He enjoyed singing and was a barbershop chorus singer in Chehalis with the “Two Town Tuners” from 1973 until 1989 and again from 2002 to 2005. After moving to Ellensburg, he became active with the Singing Hills Chorus. His faith in Christ was very important, having been baptized in 1931at the Baptist Church in New Plymouth.  He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Chehalis where he served many hours as a volunteer on numerous committees and, after moving to Ellensburg, he attended Calvary Baptist Church.

Garold is survived by his daughter, Harriett (Brad) Sparks of Ellensburg; son-in-law Joe Schuchman of Selah; grandchildren Kendra Rentz, Shana (Jeremie) Walton and Bryon Sparks; and great grandchildren Kianna, Adrian, Tanner, Hayden, Madison, Baylee and Raegan.  He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Marcella; son Kenneth; daughter Glenna; grandson Kurt Schuchman as well as his parents, three sisters and one brother.

Memorial contributions in Garold’s honor are suggested to Hospice Friends, 302 E. 2nd Avenue, Ellensburg or to a charity of your choice.  Steward & Williams Funeral Home and Crematory of Ellensburg has been entrusted with caring for Garold’s family.  Online condolences may be left at www.steward-williams.com