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Colville Pilot’s Plane Lost in 2019 Crash Located in Sullivan Lake - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Colville Pilot’s Plane Lost in 2019 Crash Located in Sullivan Lake December 17, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Terry Coleman's airplane before its crash six years ago. File photo. A years-long mystery surrounding a fatal 2019 plane crash involving Colville resident Terry Coleman has taken a step toward resolution after a team of volunteers located the missing aircraft in Sullivan Lake last month. Kirk Neumann and a volunteer search team discovered a Cessna 182 Skylane resting on the lake bottom north of Metaline Falls on Nov. 11. The following day, officials confirmed the aircraft to be the same plane Coleman was piloting when he disappeared on Nov. 13, 2019. Coleman was the sole occupant of the aircraft and was confirmed deceased after his body was located on the lake, according to law enforcement. After confirming the discovery of the plane, Neumann said he notified Coleman’s daughter, the Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office in Newport, and the Federal Aviation Administration in Spokane, which then referred the matter to its Seattle office. Pend Oreille County Sheriff Glenn Blakeslee said the discovery is an important development for the family and the community. Authorities said when Coleman went missing six years ago, his general flight path had no indication of trouble. There was no radio distress call and no activation detected from the aircraft’s emergency locator beacon. According to law enforcement, search crews combed the terrain and waterways in the days following the disappearance; Coleman’s body was ultimately recovered from Sullivan Lake on Nov. 16, 2019, but the aircraft itself was never found. Neumann said he has followed the case closely since the beginning and felt a personal motivation to continue searching. Using a drop camera system, Neumann said he and his team were able to identify the aircraft at a depth of approximately 270 feet. The plane was found sitting upright on its landing gear. While the camera system has limitations at such depths, Neumann said the team is confident the aircraft is Coleman’s, as there are several indicators on the plane that match the Colville man’s aircraft. Attention is now turning to what comes next. Officials said the plane is believed to be largely intact, and its recovery would require coordination among multiple agencies with jurisdiction over the lake and surrounding lands. According to officials, the logistics of a salvage operation are complex and still under review, but the discovery itself marks a significant moment for Coleman’s family and the Colville-area community that has waited years for answers. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Jesse Arthur Arrington | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Jesse Arthur Arrington 78 Jun 7, 1947 - Dec 24, 2025 Colville resident Jesse Arthur Arrington, age 78, passed away Dec. 24, 2025, in Colville, Wash. Jess was born June 7, 1947, in Omak, Wash., to Arthur and June (Reeves) Arrington. Those who knew him well described Jess as being “larger than life.” He was a big man in stature and personality. He could be somewhat intimidating like a grizzly bear, but underneath, he was a Big Jolly Guy…super spontaneous. He had no filter. Jess just said what he needed to say. He loved to play, party, and have fun, often going to extremes. In his early years, Jess wanted experiences and to have nice things. Over time, all of that seemed trivial. Jess became more sentimental and nostalgic. He knew he couldn’t make up for lost time with his children, but he tried to make things better despite not always knowing how to do so. An avid outdoorsman, Jess loved being in the woods. He was a hard worker and worked as a successful logger and logging contractor for many years. He often smelled of chopped wood and Irish Spring soap. When he wasn’t working in the woods, he was playing. Jess loved to hunt, fish, and just experience the outdoors. He also enjoyed his boat, spending many hours on Kootenay Lake and cruising up and down the Columbia River. Jess was known for being particular about how things should be done. And in most instances, “being done” referred to being done his way. He was meticulous in many ways, but that attention to detail didn’t always follow logic. It didn’t matter one’s experience or training; Jess always had a plan as to how to proceed. Jess is preceded in death by his parents, Arthur Arrington (Joan Arrington) and June Francisco (John Francisco). He is survived by his sons, Troy Arrington (Tammy Arrington) of Costa Mesa, Calif., and Kyle Arrington (Randee Arrington) of Spokane, Wash.: daughters Corie Kelly (Ryan Kelly) of Kennewick, Wash., and Carla Palpalatok (Paul Palpalatok) of Spokane, Wash.; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild; sister, Sally Pierce (Ralph Pierce) of Northport, Wash.; stepbrothers John McGill (Gena McGill) and Pat McGill; and numerous extended family members and friends. Jess will be laid to rest in the Washington State Veterans’ Cemetery in Medical Lake, Wash. A Memorial service is being planned for this summer, 2026. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice. Please visit the online memorial website and sign his guestbook at danekasfuneralchapel.com. Danekas Funeral Chapel & Crematory has been entrusted with his care. Previous Item Next Item

Local Wrestlers Shine at Springdale Girls League Meet - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Local Wrestlers Shine at Springdale Girls League Meet December 24, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Area girls wrestlers battled last Thursday, Dec. 18, at a Mary Walker League meet hosted in Springdale, with athletes from throughout the region, including Chewelah, Colville, and host Mary Walker, who all earned podium finishes. Chewelah’s Naomi Haden dominated the 130-pound weight class. Haden went 3-0 on the day, recording three quick falls to claim first place and score 24 team points. She opened with a 13-second pin, followed by falls in the semifinals and championship match to cap her run. Colville produced several notable finishes, highlighted by Haiden Sackman’s first-place performance at 120 pounds. Sackman pinned all three opponents to take the title and score 24 team points. Kayden Ross added a second-place finish at 190 pounds, reaching the championship bout before falling to Newport’s Clover Tannehill. Ross scored 18 team points for Colville. Jasmine Wolfe placed third at 110-115 pounds, while Kirya Zier finished third at 125 pounds. Host school Mary Walker also saw multiple wrestlers reach the podium. Miley Baker placed second at 100-105 pounds, while Mia Choi and Emilie Simpson each earned second-place finishes at 105 and 110 pounds, respectively. Christina Mead delivered one of the stronger performances for the Wildcats, placing third at 120 pounds after winning two matches by fall. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Nana’s Closet Soon to Offer Back-to-School Essentials - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Nana’s Closet Soon to Offer Back-to-School Essentials August 13, 2025 By: Meredith Carroll Patty Adamson organizing donations for Nana’s Closet. Photo provided by Patty Adamson. Operation Santa of Kettle Falls is expanding outside of the holiday season. The same outfitter that has been helping families in need, since Judy Davis founded it in1982, is broadening with a new initiative: Nana’s Closet. “Nana’s Closet is a branch of Operation Santa,” said Patty Adamson, longtime volunteer with Operation Santa and manager of Nana’s Closet. “There is a huge need for kids going back to school. Kids will need clothes and back to school supplies.” Adamson added, “Nana’s Closet will outfit kids with everything they need from head to toe. This will include clothes, underwear, school supplies, backpacks, hygiene items, and shoes.” Nana’s Closet plans to be open for three weeks before school starts, from August 20 through September 3. “It will operate like a little store, where a family can come in, browse the shelves and racks, and try things on,” Adamson said. “The difference is that we will be open by appointment only. This is to ensure the privacy of the family. Also, it is a small space, and we want the family to have a nice shopping experience with no pressure.” The merchandise will be geared toward kids, Adamson said, but Nana’s Closet will carry clothing from baby to adult. Volunteers will be available to help folks try on clothing. “Each person will be able to choose three to four outfits, and then they can leave. If we run out of inventory, then we plan on setting up a donation drive.” Adamson, who is known as Nana to kids all over the community, said that Nana's Closet was named after her because everyone thinks of her as a grandma. “I love that I get to be a part of this,” she said. “I love that Kettle Falls is a community that comes together for everything.” Adamson moved to Kettle Falls five years ago from Snohomish; as soon as she moved to the area, she saw a Facebook ad looking for volunteers for Operation Santa. “Chuck and Shelby Omit run Operation Santa now that Judy passed. Christmas time here is magical. The things that happen during December are magical,” said Adamson, adding that, “If someone says they need something, it magically appears. We all work together to make this happen, and we’re going to do the same thing with Nana’s Closet. “Most of the donations come from the community, but Boise Cascade has donated brand new school supplies,” said Adamson. “Walmart has also given us a lot of new items. And all of our hygiene supplies and makeup are brand new and come from Project Beauty Share. They help us to do more than give out clothes. We want kids to feel good and confident when they return to school.” Nana’s Closet continues to accept donations and volunteer help ahead of their opening. “We are working hard at getting everything set up so that we will be looking like a department store when we open on August 20. We save the best of the best items for back to school,” Adamson said. For information call Patty or Tom Adamson at 509-419-8682, Chuck and Shelby Omit at 509-769-8997, or visit Operation Santa or the Kettle Falls Community Resource Page on Facebook. Nana’s Closet is available by appointment only. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Veterans’ Pride Band Performs for Firefighters at Northeast Washington Fairgrounds - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Veterans’ Pride Band Performs for Firefighters at Northeast Washington Fairgrounds September 10, 2025 By: Staff Report Photo courtesy Marvin O’Hearn. The Veterans' Pride band, of American Legion 146, performed a concert Sept. 8, for firefighters at the Northeast Washington Fairgrounds. According to post commander Marvin O’Hearn, the Veterans' Pride band aims to help disabled veterans through music, and they had the idea of sharing their music with firefighters. “We received rave reviews from the firefighters and have been asked to play again in the future,” O’Hearn said. “We just can't explain the joy we feel when we see the smiles on the faces of the people we perform for.” Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Kettle Falls Boys Basketball Starts Season 3-0 - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Kettle Falls Boys Basketball Starts Season 3-0 December 10, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen The Bulldogs boys basketball improved to 3-0 on the season, taking a long road to pick up a 53-26 victory over Oroville in nonleague boys basketball action on Friday, Dec. 5. Mace Thivierge scored 23 points and hit two three-pointers. The defense was the star in the first three quarters, holding the Hornets to just single digits in each frame. “What stands out to me about our team is the competitive fire,” Kettle Falls Head Coach Cameron Stewart said. “That’s the identity that we are striving for. That’s our edge. I think the guys are starting to embrace it.” Thivierge had been a facilitator for other scorers in the previous two contests, but in this matchup, he shone through by hitting nine field goals total. “I think our guys are trying to make the right play,” Stewart said. “They want to execute, but they also want to make good reads when we are playing fast and free, because it’s rewarding to know that effort creates good opportunities. You can’t do that alone. So I think our passing is just a result of playing as a team. We want everyone on the floor to be a threat, just by moving as the ball moves.” The Bulldogs snagged a seven-point lead in the first quarter and then headed into the locker room at halftime with a 28-12 advantage. They opened up the second half on a 15-4 run to put the finishing touches on the victory. “We take pride in our defensive principles,” Stewart said. “We hate to get scored on. We also take pride in earning extra possessions. That’s the mindset. The reality is that you make mistakes and learn from them, but stay aggressive, keep competing, always bring energy.” Cooper McKern added seven points while Alex Mazanek and Zac Burch each had six points. A few days earlier, the Bulldogs posted their biggest offensive performance of the season, thanks largely to a mid-game surge. Kettle Falls outscored Republic by 11 points in the second quarter, then opened the second half, tallying 21-6 en route to a 73-36 victory over Republic on Dec. 2, in nonleague basketball action. Mazanek led the Bulldogs with 21 points, hitting three three-pointers along the way. He hit nine field goals in all, while Zac Burch drained six buckets to finish with 15 points. Thivierge added eight points to Kettle Falls’ total. The offense was humming for the Bulldogs as they had 31 field goals total and a 34-17 lead at halftime. Through these three games, Kettle Falls has outscored its opponents 191-93. While these wins are coming against 1B foes, not the 2B foes they’ll have to beat for postseason success, Steward said the Bulldogs are already well on their way to matching or beating last year’s five-win season. “We haven’t done anything yet, except what we needed to do, which was take care of business against the 1B schools to start the season, build depth, and create our own identity,” Stewart said. “It only gets harder from here. We have to stay healthy and hungry, and that’s the message our team is getting from the coaches. Right now we’re on schedule.” The Bulldogs played Tonasket Tuesday, Dec. 9; results were not available at press time. The team is scheduled to host Northwest Christian on Friday, Dec. 12, at 7:30 p.m. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Edwards Scores 31 in Win Over Tri-Cities Prep - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Edwards Scores 31 in Win Over Tri-Cities Prep January 7, 2026 By: Brandon Hansen The Kettle Falls girls basketball team split two games over the winter break and Wyn Edwards continued to showcase herself as one of the standout players in northeast Washington. Kettle Falls opened the stretch with a 49-41 victory over Tri-Cities Prep Jaguars on Dec. 29 at West Valley High School. The Bulldogs led by slim margins throughout the contest and used a defensive effort to hold the Jaguars to single digits in the third quarter. Wyn Edwards delivered a standout performance, scoring 31 points to power Kettle Falls to the win. Cambria Thivierge added nine points. Grace Baerlocher led the Jaguars with 16 points. Kettle Falls returned home on Saturday, Jan. 3, and ran into a tough Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors team, falling 60-31. The Warriors built separation early, taking a 34-24 lead into halftime before pulling away in the second half. Naomi Molitor scored a game-high 21 points for Almira/Coulee-Hartline. The Warriors limited Kettle Falls to just 13 points in the second half. Thivierge led the Bulldogs with 17 points, including three 3-pointers, while Edwards finished with 11 points. Kettle Falls is now 3-9 on the season. The Lady Bulldogs played St. George’s on Tuesday, Jan. 6; results were not available at press time. The team is scheduled to play Chewelah on Friday, Jan. 9, at 6 p.m. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Watch Out for Ninjas! - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Watch Out for Ninjas! July 30, 2025 By: Meredith Carroll Preschoolers on balance beam. Photo provided by Meredith Carroll. KIPS Gymnastics (KIPS), home to tumblers, flippers, and balance beam artists from preschoolers to preteens, is hosting summer camps and programs designed to teach kids gymnastics on a smaller scale. “We offer these camps as a way to introduce kids to gymnastics without a big commitment, so they can get a taste of it while having fun,” said Sadie Greenhagen, who has been coaching gymnastics at KIPS since 2022. “We just finished our Ninja Camp last week, which was offered to both of our age groups. “Ninja Week focused on balance, big bar circuits, floor circuits, jumping, and wall climbing,” said Greenhagen. “As with all of our camps, we offered age appropriate lesson plans. For Ninja week, the kids made headbands, Ninja turtles, and tie-dyed t-shirts.” During Ninja week, after learning basic skills, the children participated in timed races and were rewarded with a group photo posted on Facebook. “The week went pretty well,” said Greenhagen. “I floated around and helped with the circuits. I had a lot of fun ideas, there were new obstacle courses, and all of the kids were having fun. It was a success. We had about 18 kids enrolled for the preschool age group.” KIPS is owned by Christine Moss, who started out coaching her daughters into competitive gymnastics. Her daughters, Samantha Dyar and Kinzie Owens, continue the tradition of coaching at the gym. KIPS offers preschool classes Tuesday through Thursday, and Recreational classes Monday through Thursday. “I love starting my day with the little kids and then working with the older girls in the afternoon,” said Greenhagen. “I really love what I do.” For more information, call 509-684-5138 or visit kipsgymnastics.net . KIPS Gymnastics is located at 465 W. 2 nd Ave., in Colville. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Colville Falls in Heartbreaker to Riverside - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Colville Falls in Heartbreaker to Riverside November 12, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Colville girls' soccer season ends. The Colville Crimson Hawks soccer team saw their season come to a dramatic close Nov. 4, falling 4-3 to Riverside in a District 6 Northeast A loser-out match. The third-seeded Rams (8-8-1) edged out the second-seeded Crimson Hawks (4-11-2) after the two teams battled evenly through regulation and overtime. The loss ended Colville’s postseason hopes, while Riverside advanced to face Cascade (Leavenworth) in a District 6/5 1A crossover on Nov. 8, at Royal High School, with a state berth on the line. Despite the defeat, Colville capped its fall campaign with a strong late-season push and competitive play in the rugged Northeast A League. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Mary "Sam" A. Peterson | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Mary "Sam" A. Peterson N/A Mar 6, 1945 - Mary A Peterson was born on March 6, 1945, in Colville, Wash., to Fredrick and Margaret Carroll. Mary was the oldest of five girls. Mary graduated from Marcus in 1962. On April 24, 1968, Mary and Henry (Dick) Peterson were married. Mary and Dick had two children. Their daughter, Heidi, was born in 1969, and their son, Rich, was born in 1970. Dick passed away in 1972. Mary was a wonderful mom and grandma. She was fiercely protective and loved her family with all of her heart. She was a talented baker, a skillful gardener, and an accomplished seamstress. She made all of the western shirts for her children’s weddings. Mary is survived by her daughter, Heidi Keenan (Shawn), her son, Rich (Kimberly), her grandchildren Stefanie Schneider (Russel), Chantel Christiensen (Dustin), Kourtney Marchand (Francis), Taylor Peterson (Samantha), Kyle Keenan (Bree), Hunter Maddox, and Colten Maddox (Gillian). There will not be a service for Mary. Previous Item Next Item

JoAnn (Joan) Fox | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. JoAnn (Joan) Fox 82 Jul 22, 1943 - Dec 26, 2025 JoAnn (Joan) Fox, age 82, a resident of Colville, WA, passed away on December 26, 2025, in Spokane, WA. JoAnn was born in San Francisco, CA, on July 22, 1943, to Francis & Bessalee Bacon. JoAnn worked for Providence Mt. Carmel in Colville, WA, for 29+ years until her retirement. JoAnn absolutely loved and was devoted to her family, enjoyed doing her ceramics and craft shows, playing bingo at the grange, racing cars in her younger days while receiving several trophies, and her dogs. JoAnn is preceded in death by her mother, father, and son, John Hamilton. She is survived by her sister Carol Simpson, son Joe (Barb), grandchildren Chris (Lucille), Travis, Tyler, Amanda (John), Michelle, Josh, Jadyn, Maddie (Zach), 9 great-grandchildren (Aiden, Braxton, Hunter, Dallas, Aubrey, Paisley, Lakin, Genesis & Charlotte), 1 niece and 3 nephews, 4 great nieces and 1 great nephew. At JoAnn’s request there will not be a service. Previous Item Next Item

Michael Larry Morey | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Michael Larry Morey 79 Feb 12, 1946 - Jun 14, 2025 Michael L. Morey, age 79, a 30-year resident of Colville, Wash., passed away on June 14, 2025 due to injuries from a motor vehicle accident. Michael was born on February 12, 1946 in Wilbur, Wash., the son of Leslie James and Helen Gladys (Milliken) Morey. Mike was raised on the family farm in Creston where he began the day with farm chores before joining his classmates at school. He enjoyed afterschool athletics and played several sports but favored basketball season the most. In 1964, he graduated from Creston High School and then enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard. Mike was trained as an engineman and served on a 180-foot buoy tender “Conifer” out of Portsmouth, Va., and a 95-foot ship out of Hilo, Hawaii. He was honorably discharged and returned to Creston, Wash., where he worked at the local sawmill and began raising his family. Mike also worked for a time as a police officer for the Town of Creston. His love to the land began in childhood and he returned to those roots often. Mike moved to Colville with his family and began working the log booms and river salvage as a tug boat captain for Columbia Navigation in 1980. In the early 1990s, Mike branched into construction but was drawn back to the water a year later. He retired in 2012 with over 30 years of navigation on the Columbia River. Mike was heavily involved in his communities and took the time to know the community members, families, their history and serve on fraternal, veteran and rodeo associations. He was always drawn to the water and enjoyed slalom water skiing, fishing, and his time in the U.S. Coast Guard. Mike also hiked, hunted, and packed into hunting camps in the blue mountains and northeast Washington outdoors. He spent many hours playing his hand at cribbage as well as other card games with family and friends. Mike also devoted years of research into his family genealogy with stacks of documents and pictures to pass on the knowledge. He would “raz” anyone to get a smile and was known for his endless generosity. Mike was a past president of the Colville Eagles Lodges and long-time member of the Arden Old Timers Rodeo association, Panorama Rodeo Association, Arden Hall, Northeast Washington Fair, American Legion and Creston Alumni Association. Mike was preceded in death by his wife, Ann Morey; his parents, Leslie and Helen; his sister, Patricia Morey; his step-daughter Sandy Morgan. He is survived by his daughter, Nicole Conway (Ron) of Lincoln, Wash.; son, Kenn Morey of Spokane, Wash.; step-children, Barb Philpott of Colville, Wash., Tana Johnston of Loon Lake, Wash., Joe Philpott (Meka) of Kettle Falls, Wash., William Bray of Chattaroy, Wash., Jody Craig (Christopher) of Colville, Wash., numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren; sister, Lauralee Morey of Spokane Valley, Wash.; and a host of extended family and friends. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Eagle’s Club in Colville, Wash., for all of his friends and family there on Saturday, Aug. 9, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A graveside service will be held at the Creston Cemetery in Creston, Wash., with a luncheon to follow on Saturday, Sept. 13, starting at 11 a.m. Memorial contributions may be given to the Arden Old Timers Rodeo Association or the Creston Alumni Association. Please visit the online memorial and sign the guestbook at danekasfuneralchapel.com. Danekas Funeral Chapel and Crematory is entrusted with the arrangements. Previous Item Next Item