Ina Colleen Booker of Connell died September 1, 2014 at Legacy Cottage in Kennewick, Washington. She was born on May 12, 1930 to Jesse Ray Churchwell and Velma Elsie (Brisbin) Churchwell. She was born at home and was the third of six children.
As a young girl she learned to work, chopping and picking cotton alongside her parents and older brothers. She developed a strong work ethic, a trait that would serve her well throughout her life, and that she would instill in her family. She dreamed of one day moving north, to the panhandle of Oklahoma and having a cattle ranch.
During high school, she played guard on a hotshot basketball team and was a fierce player, traveling around the state playing in many tournament games. A local coach, Guy Powers, noted, “she has so much spirit, it just shines through”. Basketball was a highlight of her young life that she never forgot.
On January 4, 1951 she married a handsome young World War Two veteran, D.L. Booker whom she had met when she was fourteen. They lived on a small farm where she tended to livestock and shelled blackeyed peas for a local school to earn money.
In 1952 the first of four boys, Merle was born. Soon after, D.L. and some friends traveled to Washington to check out land that was being developed for irrigation in the Columbia Basin. In 1956 he was fortunate to draw a unit of land near the town of Warden. The young family packed their belongings and moved much further north than Colleen ever imagined. They arrived in Warden during a blowing dust storm. Colleen said she just fell to her knees and bawled. She was a long ways from family and friends. In 1957, she returned to Oklahoma to have son Quinton.
In 1958, the growing family moved to a farm near Mesa. Colleen went back to Oklahoma to have son Burl in December of that year. She liked the doctor and the comfort of being near family. In the early 60’s, they purchased a farm on Barrt road between Mesa and Basin City where they raised crops and livestock. Colleen worked hard caring for family and animals. She was a driving force in the family. There was little she could not do. Changing water, building fence, operating a tractor if necessary, caring for a large garden, canning produce and wrangling children.
It was here she met three young neighbor ladies with growing families. They formed a bond that was never broken. Caring for each other’s children, helping each other on the farms, experiencing the good and surviving the bad that daily life brings. Dorothy, Jeannette and Mary are special friends any one would be lucky to have.
In 1964, too busy to travel to her favorite doctor again, Colleen gave birth to the fourth Booker boy, Butch, in Othello. As the family grew, so did the farm; cows, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, horses…life was teeming on the farm and she rode herd on everything. She was an excellent cook, preparing wonderful meals and feeding anyone who visited and was hungry. Pie was a favorite, especially mincemeat. She would render a hog’s head to get the meat and mix it with a delicious array of fruit and spices.
In the late 70’s she and D.L. started an auction business. She cared for it like everything else and it thrived, growing in to what is now Booker Auction Company.
Colleen was a willing volunteer, ready to help if she could. If she told you she would do something, you could count on her to show up early and stay late if that’s what it took to get the job done. She enjoyed helping with school events. She had a strong belief in education and expected her children to learn as much as they could. She was very pleased when asked to be a chaperone for girls’ basketball when they participated in tournament games, particularly since she only had boys.
When grandchildren began to arrive she and D.L. were thrilled. They loved babies. As they grew, she never forgot a birthday and would always send a card and a special treat. They all loved their grandma Colleen.
Colleen was kind, patient and persevering. She had gentle brown eyes. If she ever crooked that index finger and shook it at you, you knew she meant business. It was a signal to behave, get your work done, or leave your brother alone. She meant it too!
Colleen was able to travel back to Oklahoma in November of last year. It was a special time to see her family there one last time.
Colleen was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Wilton Ray Churchwell, Henry Omar Lee Churchwell, and her beloved D.L.
She is survived by older brother Richard Walton Churchwell, younger brother Wesley Clois Churchwell and wife Hermalee, and dear younger sister Karen Kistler and husband Bob. Many nieces, nephews and cousins. Her children: Merle Booker and wife Judy of Connell, Quinton Booker of Othello, Burl Booker and wife Kara of Connell and Butch Booker and wife Jennifer of Colfax. Grandchildren: Alesha Russell and husband Ryan, Camille Booker and Rob Rettig, Austin Booker, Chantell Kimball and husband Seath, Lauren, Megan, Kylie and Jolee Booker, Chess, Britton, and Max Booker, and Cotton Ross Booker. Great-grandchildren: Lelia, Diehl and Daxton Rettig and Trenton, Andrea, and Trayson Russell.
Burial will be at 9:30 am, Monday, September 8, 2014 at Bess Hampton Memorial Gardens in Othello. A celebration of a life well lived will be at 11:00 am Sept. 8th at the Connell Community Center in Connell. A luncheon will follow.
She was our Bookerkeeper. Rest in peace, sweet mother, you have earned it. We all will miss you so much! We were blessed to have you as our guide.
As a young girl she learned to work, chopping and picking cotton alongside her parents and older brothers. She developed a strong work ethic, a trait that would serve her well throughout her life, and that she would instill in her family. She dreamed of one day moving north, to the panhandle of Oklahoma and having a cattle ranch.
During high school, she played guard on a hotshot basketball team and was a fierce player, traveling around the state playing in many tournament games. A local coach, Guy Powers, noted, “she has so much spirit, it just shines through”. Basketball was a highlight of her young life that she never forgot.
On January 4, 1951 she married a handsome young World War Two veteran, D.L. Booker whom she had met when she was fourteen. They lived on a small farm where she tended to livestock and shelled blackeyed peas for a local school to earn money.
In 1952 the first of four boys, Merle was born. Soon after, D.L. and some friends traveled to Washington to check out land that was being developed for irrigation in the Columbia Basin. In 1956 he was fortunate to draw a unit of land near the town of Warden. The young family packed their belongings and moved much further north than Colleen ever imagined. They arrived in Warden during a blowing dust storm. Colleen said she just fell to her knees and bawled. She was a long ways from family and friends. In 1957, she returned to Oklahoma to have son Quinton.
In 1958, the growing family moved to a farm near Mesa. Colleen went back to Oklahoma to have son Burl in December of that year. She liked the doctor and the comfort of being near family. In the early 60’s, they purchased a farm on Barrt road between Mesa and Basin City where they raised crops and livestock. Colleen worked hard caring for family and animals. She was a driving force in the family. There was little she could not do. Changing water, building fence, operating a tractor if necessary, caring for a large garden, canning produce and wrangling children.
It was here she met three young neighbor ladies with growing families. They formed a bond that was never broken. Caring for each other’s children, helping each other on the farms, experiencing the good and surviving the bad that daily life brings. Dorothy, Jeannette and Mary are special friends any one would be lucky to have.
In 1964, too busy to travel to her favorite doctor again, Colleen gave birth to the fourth Booker boy, Butch, in Othello. As the family grew, so did the farm; cows, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, horses…life was teeming on the farm and she rode herd on everything. She was an excellent cook, preparing wonderful meals and feeding anyone who visited and was hungry. Pie was a favorite, especially mincemeat. She would render a hog’s head to get the meat and mix it with a delicious array of fruit and spices.
In the late 70’s she and D.L. started an auction business. She cared for it like everything else and it thrived, growing in to what is now Booker Auction Company.
Colleen was a willing volunteer, ready to help if she could. If she told you she would do something, you could count on her to show up early and stay late if that’s what it took to get the job done. She enjoyed helping with school events. She had a strong belief in education and expected her children to learn as much as they could. She was very pleased when asked to be a chaperone for girls’ basketball when they participated in tournament games, particularly since she only had boys.
When grandchildren began to arrive she and D.L. were thrilled. They loved babies. As they grew, she never forgot a birthday and would always send a card and a special treat. They all loved their grandma Colleen.
Colleen was kind, patient and persevering. She had gentle brown eyes. If she ever crooked that index finger and shook it at you, you knew she meant business. It was a signal to behave, get your work done, or leave your brother alone. She meant it too!
Colleen was able to travel back to Oklahoma in November of last year. It was a special time to see her family there one last time.
Colleen was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Wilton Ray Churchwell, Henry Omar Lee Churchwell, and her beloved D.L.
She is survived by older brother Richard Walton Churchwell, younger brother Wesley Clois Churchwell and wife Hermalee, and dear younger sister Karen Kistler and husband Bob. Many nieces, nephews and cousins. Her children: Merle Booker and wife Judy of Connell, Quinton Booker of Othello, Burl Booker and wife Kara of Connell and Butch Booker and wife Jennifer of Colfax. Grandchildren: Alesha Russell and husband Ryan, Camille Booker and Rob Rettig, Austin Booker, Chantell Kimball and husband Seath, Lauren, Megan, Kylie and Jolee Booker, Chess, Britton, and Max Booker, and Cotton Ross Booker. Great-grandchildren: Lelia, Diehl and Daxton Rettig and Trenton, Andrea, and Trayson Russell.
Burial will be at 9:30 am, Monday, September 8, 2014 at Bess Hampton Memorial Gardens in Othello. A celebration of a life well lived will be at 11:00 am Sept. 8th at the Connell Community Center in Connell. A luncheon will follow.
She was our Bookerkeeper. Rest in peace, sweet mother, you have earned it. We all will miss you so much! We were blessed to have you as our guide.
Ina Colleen Booker of Connell died September 1, 2014 at Legacy Cottage in Kennewick, Washington. She was born on May 12, 1930 to Jesse Ray Churchwell and Velma Elsie (Brisbin) Churchwell. She was born at home and was the third of six children.
As a young girl she learned to work, chopping and picking cotton alongside her parents and older brothers. She developed a strong work ethic, a trait that would serve her well throughout her life, and that she would instill in her family. She dreamed of one day moving north, to the panhandle of Oklahoma and having a cattle ranch.
During high school, she played guard on a hotshot basketball team and was a fierce player, traveling around the state playing in many tournament games. A local coach, Guy Powers, noted, “she has so much spirit, it just shines through”. Basketball was a highlight of her young life that she never forgot.
On January 4, 1951 she married a handsome young World War Two veteran, D.L. Booker whom she had met when she was fourteen. They lived on a small farm where she tended to livestock and shelled blackeyed peas for a local school to earn money.
In 1952 the first of four boys, Merle was born. Soon after, D.L. and some friends traveled to Washington to check out land that was being developed for irrigation in the Columbia Basin. In 1956 he was fortunate to draw a unit of land near the town of Warden. The young family packed their belongings and moved much further north than Colleen ever imagined. They arrived in Warden during a blowing dust storm. Colleen said she just fell to her knees and bawled. She was a long ways from family and friends. In 1957, she returned to Oklahoma to have son Quinton.
In 1958, the growing family moved to a farm near Mesa. Colleen went back to Oklahoma to have son Burl in December of that year. She liked the doctor and the comfort of being near family. In the early 60’s, they purchased a farm on Barrt road between Mesa and Basin City where they raised crops and livestock. Colleen worked hard caring for family and animals. She was a driving force in the family. There was little she could not do. Changing water, building fence, operating a tractor if necessary, caring for a large garden, canning produce and wrangling children.
It was here she met three young neighbor ladies with growing families. They formed a bond that was never broken. Caring for each other’s children, helping each other on the farms, experiencing the good and surviving the bad that daily life brings. Dorothy, Jeannette and Mary are special friends any one would be lucky to have.
In 1964, too busy to travel to her favorite doctor again, Colleen gave birth to the fourth Booker boy, Butch, in Othello. As the family grew, so did the farm; cows, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, horses…life was teeming on the farm and she rode herd on everything. She was an excellent cook, preparing wonderful meals and feeding anyone who visited and was hungry. Pie was a favorite, especially mincemeat. She would render a hog’s head to get the meat and mix it with a delicious array of fruit and spices.
In the late 70’s she and D.L. started an auction business. She cared for it like everything else and it thrived, growing in to what is now Booker Auction Company.
Colleen was a willing volunteer, ready to help if she could. If she told you she would do something, you could count on her to show up early and stay late if that’s what it took to get the job done. She enjoyed helping with school events. She had a strong belief in education and expected her children to learn as much as they could. She was very pleased when asked to be a chaperone for girls’ basketball when they participated in tournament games, particularly since she only had boys.
When grandchildren began to arrive she and D.L. were thrilled. They loved babies. As they grew, she never forgot a birthday and would always send a card and a special treat. They all loved their grandma Colleen.
Colleen was kind, patient and persevering. She had gentle brown eyes. If she ever crooked that index finger and shook it at you, you knew she meant business. It was a signal to behave, get your work done, or leave your brother alone. She meant it too!
Colleen was able to travel back to Oklahoma in November of last year. It was a special time to see her family there one last time.
Colleen was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Wilton Ray Churchwell, Henry Omar Lee Churchwell, and her beloved D.L.
She is survived by older brother Richard Walton Churchwell, younger brother Wesley Clois Churchwell and wife Hermalee, and dear younger sister Karen Kistler and husband Bob. Many nieces, nephews and cousins. Her children: Merle Booker and wife Judy of Connell, Quinton Booker of Othello, Burl Booker and wife Kara of Connell and Butch Booker and wife Jennifer of Colfax. Grandchildren: Alesha Russell and husband Ryan, Camille Booker and Rob Rettig, Austin Booker, Chantell Kimball and husband Seath, Lauren, Megan, Kylie and Jolee Booker, Chess, Britton, and Max Booker, and Cotton Ross Booker. Great-grandchildren: Lelia, Diehl and Daxton Rettig and Trenton, Andrea, and Trayson Russell.
Burial will be at 9:30 am, Monday, September 8, 2014 at Bess Hampton Memorial Gardens in Othello. A celebration of a life well lived will be at 11:00 am Sept. 8th at the Connell Community Center in Connell. A luncheon will follow.
She was our Bookerkeeper. Rest in peace, sweet mother, you have earned it. We all will miss you so much! We were blessed to have you as our guide.
As a young girl she learned to work, chopping and picking cotton alongside her parents and older brothers. She developed a strong work ethic, a trait that would serve her well throughout her life, and that she would instill in her family. She dreamed of one day moving north, to the panhandle of Oklahoma and having a cattle ranch.
During high school, she played guard on a hotshot basketball team and was a fierce player, traveling around the state playing in many tournament games. A local coach, Guy Powers, noted, “she has so much spirit, it just shines through”. Basketball was a highlight of her young life that she never forgot.
On January 4, 1951 she married a handsome young World War Two veteran, D.L. Booker whom she had met when she was fourteen. They lived on a small farm where she tended to livestock and shelled blackeyed peas for a local school to earn money.
In 1952 the first of four boys, Merle was born. Soon after, D.L. and some friends traveled to Washington to check out land that was being developed for irrigation in the Columbia Basin. In 1956 he was fortunate to draw a unit of land near the town of Warden. The young family packed their belongings and moved much further north than Colleen ever imagined. They arrived in Warden during a blowing dust storm. Colleen said she just fell to her knees and bawled. She was a long ways from family and friends. In 1957, she returned to Oklahoma to have son Quinton.
In 1958, the growing family moved to a farm near Mesa. Colleen went back to Oklahoma to have son Burl in December of that year. She liked the doctor and the comfort of being near family. In the early 60’s, they purchased a farm on Barrt road between Mesa and Basin City where they raised crops and livestock. Colleen worked hard caring for family and animals. She was a driving force in the family. There was little she could not do. Changing water, building fence, operating a tractor if necessary, caring for a large garden, canning produce and wrangling children.
It was here she met three young neighbor ladies with growing families. They formed a bond that was never broken. Caring for each other’s children, helping each other on the farms, experiencing the good and surviving the bad that daily life brings. Dorothy, Jeannette and Mary are special friends any one would be lucky to have.
In 1964, too busy to travel to her favorite doctor again, Colleen gave birth to the fourth Booker boy, Butch, in Othello. As the family grew, so did the farm; cows, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, horses…life was teeming on the farm and she rode herd on everything. She was an excellent cook, preparing wonderful meals and feeding anyone who visited and was hungry. Pie was a favorite, especially mincemeat. She would render a hog’s head to get the meat and mix it with a delicious array of fruit and spices.
In the late 70’s she and D.L. started an auction business. She cared for it like everything else and it thrived, growing in to what is now Booker Auction Company.
Colleen was a willing volunteer, ready to help if she could. If she told you she would do something, you could count on her to show up early and stay late if that’s what it took to get the job done. She enjoyed helping with school events. She had a strong belief in education and expected her children to learn as much as they could. She was very pleased when asked to be a chaperone for girls’ basketball when they participated in tournament games, particularly since she only had boys.
When grandchildren began to arrive she and D.L. were thrilled. They loved babies. As they grew, she never forgot a birthday and would always send a card and a special treat. They all loved their grandma Colleen.
Colleen was kind, patient and persevering. She had gentle brown eyes. If she ever crooked that index finger and shook it at you, you knew she meant business. It was a signal to behave, get your work done, or leave your brother alone. She meant it too!
Colleen was able to travel back to Oklahoma in November of last year. It was a special time to see her family there one last time.
Colleen was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Wilton Ray Churchwell, Henry Omar Lee Churchwell, and her beloved D.L.
She is survived by older brother Richard Walton Churchwell, younger brother Wesley Clois Churchwell and wife Hermalee, and dear younger sister Karen Kistler and husband Bob. Many nieces, nephews and cousins. Her children: Merle Booker and wife Judy of Connell, Quinton Booker of Othello, Burl Booker and wife Kara of Connell and Butch Booker and wife Jennifer of Colfax. Grandchildren: Alesha Russell and husband Ryan, Camille Booker and Rob Rettig, Austin Booker, Chantell Kimball and husband Seath, Lauren, Megan, Kylie and Jolee Booker, Chess, Britton, and Max Booker, and Cotton Ross Booker. Great-grandchildren: Lelia, Diehl and Daxton Rettig and Trenton, Andrea, and Trayson Russell.
Burial will be at 9:30 am, Monday, September 8, 2014 at Bess Hampton Memorial Gardens in Othello. A celebration of a life well lived will be at 11:00 am Sept. 8th at the Connell Community Center in Connell. A luncheon will follow.
She was our Bookerkeeper. Rest in peace, sweet mother, you have earned it. We all will miss you so much! We were blessed to have you as our guide.
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See more Booker or Churchwell memorials in:
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