Avilla Hilaire Fortier was born October 17, 1895 on his parent's farm in Gentilly, 8 miles east, and now a suburb of Crookston, Minnesota.
He was baptized at St. Peters Catholic Church in Gentilly on October 18, 1895, the first child of Hilaire Fortier (1867-1928) and Sarah Jerome Regimbal (1875-1913), French Canadian immigrants.
When he was two years old, he and his parents and 3 month old sister Georgiane, traveled by boxcar to the Yakima Valley in Washington State. His grandparents, Fabien Regimbal and Salome LaBerge came with them.
They were among the first settlers of the Artesian District east of present day Moxee City.
He spent his youth in Moxee and his first job was with F. Regimbal & Sons Grocery in Yakima. From the store, he delivered groceries for his grandfather and uncle, F. Louis Regimbal before and after attending Marquette High each week day.
In 1917 he enlisted in the war effort and became a Pharmacist Mate for the Navy during World War I. After his discharge, he worked as a sales clerk for Thomas Gordon Borthwick & Ditter Brothers, grocery merchants. It was there that he met Muriel Hutchings, the bookkeeper.
He and Muriel wed in August of 1920. Fr Clement Regimbal, his uncle, performed the ceremony at Lacey's St. Martin's College. It was the first wedding held there.
In 1921, he was employed by Emporium Dry Goods which later became Kemp & Heberty Dry Goods. In 1933, he opened the Hall-Fortier Department Store with his brother-in-law, Earl R. Hall.
In 1942, Avilla went to work for R. R. Spinner Company and remained with them until his retirement in 1961. He was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus. His hobby was gardening and he was a skilled carpenter.
Muriel, his beloved wife of 65 years, passed in 1986. One year later, at Arden Nursing Home in Seattle, Avilla died of a broken heart, his son Robert at his bedside.
At the time, he was survived by his four adult children, two sisters, two aunts, 13 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.
Avilla Hilaire was laid beside Muriel Charlotte at Calvary Cemetery in Yakima.
Aged 91 years, 7 months, 11 days
~ bio written by son, Robert
He was baptized at St. Peters Catholic Church in Gentilly on October 18, 1895, the first child of Hilaire Fortier (1867-1928) and Sarah Jerome Regimbal (1875-1913), French Canadian immigrants.
When he was two years old, he and his parents and 3 month old sister Georgiane, traveled by boxcar to the Yakima Valley in Washington State. His grandparents, Fabien Regimbal and Salome LaBerge came with them.
They were among the first settlers of the Artesian District east of present day Moxee City.
He spent his youth in Moxee and his first job was with F. Regimbal & Sons Grocery in Yakima. From the store, he delivered groceries for his grandfather and uncle, F. Louis Regimbal before and after attending Marquette High each week day.
In 1917 he enlisted in the war effort and became a Pharmacist Mate for the Navy during World War I. After his discharge, he worked as a sales clerk for Thomas Gordon Borthwick & Ditter Brothers, grocery merchants. It was there that he met Muriel Hutchings, the bookkeeper.
He and Muriel wed in August of 1920. Fr Clement Regimbal, his uncle, performed the ceremony at Lacey's St. Martin's College. It was the first wedding held there.
In 1921, he was employed by Emporium Dry Goods which later became Kemp & Heberty Dry Goods. In 1933, he opened the Hall-Fortier Department Store with his brother-in-law, Earl R. Hall.
In 1942, Avilla went to work for R. R. Spinner Company and remained with them until his retirement in 1961. He was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus. His hobby was gardening and he was a skilled carpenter.
Muriel, his beloved wife of 65 years, passed in 1986. One year later, at Arden Nursing Home in Seattle, Avilla died of a broken heart, his son Robert at his bedside.
At the time, he was survived by his four adult children, two sisters, two aunts, 13 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.
Avilla Hilaire was laid beside Muriel Charlotte at Calvary Cemetery in Yakima.
Aged 91 years, 7 months, 11 days
~ bio written by son, Robert
Avilla Hilaire Fortier was born October 17, 1895 on his parent's farm in Gentilly, 8 miles east, and now a suburb of Crookston, Minnesota.
He was baptized at St. Peters Catholic Church in Gentilly on October 18, 1895, the first child of Hilaire Fortier (1867-1928) and Sarah Jerome Regimbal (1875-1913), French Canadian immigrants.
When he was two years old, he and his parents and 3 month old sister Georgiane, traveled by boxcar to the Yakima Valley in Washington State. His grandparents, Fabien Regimbal and Salome LaBerge came with them.
They were among the first settlers of the Artesian District east of present day Moxee City.
He spent his youth in Moxee and his first job was with F. Regimbal & Sons Grocery in Yakima. From the store, he delivered groceries for his grandfather and uncle, F. Louis Regimbal before and after attending Marquette High each week day.
In 1917 he enlisted in the war effort and became a Pharmacist Mate for the Navy during World War I. After his discharge, he worked as a sales clerk for Thomas Gordon Borthwick & Ditter Brothers, grocery merchants. It was there that he met Muriel Hutchings, the bookkeeper.
He and Muriel wed in August of 1920. Fr Clement Regimbal, his uncle, performed the ceremony at Lacey's St. Martin's College. It was the first wedding held there.
In 1921, he was employed by Emporium Dry Goods which later became Kemp & Heberty Dry Goods. In 1933, he opened the Hall-Fortier Department Store with his brother-in-law, Earl R. Hall.
In 1942, Avilla went to work for R. R. Spinner Company and remained with them until his retirement in 1961. He was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus. His hobby was gardening and he was a skilled carpenter.
Muriel, his beloved wife of 65 years, passed in 1986. One year later, at Arden Nursing Home in Seattle, Avilla died of a broken heart, his son Robert at his bedside.
At the time, he was survived by his four adult children, two sisters, two aunts, 13 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.
Avilla Hilaire was laid beside Muriel Charlotte at Calvary Cemetery in Yakima.
Aged 91 years, 7 months, 11 days
~ bio written by son, Robert
He was baptized at St. Peters Catholic Church in Gentilly on October 18, 1895, the first child of Hilaire Fortier (1867-1928) and Sarah Jerome Regimbal (1875-1913), French Canadian immigrants.
When he was two years old, he and his parents and 3 month old sister Georgiane, traveled by boxcar to the Yakima Valley in Washington State. His grandparents, Fabien Regimbal and Salome LaBerge came with them.
They were among the first settlers of the Artesian District east of present day Moxee City.
He spent his youth in Moxee and his first job was with F. Regimbal & Sons Grocery in Yakima. From the store, he delivered groceries for his grandfather and uncle, F. Louis Regimbal before and after attending Marquette High each week day.
In 1917 he enlisted in the war effort and became a Pharmacist Mate for the Navy during World War I. After his discharge, he worked as a sales clerk for Thomas Gordon Borthwick & Ditter Brothers, grocery merchants. It was there that he met Muriel Hutchings, the bookkeeper.
He and Muriel wed in August of 1920. Fr Clement Regimbal, his uncle, performed the ceremony at Lacey's St. Martin's College. It was the first wedding held there.
In 1921, he was employed by Emporium Dry Goods which later became Kemp & Heberty Dry Goods. In 1933, he opened the Hall-Fortier Department Store with his brother-in-law, Earl R. Hall.
In 1942, Avilla went to work for R. R. Spinner Company and remained with them until his retirement in 1961. He was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus. His hobby was gardening and he was a skilled carpenter.
Muriel, his beloved wife of 65 years, passed in 1986. One year later, at Arden Nursing Home in Seattle, Avilla died of a broken heart, his son Robert at his bedside.
At the time, he was survived by his four adult children, two sisters, two aunts, 13 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.
Avilla Hilaire was laid beside Muriel Charlotte at Calvary Cemetery in Yakima.
Aged 91 years, 7 months, 11 days
~ bio written by son, Robert
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