The Kitchels migrated to Chehalis about 1902. May worked at the Chehalis Laundry. She married Lee Wisner in 1909. They had two sons, Marvin LeRoy and Elwin Arthur. She married Charles M. Brown in 1913. They had one son, Layton. They also raised their nephews Ivon and William Bailey (sons of May’s sister Laura). May enjoyed gardening and crocheting. At the time of her death, she had 13 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
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May Elizabeth Kitchel was born at Dieter Township, Roseau County, Minnesota on April 11, 1892. She was the oldest daughter born to Francis Marion Kitchel and Edith Shaw. The family migrated to Washington when May was ten years old, settling in Chehalis. As an adult she could remember when Main Street and Westside were the main parts of the town while the present day business section was only brush and trees. She attended school in Chehalis.
She married Lee Wisner on her birthday, April 11, 1909, in Chehalis. They had two sons, Marvin LeRoy and Elwin Arthur. Lee died on May 28, 1912 at Chehalis Hospital following a surgery. At the time of his death he was Constable of Chehalis, but he and May had just recently moved to Bunker where Lee had bought a home. May was left to raise their two young boys, Marvin then two years old, and Elwin then 3 months old, on her own. She continued to live at Bunker raising chickens, milking the cow and growing a garden, and taking in laundry to support her family.
She met Charles M. Brown there and they were married in Chehalis on July 4, 1913. One son, Layton, was born at Bunker on August 26, 1916. They made May's Bunker home their home. May and Charlie acquired additional property and worked to clear the land and burn stumps to shape up a farm. The original home burned, so they rebuilt across the road. May had large gardens and canned a lot of food. If she wanted any remodeling done, down came the hammer and saw and she masterminded the work. Charlie was a logger almost all of his life, running wood operations at Bunker, on Hoods Canal, Raymond and Oregon. May took care of the books and made out payrolls.
Charlie and May "adopted" her nephews, Ivon and Bill Bailey, sons of her sister Laura, taking over the care of them when they were young and raised them to adulthood. Ivon joined the U.S. Navy and found his career path, serving for twenty years. He was in the Death March on Corregidor but was fortunate enough to return. Bill also served in the Navy but after four years returned to stay with Charles and May and helped farm and log. He would live nearby them the rest of his life. May also undertook the care of her two granddaughters, children of Marvin, and raised them as well. Both girls graduated from Adna High School. They were a big help and comfort to their grandparents, or so it has been reported. In addition to fostering well-loved family members, gardening, canning, remodeling her home, May loved to crochet, creating everything from tablecloths to bedspreads.
She died just shy of her 84th birthday, on April 3, 1976 in Chehalis. Services were held on Wednesday at Claquato with Rev. William Mayoh and the Chehalis Charity Rebekah Lodge officiating. At the time of her death May was survived by her sons Elwin Wisner and Layton Raymond Brown, 13 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren, her brothers Lewis, Lloyd and Edward, and her sisters Laura and Leona, many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by both husbands, son Marvin, and brothers Orville and Alvin, and sister Ethel.
She was my grandmother's cousin, and there is no doubt that during her time here on Earth the love and support she showed to others had a positive and life-affirming impact upon them. Where would we be without May? On a personal, and perhaps humorous note, even I was blessed by May. After her death her son Raymond sold her car, and I bought it, a lovely little '64 Dodge Dart that the car salesman claimed "had been kept garaged and driven only to church on Sundays by a little old lady." It wasn't until we received title to the car that I and my family discovered it had belonged to May. That car got me through my college days and my start in life. I think May was very good at giving people a good start in life. I'm sure she is deeply missed by those who knew her.
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May Elizabeth Kitchel was born at Dieter Township, Roseau County, Minnesota on April 11, 1892. She was the oldest daughter born to Francis Marion Kitchel and Edith Shaw. The family migrated to Washington when May was ten years old, settling in Chehalis. As an adult she could remember when Main Street and Westside were the main parts of the town while the present day business section was only brush and trees. She attended school in Chehalis.
She married Lee Wisner on her birthday, April 11, 1909, in Chehalis. They had two sons, Marvin LeRoy and Elwin Arthur. Lee died on May 28, 1912 at Chehalis Hospital following a surgery. At the time of his death he was Constable of Chehalis, but he and May had just recently moved to Bunker where Lee had bought a home. May was left to raise their two young boys, Marvin then two years old, and Elwin then 3 months old, on her own. She continued to live at Bunker raising chickens, milking the cow and growing a garden, and taking in laundry to support her family.
She met Charles M. Brown there and they were married in Chehalis on July 4, 1913. One son, Layton, was born at Bunker on August 26, 1916. They made May's Bunker home their home. May and Charlie acquired additional property and worked to clear the land and burn stumps to shape up a farm. The original home burned, so they rebuilt across the road. May had large gardens and canned a lot of food. If she wanted any remodeling done, down came the hammer and saw and she masterminded the work. Charlie was a logger almost all of his life, running wood operations at Bunker, on Hoods Canal, Raymond and Oregon. May took care of the books and made out payrolls.
Charlie and May "adopted" her nephews, Ivon and Bill Bailey, sons of her sister Laura, taking over the care of them when they were young and raised them to adulthood. Ivon joined the U.S. Navy and found his career path, serving for twenty years. He was in the Death March on Corregidor but was fortunate enough to return. Bill also served in the Navy but after four years returned to stay with Charles and May and helped farm and log. He would live nearby them the rest of his life. May also undertook the care of her two granddaughters, children of Marvin, and raised them as well. Both girls graduated from Adna High School. They were a big help and comfort to their grandparents, or so it has been reported. In addition to fostering well-loved family members, gardening, canning, remodeling her home, May loved to crochet, creating everything from tablecloths to bedspreads.
She died just shy of her 84th birthday, on April 3, 1976 in Chehalis. Services were held on Wednesday at Claquato with Rev. William Mayoh and the Chehalis Charity Rebekah Lodge officiating. At the time of her death May was survived by her sons Elwin Wisner and Layton Raymond Brown, 13 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren, her brothers Lewis, Lloyd and Edward, and her sisters Laura and Leona, many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by both husbands, son Marvin, and brothers Orville and Alvin, and sister Ethel.
She was my grandmother's cousin, and there is no doubt that during her time here on Earth the love and support she showed to others had a positive and life-affirming impact upon them. Where would we be without May? On a personal, and perhaps humorous note, even I was blessed by May. After her death her son Raymond sold her car, and I bought it, a lovely little '64 Dodge Dart that the car salesman claimed "had been kept garaged and driven only to church on Sundays by a little old lady." It wasn't until we received title to the car that I and my family discovered it had belonged to May. That car got me through my college days and my start in life. I think May was very good at giving people a good start in life. I'm sure she is deeply missed by those who knew her.
The Kitchels migrated to Chehalis about 1902. May worked at the Chehalis Laundry. She married Lee Wisner in 1909. They had two sons, Marvin LeRoy and Elwin Arthur. She married Charles M. Brown in 1913. They had one son, Layton. They also raised their nephews Ivon and William Bailey (sons of May’s sister Laura). May enjoyed gardening and crocheting. At the time of her death, she had 13 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
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May Elizabeth Kitchel was born at Dieter Township, Roseau County, Minnesota on April 11, 1892. She was the oldest daughter born to Francis Marion Kitchel and Edith Shaw. The family migrated to Washington when May was ten years old, settling in Chehalis. As an adult she could remember when Main Street and Westside were the main parts of the town while the present day business section was only brush and trees. She attended school in Chehalis.
She married Lee Wisner on her birthday, April 11, 1909, in Chehalis. They had two sons, Marvin LeRoy and Elwin Arthur. Lee died on May 28, 1912 at Chehalis Hospital following a surgery. At the time of his death he was Constable of Chehalis, but he and May had just recently moved to Bunker where Lee had bought a home. May was left to raise their two young boys, Marvin then two years old, and Elwin then 3 months old, on her own. She continued to live at Bunker raising chickens, milking the cow and growing a garden, and taking in laundry to support her family.
She met Charles M. Brown there and they were married in Chehalis on July 4, 1913. One son, Layton, was born at Bunker on August 26, 1916. They made May's Bunker home their home. May and Charlie acquired additional property and worked to clear the land and burn stumps to shape up a farm. The original home burned, so they rebuilt across the road. May had large gardens and canned a lot of food. If she wanted any remodeling done, down came the hammer and saw and she masterminded the work. Charlie was a logger almost all of his life, running wood operations at Bunker, on Hoods Canal, Raymond and Oregon. May took care of the books and made out payrolls.
Charlie and May "adopted" her nephews, Ivon and Bill Bailey, sons of her sister Laura, taking over the care of them when they were young and raised them to adulthood. Ivon joined the U.S. Navy and found his career path, serving for twenty years. He was in the Death March on Corregidor but was fortunate enough to return. Bill also served in the Navy but after four years returned to stay with Charles and May and helped farm and log. He would live nearby them the rest of his life. May also undertook the care of her two granddaughters, children of Marvin, and raised them as well. Both girls graduated from Adna High School. They were a big help and comfort to their grandparents, or so it has been reported. In addition to fostering well-loved family members, gardening, canning, remodeling her home, May loved to crochet, creating everything from tablecloths to bedspreads.
She died just shy of her 84th birthday, on April 3, 1976 in Chehalis. Services were held on Wednesday at Claquato with Rev. William Mayoh and the Chehalis Charity Rebekah Lodge officiating. At the time of her death May was survived by her sons Elwin Wisner and Layton Raymond Brown, 13 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren, her brothers Lewis, Lloyd and Edward, and her sisters Laura and Leona, many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by both husbands, son Marvin, and brothers Orville and Alvin, and sister Ethel.
She was my grandmother's cousin, and there is no doubt that during her time here on Earth the love and support she showed to others had a positive and life-affirming impact upon them. Where would we be without May? On a personal, and perhaps humorous note, even I was blessed by May. After her death her son Raymond sold her car, and I bought it, a lovely little '64 Dodge Dart that the car salesman claimed "had been kept garaged and driven only to church on Sundays by a little old lady." It wasn't until we received title to the car that I and my family discovered it had belonged to May. That car got me through my college days and my start in life. I think May was very good at giving people a good start in life. I'm sure she is deeply missed by those who knew her.
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May Elizabeth Kitchel was born at Dieter Township, Roseau County, Minnesota on April 11, 1892. She was the oldest daughter born to Francis Marion Kitchel and Edith Shaw. The family migrated to Washington when May was ten years old, settling in Chehalis. As an adult she could remember when Main Street and Westside were the main parts of the town while the present day business section was only brush and trees. She attended school in Chehalis.
She married Lee Wisner on her birthday, April 11, 1909, in Chehalis. They had two sons, Marvin LeRoy and Elwin Arthur. Lee died on May 28, 1912 at Chehalis Hospital following a surgery. At the time of his death he was Constable of Chehalis, but he and May had just recently moved to Bunker where Lee had bought a home. May was left to raise their two young boys, Marvin then two years old, and Elwin then 3 months old, on her own. She continued to live at Bunker raising chickens, milking the cow and growing a garden, and taking in laundry to support her family.
She met Charles M. Brown there and they were married in Chehalis on July 4, 1913. One son, Layton, was born at Bunker on August 26, 1916. They made May's Bunker home their home. May and Charlie acquired additional property and worked to clear the land and burn stumps to shape up a farm. The original home burned, so they rebuilt across the road. May had large gardens and canned a lot of food. If she wanted any remodeling done, down came the hammer and saw and she masterminded the work. Charlie was a logger almost all of his life, running wood operations at Bunker, on Hoods Canal, Raymond and Oregon. May took care of the books and made out payrolls.
Charlie and May "adopted" her nephews, Ivon and Bill Bailey, sons of her sister Laura, taking over the care of them when they were young and raised them to adulthood. Ivon joined the U.S. Navy and found his career path, serving for twenty years. He was in the Death March on Corregidor but was fortunate enough to return. Bill also served in the Navy but after four years returned to stay with Charles and May and helped farm and log. He would live nearby them the rest of his life. May also undertook the care of her two granddaughters, children of Marvin, and raised them as well. Both girls graduated from Adna High School. They were a big help and comfort to their grandparents, or so it has been reported. In addition to fostering well-loved family members, gardening, canning, remodeling her home, May loved to crochet, creating everything from tablecloths to bedspreads.
She died just shy of her 84th birthday, on April 3, 1976 in Chehalis. Services were held on Wednesday at Claquato with Rev. William Mayoh and the Chehalis Charity Rebekah Lodge officiating. At the time of her death May was survived by her sons Elwin Wisner and Layton Raymond Brown, 13 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren, her brothers Lewis, Lloyd and Edward, and her sisters Laura and Leona, many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by both husbands, son Marvin, and brothers Orville and Alvin, and sister Ethel.
She was my grandmother's cousin, and there is no doubt that during her time here on Earth the love and support she showed to others had a positive and life-affirming impact upon them. Where would we be without May? On a personal, and perhaps humorous note, even I was blessed by May. After her death her son Raymond sold her car, and I bought it, a lovely little '64 Dodge Dart that the car salesman claimed "had been kept garaged and driven only to church on Sundays by a little old lady." It wasn't until we received title to the car that I and my family discovered it had belonged to May. That car got me through my college days and my start in life. I think May was very good at giving people a good start in life. I'm sure she is deeply missed by those who knew her.
Gravesite Details
Information compiled from http://files.usgwarchives.net/wa/lewis/cemeteries/claq-b.txt
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