Ethel Y. "Vonnie" George

Ethel Y. "Vonnie" George 71, peacefully made the journey from this life the morning of Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, from her home in Elmer City, Wash., following complications from her courageous battle with lung disease. Born June 23, 1943, in Riverside, Calif., Vonnie moved with her parents to Central Washington during her youth where her father worked on the construction of Grand Coulee Dam. After attending Coulee Dam High School, she met and married Michael M. Paul and lived a life characterized by her sterling work ethic and resilience. While raising three children, her vocations ranged from working at the Simplot Potato Plant in Othello, to dry cleaning to bartending along with more entrepreneurial pursuits such as selling real estate, co-owning a furniture upholstery business, and running a house cleaning business in Spokane with her sister. Education was very important to Vonnie both as her calling and in helping her children achieve their potential. She spent 30 years working in education, as a Teacher's Aide at John Rogers High School in Spokane and Grand Coulee Dam Middle School where she retired in 2010. She is remembered fondly by many former students, who were once thought of as "The Hard Cases" in middle school. Vonnie's influence on the importance of education is evident in that her three children all have Master's Degrees in their chosen fields of work and recall that "with Mom it was not if you get your degree but when you get your degree".

In 1981 Vonnie married the love of her life, Melvin George and moved to Elmer City. With Melvin, she helped raised children, grandchildren, and socialized with friends over games of cribbage, billiards, and games of chance such as horses or slots. Vonnie ventured back into running her own business in operating the Chimes Concession Stands at Steamboat Rock State Park and Spring Canyon Park from 1984 – 1992.

And, while not a tribal member herself, Vonnie was so actively involved in the local American Indian community that many just assumed she was.

Predeceased by her beloved husband of 24 years, Melvin George; former husband and lifelong friend Michael Paul; parents: John and Doris Trapp; stepmother Imogene Haight; stepfather Cordell Miller; brother John Trapp and sister Nancy Perez.

Vonnie's legacy lives on through her children: Michael Paul (Patty), Debbie LaCombe (Dave) and Christel Pitner (Chet); step-daughter: Carlene Yacinich; grandchildren: Dena Schmidt (Brian), Remi LaCombe, Maia Brown (Peter), Ethan LaCombe, Rylee Pitner, Logan Marconi, Devan Marconi and Michael Paul; great-grandchildren: Lilly Schmidt, Wyatt Schmidt, Mya Schmidt and Louie LaCombe; sister Nona Fowler, along with dozens of nephews and nieces and through the many students whose lives she touched over the years.

A visitation for Vonnie was held on January 30, followed by services at United Methodist Church on Saturday, January 31, attended by friends and family from near and far. The family plans to spread Vonnie's ashes in the same area where her husband Melvin's ashes were spread in 2006. Donations in Vonnie's name are being accepted for The Grand Coulee Dam School District Scholarship Fund (make checks payable to GCD PSE and write "Scholarship Fund" in the memo section. Mail checks to Grand Coulee Dam School District, 110 Stevens Avenue Coulee Dam, Washington 99116). Please sign Vonnie's on-line guest book at http://www.stratefuneralhome.com. Strate Funeral Home of Grand Coulee, WA is honored to be serving Vonnie's family.