Jack La Valley

Jack La Valley passed away in his home at Garden Terrace Adult Family Home in Yakima on November 11, 2012, at the age of 87, with family by his side. Jack was born on January 11,1925 in Kennydale, Washington. Jack served in the Merchant Marine in Alaska before serving in the U.S. Army in World War II in Europe from June, 1943 until March, 1946. He met his wife to be, Margaret, in Germany at the end of the war and brought her to the U.S., where they were married December 2, 1947. That union was to endure 64 years. Jack was very skilled at his vocation of truck driver and heavy equipment operator. He drove gravel truck, oil truck, and for a time had his own business hauling grain from Eastern Washington. He also owned and operated a wrecking yard in Tukwila and a gas station in Kennydale. After “retirement” he worked with his daughter, Diana, and son-in-law Mike in a backhoe and dump truck service. Anyone who knew Jack admired his strong work ethic. Jack retired from driving asphalt truck in 1982 and soon after moved to Elma, Washington where Jack and Margaret lived until moving to Yakima in 2000. Jack was fortunate to retire at age 57, and enjoy 30 years of active retirement. He was a kind, generous man, and the best father any daughter could ever want. He enjoyed boating around Lake Washington and the Puget Sound and spending weekends at Star Lake with family and friends. There were years of motorcycles riding then years with dune buggies and baha’s along with all the other fun that goes with camping on a lake. It is a lifetime a memories that no one will forget. After 64 years of marriage, Margaret preceded Jack in death one year ago. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, brothers; Joe La Valley, Bill La Valley, and a sister Virginia Cameron. Jack preceded in death his sister, Margaret Warren, by four days.Jack is survived by his three daughters; Diana Hammond (Mike) of Elma, Jackie Feldmiller (George) of Spokane Valley, and Tina Wagner (Bruce) of Yakima; four grandsons, Michael Whetstine of Renton, Aaron Hammond of Lacy, Nick Wagner (Mary) of Yakima, Brandon Wagner of Yakima, and a brother, Ted La Valley of Renton. An Honor Guard memorial service will be held graveside at Greenwood Memorial Park, 350 Monroe Avenue NE, Renton, WA on Friday, November 23, 2012 at 12:00 noon. A reception will follow at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1024 Monroe Avenue NE, Renton.