OBITUARY - HELEN ELIZABETH (BRADFORD) LAROY-FALLERT

Submitted by: Leona Johnson, bell_crazy2000 -at- yahoo -dot- com

Source: "The Daily News", Longview, Cowlitz Co., Washington, 24 Aug 2004.

Helen Elizabeth (Bradford) LaRoy-Fallert. August 25, 1914-August 20, 2004.

Raised in Kalama, Helen was adopted as a baby by Clement and Lottie (Clift)
Bradford.  She lived in the Kalama and Martin's Bluff area all of her life.  She
attended Ferndale and Woodland schools and graduated from Kalama High School.
She married Ross Blanc LaRoy from Kalama in 1935, and raised four children
together. Helen was widowed twice. Ross died suddenly in March 30, 1962, she
later married Harry Fallert from Kalama in February 1966. Harry passed in 1976.
Helen commercially fished with husband Ross for years and later following his
death, became a bookkeeper for Cooper Oil in Longview, where she retired in
1977.  Helen was a life long member of the Amalak Womens Club of Kalama, the
Rebeccah Lodge, the Uniter Kalama Methodist Church, and an honorary member of
the Kalama Fire Department. (Her husband Ross LaRoy was Kalama's Fire Chief for
many years.) She also was a active volunteer with Kalama's RSVP luncheon
program. Helen was well known in the Kalama community as an active and
supportive church and civic volunteer. She was a talented and enthuiastic
writer, leaving behind scores of poetry works and short stories.  Many of her
stories included memories and tales of the historic, commercial fishing industry
along the Columbia River.  Helen, her husband Ross and their three sons were an
active part of that lifestyle. Helen was also a sports enthusiast and loved both
professional football and the Mariners. Helen was known for her independence and
motivated attitude. She loved life and charished "family". Her three sons, Ross,
Curtis and Brian were her pride and joy. She was well known in the community for
her ongoing cheerfulness and bright outlook on life. She was preceded in death
by her parents. Her mother Lottie died when Helen was six. Her father later
remarried Elaine Spreadborough (stepmother) when Helen was twelve. Helen and
Ross lost their daughter, Jean Louise LaRoy, at the age of two as a result of a
drowning accident.  Survivers include three sons, Ross Bradford LaRoy, Curtis
Vaughn LaRoy, and Brian George LaRoy all of Kalama; two sisters, Josephine
Bradford Motes of Allen, Washington, and Eva Bradford Elliott of Sunnyside,
California; eight grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Celebration will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 25, 2004
at the United Kalama Methodist Church, with Pastor Mike Shreve officiating. A
gathering will be held in the fellowship hall following the service.  Memorial
contributions may be made to the Kalama Fire Department or the Kalama Methodist
Church. Arrangements are by Ditlevson-Moore.