Coralie Jean Gies

Coralie Jean (Coral, Fred) Bennett Gies passed away January 19, 2012 in Yuma, AZ.

She was born November 27, 1932 to parents Elizabeth Ann & Francis Leon Bennett at the family home in Batesland, SD. Her grandfather Dr. William J. Bennett was in attendance at her birth. She was the fifth daughter born and her four older sisters were also delivered by their grandfather Bennett. The family moved to Walla Walla in 1941 as their father found work in the pea harvest. She attended St. Patrick grade and high school. During her school years, she worked in the 3rd floor kitchen at the old St. Mary Hospital, an inherited job from her older sisters.

There was a fella she kind of liked, William (Bill) Allen Gies, who lived a block away. They fell in love and were married in Lewiston, ID on January 11, 1948. After marriage, she worked for Ma Bell for several years, where she met life-long friends. She also was the dispatcher & bookkeeper for her husband’s trucking company, State Motor Freight, until they sold the business.

Coral had many hobbies. She was an excellent seamstress. She loved her family, traveling, fishing, playing cards, also lunch with the “Lunch Bunch” when in Walla Walla. She was a wonderful cook, always had a garden & preserved all the produce she could. You never saw her at home without an apron. She & Bill spent many winters in Yuma and had many friends there.

She is survived by her husband, Bill; children: Tom (Callie) Gies, Pasco, WA, Donna (Tom) Richwine of Pasco, WA, Billy (Yolanda) Gies, of Walla Walla, Bob (Amy) Gies of High Point, NC and Dave (Rosie) Gies of Walla Walla; sisters Joyce (Bill) Powers of Seattle, Patricia Stone of Kennewick, Dolores Stordahl of Richland, Crystal (Art) Krebs of Walla Walla; brother, Bill (Sharon) Bennett of Newcastle, WA and sister-in-law Geraldine (Jozsef) Papp of Walla Walla. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren and numerous nieces & nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her in-laws Bill & Mollie Gies, son-in-law, John Seeliger, sister, Mariann Pfaffle, brothers-in-law, Lawrence (Pete) Pfaffle, Charles Stone, Wesley Stordahl, and James & wife Judy Gies.

Viewing & visitation will be held on Friday, January 27, 2012 from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, WA. The Funeral Service will be held at the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 10:00 AM with Pastor Bob McCoy officiating. Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to charity of donor’s choice through the funeral home.