Elmo L. Bartlett

Elmo L. Bartlett passed away Nov. 2 at the Cheney Care Center, five days short of his 94th birthday.

Elmo (Bart) was born in Waitsburg, Wash., Nov. 7, 1924 the second son of Blake and Alta Bartlett. He grew up with four brothers in neighboring Pomeroy. In 1943 after graduating Pomeroy High School, Bart joined the U.S. Army Air Force. He served as a gunner in Boeing B-17s and flew more than 25 missions in the European theater. He was on his way to the Pacific when WWII ended. 

Bart attended Eastern Washington College of Education in Cheney and earned a degree in education, minoring in industrial arts. One day in college choir he met the love of his life, Mariam Banks. They were married in 1947 and began their family when son Robert came along.

Bart taught seventh and eighth-grade social studies and English in Latah, Wash. and then in Portland, Ore. A second son, David, joined the family in Portland.

When a job opened in Cheney, the Bartletts moved back to be closer to extended family. Daughter Kathy and another son, Jim, completed the Bartlett clan and Cheney became Bart and Mariam's home for the years to come. His family relationships were very important in his life, particularly in his final days.

Bart contributed to the Cheney community in numerous ways. He started working for the United States Postal Service as a rural letter carrier in 1953 and then was Cheney Postmaster until his retirement in 1985.  For many years he was a member of the Cheney volunteer Fire Department and worked part time for rural Fire District 3. He drove wheat trucks many summers.

He and Mariam welcomed a number of exchange students from EWU into their home. Bart and Mariam participated in craft bazaars selling his woodworking. They also participated in the Cheney Garden Club. Their yard was a showplace of year-around blooms, and family and friends alike enjoyed the benefits of their vegetable garden and raspberry patch. Bart had a wonderful sense of humor and his "orneriness" remained through his final days.

Some of Bart's favorite things were watching thunderstorms and the northern lights.

He liked dogs and cats, a pipe smoke, "damn good coffee" and swapping stories with buddies down at Zips. He looked forward to watching the Spokane Indians and Seattle Mariners baseball games, hunting and fishing. A highlight of Bart's later years was participating in an Inland Northwest Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C.

Bart was preceded in death by his four brothers and Mariam, his wife of 66 years. Surviving are four children, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. The family wishes to thank the extra-ordinary staff of the Cheney Care Center for their compassionate and tender during Bart's days there.

Donations can be made to the Inland Northwest Honor Flight, 608 W. 2nd Ave. Spokane, WA 99201. A funeral service was held on Nov. 7 with burial at Spokane Memorial Gardens. Visit the online guestbook at cheneyfuneral.com.