Percy Ralph Driggs

Percy Ralph Driggs, a longtime resident of Moses Lake, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2005 at approximately 1:30 a.m. at the age of 91. He was born May 31, 1913 near Coronation, Alberta, Canada. He came to the United States at the age of 2, along with two brothers and his parents, the late Samuel and Lottie Driggs. He attended schools in Idaho, and graduated from the Shoshone High School in 1931. He attended one year at the University of Idaho, aided by a 4-H Club Union Pacific Railroad scholarship.

In 1933, he married Margaret Barrett, and from that union there arrived two sons, Robert W. and Marvin R. Driggs.

Percy came to Moses Lake (Neppel) in April 1935. He managed an apple orchard, and farmed other crops in the area near the present day Wapato Street and Interlake Road, where a street is now named after him. Later, he joined his father and brothers in extensive farming and cattle feeding around the Moses Lake area. He retired from farming in 1973, but had been active in a small way in horse breeding.

In 1953, he married Margaret Modeland Smith and accepted a loving relationship with her two daughters, Marilyn and Kathleen.

Percy was quiet active in local and state affairs. He was past master of Moses Lake Grange #971; served on the Central Washington Good Roads Committee; the Farm Machinery Rationing Board during World War II; director of the Moses Lake Irrigation District; member of the Washington State Potato Commission; member and past chairman of the Washington State Potato Committee; supervisor of the Moses Lake Soil Conservation District; served on the advisory committee of the Farm Home Administration; and served on the Moses Lake Parks and Recreation Board.

Along with several others, he was chosen to represent the farmers of the Columbia Basin by testifying before the U.S. Department of the Interior Committee on Insular Affairs, for the purpose of amending the Reclamation Act to allow more acreage per farm family. The act was amended.

He was a privileged member of the Moses Lake Lions Club, where in 1996, he was presented a fellowship award for his dedication to humanitarian services, and was a lifetime member of the Moses Lake Elks. He also was Grant County Soil Conservation Farmer of the Year, and Grant County Cattleman of the Year.

He is survived by his brother Delbert Driggs, his two sisters Betty Jean Parkinson and Mary Irene Leberis, his two sons Robert and Marvin Driggs, and his two daughters Marilyn Knapp and Kathleen Kent. He also leaves behind nine grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

Arrangements are being made by the Neptune Society. He will be cremated. A civil ceremony will be held on Memorial Day, 2005, and further details will be announced in a timely manner.

In lieu of flowers, he asked that memorials be made to the Lions Club eye bank, the Elks therapy program or the American Cancer Society.