John Wooten Beal

John W. Beal of Moses Lake passed away May 14 after a yearlong battle with colon cancer.

John was born on a ranch about five miles up the canyon north of Trinidad May 18, 1914 the second child of John William Beal and Ella Lucille Miller (Beal).

Except for a few years between 1920 and 1940 John Lived his entire life in Grant County. He never lived outside of the state.

During World War II John was a fireman on the crash crew for the Army Air Corp at the Ephrata air base. For a few years following the war, he owned the 7UP distributorship in Ephrata covering North Central. After that period John was a partner in the Mobil gas station on the main street in Ephrata. John went to work; for Grant County roads in the early 50's and finished his career with the State of Washington Dept. of Transportation about 1976.

In his younger years (before he turned 80) John liked to hunt and fish, camp out, ride horses into the mountains, and to especially square dance.

John met his second wife Ila at a Senior Center dance in Ephrata in the early 80's. They were married in 1982 and enjoyed 23 years together until her passing June 2005. They danced together one or more days every week until their later years. They were very supportive and involved in the Ephrata and Moses Lake Senior centers during their marriage.

John was preceded in death by his mother Ella Lucille Miller (Beal) in 1923, his father John William Beal in 1958, his sister Delia Harrison Beal (Hasbrouck) in 1994 and his wife Ila G. Beal in 2005.

Surviving John are his son and daughter in law Raymond L. and Constance K. Beal of Canyon Lake, Calif., a stepson and daughter-in-law Louis and Jean Lawerence of Walla Walla, and a stepdaughter Lorene Wood of Porneroy.

Also surviving John are three grandchildren and their spouses Dr. Steven M. and Kimberly Beal of Mumeta, Calif., Elizabeth K. and Donald Stariha of Seattle and Raymond W. and Sondra Beal of Acton, Calif.

He had eight great-grandchildren and a number of step grandchildren, step great-grandchildren and step great-great-grandchildren.

Following cremation John will be buried next to his wife Ila in Dayton. Service date and time will be published at a later date.

If you wish, memorials may be made to the local Cancer Society, Hospice programs, or any charity of your choice in Johns name.