Eloise Wilma Huston
February 5, 1929 – June 14, 2023
Eloise Wilma Huston passed from this life in the early morning of June 14, 2023, at age 94.
She greeted a new dawn, reunited with her beloved husband Fred, daughter Margaret Jo and son Charles Harvey, who all preceded her in death. Eloise died wearing Fred's wedding band, in his memory. She and Fred were married 66 years until his death in 2017. She was a longtime resident of Moses Lake for 69 years, beginning in 1954 when she arrived as a young wife and mother. Eloise lived in Ellensburg near her daughter, Mary, for the last year.
Eloise is survived by her daughter Mary (Robert) of Ellensburg, Wash., son Bill (Ludel) of San Diego, Calif., and brother Jimmy (Monita) of Issaquah, Wash.
Eloise leaves five grandchildren: Brittania Asher (Bryan), Matthew Perkins (Kristin), Rhean Perkins (Estee), Melissa Anderson (Chris), Jezel Huston (Tara) and Yvette Mcbee (Brian).
She was blessed with a growing family of nine great-grandchildren (to date): Miriam Perkins, Mackensie Perkins, Elsie Asher, Cody Asher, Tohme Huston, Tolleson Huston, Sydney Mcbee, John Mcbee and Nolan Anderson.
Eloise was born as Wilma Eloise Horn, in Colville, Wash., on Feb. 5, 1929. She grew up in Pullman and attended school there until she completed her bachelor's degree in education from Washington State University. She remained a lifelong fan of WSU Cougar football and basketball games.
Her father, William Horn, was a professor of agriculture at WSU and her mother Clara Horn was an elementary teacher and later became office administrator of the WSU Athletic Department.
In September 1947, at 18 years old, Eloise began her education at WSU. She met a shy young Fred Huston in line to buy books. He was also 18 and was smitten by Eloise. Over the next four years, their romance blossomed and they were married June 5, 1951, the same day they graduated from WSU. After meeting Eloise, he found a career path in which he would excel. During college, he was influenced by Eloise's father and mentored by professors in the WSU Agriculture and Educational departments.
Eloise accompanied Fred to Waitsburg, Wash., where he had his first job teaching at Waitsburg High School. There, Eloise brought into the world sons Bill and Charles ("Chuck"). Eloise relocated in 1954 to Moses Lake, Wash., where Fred became the vocational agriculture Instructor at Moses Lake High School. Here, Eloise brought Mary into the world in 1957. Within a few years, Eloise began teaching English, math and home economics at Moses Lake High School. In 1964, she was blessed with another daughter, Margaret Jo. Sadly, Margaret Jo passed away in 1966, leaving Eloise and the family devastated. Her son, Chuck (Laurie), passed away in 1987 as a young husband and father, causing further grief to the family.
Eloise began teaching again with the Big Bend College Japanese/American Agricultural Exchange program. She taught English to the Japanese exchange students, while they studied American agricultural science. Her teaching career spanned 28 years from 1962 to 1990. She acquired many friends and had many good memories of students, staff, and the community. Eloise hosted a young Japanese girl, Yukia, while she attended Big Bend College. Yukia left her with treasured memories. Eloise particularly enjoyed an extended trip to Japan soon after completing her teaching career.
Eloise supported her family with love and devotion throughout their growing years. Son Bill was about to repeat first grade for lack of reading. Eloise decided he would continue on to second grade and undertook the task to refocus him so that he eventually did quite well.
Eloise supported the endless days and evenings of school, scouts, 4-H and many other activities.
She supported son Chuck in his excellent performance in school, world travels and achieving a master's degree in agronomy from WSU. Eloise also took great pleasure in daughter Mary achieving her bachelor's degree in speech and language therapy from WSU. Mary carries forward Eloise's legacy with remarkable family skills in child rearing, cooking, sewing, home management and supporting husband Rob's accomplished career as a professor at Central Washington University in Ellensburg. Eloise was a tremendous support to husband Fred's growing career in high school education and serving as FFA Advisor and Big Bend College's vocational dean of instruction.
Eloise was a reverent woman. She loved reading, enjoyed sewing and most of all loved her family. She also enjoyed friends, neighbors and the Moses Lake community.
Eloise taught us that the mother is the center and heartbeat of the family, often quiet and unassuming, but powerful in giving life and purpose to the family.
Now, we can only visit her memory in moments of quiet repose, instead of being with her in this world.
We are ever grateful for her love, her kindness, the happiness she gave and for being the original mother of new generations of beating hearts. She will be missed, and always be with us in our hearts.
Graveside service will be held for family and friends at 11 a.m. Sunday, July 2, 2023. The location is at 854 Eltopia West Road, Eltopia, Wash.
