Herbert Cokeley, born October 31, 1910, southeast of Custer City, near Arapaho, OK. After completing school through the 8th grade in Arapaho, he went to work on the family farm. In 1936, he married Thelma Fae Deming in Weatherford. They had four children. Herbert worked for Custer county, the city of Weatherford, and with Jim Brown. He operated various machinery to maintain the roads, as well as highway work for the state of Oklahoma. He, also, worked as a mechanic at an auto salvaging company in Weatherford, OK.
In December 1941, the family moved to Montesano, WA, and settled there after Herb and his father in law, John Deming, traveled there several times in search of better work.
Between 1941 and 1948, Herbert worked a variety of jobs, including a brief one in WW2, in the Warrenton, OR area, Columbia River, and Oregon Coast, where he held the position of operating engineer, running road building equipment.
In Montesano, he worked for Henry and Joe Hall at a blacksmith shop building crabpots, Vancouver Door Company, and as a garbage man. Since money was scarce, he saved old broken and beat up toys for the kids and picked up old produce from town grocers to help feed the kids and the animals he raised. He owned a business with partner Lee Stewart.
In 1949, he began work for the city of Montesano. His first paycheck for the month of January 1949 came to $190.22. He worked as a maintenance/street man. During the 1950s, he worked in the first primary sewage treatment plant in Washington state. They designated him a street superintendent on June 10, 1958. In 1963, the mayor of Montesano put him in charge of streets, street construction, waterline construction, sewer construction, and major repair to water lines. In 1964, he was designated as water and sewer superintendent. He retired at the end of 1972.
At home, with Thelma, during the 1940s and 50s, they raised and sold hogs, cattle, and sold beef, butter, and cream. They, also, raised goats for milk, after son Pual became allergic to cows milk. Herb built water reservoirs for the home before they were able to get city water.
Herb and Thelma enjoyed traveled after Herb's retirement. They owned a second home in Winterhaven, CA, and later, in Yuma, AZ. They would return off and on to see the family in Washington. They enjoyed camping in Bard, CA. Thelma worked as a housekeeper, janitor, and in child care. She loved berry picking, and walks with the family. She spent some time at Weatherford College in Oklahoma before moving to Washington.
Herb demonstrated road graders after his retirement, sometimes at home on the land. He learned with graders towed behind a CAT in his early days in Oklahoma.
Herb died of cancer on April 23, 1989 at 78. Thelma died of cancer on March 14, 1998 at 83.
Bio courtesy of contributor #46546576
In December 1941, the family moved to Montesano, WA, and settled there after Herb and his father in law, John Deming, traveled there several times in search of better work.
Between 1941 and 1948, Herbert worked a variety of jobs, including a brief one in WW2, in the Warrenton, OR area, Columbia River, and Oregon Coast, where he held the position of operating engineer, running road building equipment.
In Montesano, he worked for Henry and Joe Hall at a blacksmith shop building crabpots, Vancouver Door Company, and as a garbage man. Since money was scarce, he saved old broken and beat up toys for the kids and picked up old produce from town grocers to help feed the kids and the animals he raised. He owned a business with partner Lee Stewart.
In 1949, he began work for the city of Montesano. His first paycheck for the month of January 1949 came to $190.22. He worked as a maintenance/street man. During the 1950s, he worked in the first primary sewage treatment plant in Washington state. They designated him a street superintendent on June 10, 1958. In 1963, the mayor of Montesano put him in charge of streets, street construction, waterline construction, sewer construction, and major repair to water lines. In 1964, he was designated as water and sewer superintendent. He retired at the end of 1972.
At home, with Thelma, during the 1940s and 50s, they raised and sold hogs, cattle, and sold beef, butter, and cream. They, also, raised goats for milk, after son Pual became allergic to cows milk. Herb built water reservoirs for the home before they were able to get city water.
Herb and Thelma enjoyed traveled after Herb's retirement. They owned a second home in Winterhaven, CA, and later, in Yuma, AZ. They would return off and on to see the family in Washington. They enjoyed camping in Bard, CA. Thelma worked as a housekeeper, janitor, and in child care. She loved berry picking, and walks with the family. She spent some time at Weatherford College in Oklahoma before moving to Washington.
Herb demonstrated road graders after his retirement, sometimes at home on the land. He learned with graders towed behind a CAT in his early days in Oklahoma.
Herb died of cancer on April 23, 1989 at 78. Thelma died of cancer on March 14, 1998 at 83.
Bio courtesy of contributor #46546576
Herbert Cokeley, born October 31, 1910, southeast of Custer City, near Arapaho, OK. After completing school through the 8th grade in Arapaho, he went to work on the family farm. In 1936, he married Thelma Fae Deming in Weatherford. They had four children. Herbert worked for Custer county, the city of Weatherford, and with Jim Brown. He operated various machinery to maintain the roads, as well as highway work for the state of Oklahoma. He, also, worked as a mechanic at an auto salvaging company in Weatherford, OK.
In December 1941, the family moved to Montesano, WA, and settled there after Herb and his father in law, John Deming, traveled there several times in search of better work.
Between 1941 and 1948, Herbert worked a variety of jobs, including a brief one in WW2, in the Warrenton, OR area, Columbia River, and Oregon Coast, where he held the position of operating engineer, running road building equipment.
In Montesano, he worked for Henry and Joe Hall at a blacksmith shop building crabpots, Vancouver Door Company, and as a garbage man. Since money was scarce, he saved old broken and beat up toys for the kids and picked up old produce from town grocers to help feed the kids and the animals he raised. He owned a business with partner Lee Stewart.
In 1949, he began work for the city of Montesano. His first paycheck for the month of January 1949 came to $190.22. He worked as a maintenance/street man. During the 1950s, he worked in the first primary sewage treatment plant in Washington state. They designated him a street superintendent on June 10, 1958. In 1963, the mayor of Montesano put him in charge of streets, street construction, waterline construction, sewer construction, and major repair to water lines. In 1964, he was designated as water and sewer superintendent. He retired at the end of 1972.
At home, with Thelma, during the 1940s and 50s, they raised and sold hogs, cattle, and sold beef, butter, and cream. They, also, raised goats for milk, after son Pual became allergic to cows milk. Herb built water reservoirs for the home before they were able to get city water.
Herb and Thelma enjoyed traveled after Herb's retirement. They owned a second home in Winterhaven, CA, and later, in Yuma, AZ. They would return off and on to see the family in Washington. They enjoyed camping in Bard, CA. Thelma worked as a housekeeper, janitor, and in child care. She loved berry picking, and walks with the family. She spent some time at Weatherford College in Oklahoma before moving to Washington.
Herb demonstrated road graders after his retirement, sometimes at home on the land. He learned with graders towed behind a CAT in his early days in Oklahoma.
Herb died of cancer on April 23, 1989 at 78. Thelma died of cancer on March 14, 1998 at 83.
Bio courtesy of contributor #46546576
In December 1941, the family moved to Montesano, WA, and settled there after Herb and his father in law, John Deming, traveled there several times in search of better work.
Between 1941 and 1948, Herbert worked a variety of jobs, including a brief one in WW2, in the Warrenton, OR area, Columbia River, and Oregon Coast, where he held the position of operating engineer, running road building equipment.
In Montesano, he worked for Henry and Joe Hall at a blacksmith shop building crabpots, Vancouver Door Company, and as a garbage man. Since money was scarce, he saved old broken and beat up toys for the kids and picked up old produce from town grocers to help feed the kids and the animals he raised. He owned a business with partner Lee Stewart.
In 1949, he began work for the city of Montesano. His first paycheck for the month of January 1949 came to $190.22. He worked as a maintenance/street man. During the 1950s, he worked in the first primary sewage treatment plant in Washington state. They designated him a street superintendent on June 10, 1958. In 1963, the mayor of Montesano put him in charge of streets, street construction, waterline construction, sewer construction, and major repair to water lines. In 1964, he was designated as water and sewer superintendent. He retired at the end of 1972.
At home, with Thelma, during the 1940s and 50s, they raised and sold hogs, cattle, and sold beef, butter, and cream. They, also, raised goats for milk, after son Pual became allergic to cows milk. Herb built water reservoirs for the home before they were able to get city water.
Herb and Thelma enjoyed traveled after Herb's retirement. They owned a second home in Winterhaven, CA, and later, in Yuma, AZ. They would return off and on to see the family in Washington. They enjoyed camping in Bard, CA. Thelma worked as a housekeeper, janitor, and in child care. She loved berry picking, and walks with the family. She spent some time at Weatherford College in Oklahoma before moving to Washington.
Herb demonstrated road graders after his retirement, sometimes at home on the land. He learned with graders towed behind a CAT in his early days in Oklahoma.
Herb died of cancer on April 23, 1989 at 78. Thelma died of cancer on March 14, 1998 at 83.
Bio courtesy of contributor #46546576
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