James
James M. Stanberry
d. June 26, 2015
James Millard Stanberry, known to most people as Millard, passed away on June 26, 2015 at the age of 97.
Millard was born on January 29, 1918 in Cumberland County, Illinois to Owen and Carrie Stanberry. He was the youngest of eleven children. When he was two, he moved with his family to Mexico, Missouri where he was raised and received his education.
After a short time at the University of Missouri and marrying Mildred Hall, he relocated to the west coast, along with his brother Carl, at the urging of their older brother Chauncy. Chauncy had moved west to attend WSU and was working in Prosser at the Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center and thought his younger brothers would make higher wages during the war at the west coast ship yards. Carl ended up at the Bremerton Ship Yard and Millard went to Portland.
They often visited their older brother in Prosser where Millard met Harvey Fox and became intrigued with the idea of owning his own business. Harvey and Millard became friends and Millard bought the Welding and Repair Shop and moved to Prosser in 1945. He operated the shop full time until 1968 when he began working for various canneries in Alaska during the summer months.
In 1983, he and his wife built their home on Byron Road where they lived for the rest of their married life. They both loved their home, their flowers, their garden, birdwatching and the river.
After retirement, Millard and Millie traveled across the country visiting family and friends. Their travels took them from Alaska to New England to Florida and Hawaii.
Millard was a member of the Masonic Lodge where he served as Master. He and his wife, Millie, were members of the First Baptist Church in Prosser.
After Millie’s death in 2007, Millard began to write his memories of his jobs and family as a way to work through his grief. The result was the book, “Things I Remember and Before”. During this process, he discovered a love of writing and continued to write down stories and memories for the rest of his life.
Millard loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, wood carving, and his family-especially his grandchildren and his great granddaughter. He was a talented welder and machinist and could fix or build almost anything. As he aged, he may have lost the use of his legs but he never lost his memory. He had rich stories of Prosser’s history and took a keen interest in Prosser’s Benton County Historical Museum.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Millie on March 17, 2007; his daughter, Carolyn; and all of his siblings. He is survived by his daughter, Liz and her husband, Dale Travis; his grandchildren, Kristin Travis and fiancé Ryan Bruce, Craig Travis and his wife, Tanae; his great granddaughter, Johana Travis; and many nieces and nephews. He will be missed.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 31 at 2:00 pm at the First Baptist Church in Prosser. In lieu of flowers, Millard would ask people to support Prosser’s Benton County Historical Museum.
Millard was born on January 29, 1918 in Cumberland County, Illinois to Owen and Carrie Stanberry. He was the youngest of eleven children. When he was two, he moved with his family to Mexico, Missouri where he was raised and received his education.
After a short time at the University of Missouri and marrying Mildred Hall, he relocated to the west coast, along with his brother Carl, at the urging of their older brother Chauncy. Chauncy had moved west to attend WSU and was working in Prosser at the Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center and thought his younger brothers would make higher wages during the war at the west coast ship yards. Carl ended up at the Bremerton Ship Yard and Millard went to Portland.
They often visited their older brother in Prosser where Millard met Harvey Fox and became intrigued with the idea of owning his own business. Harvey and Millard became friends and Millard bought the Welding and Repair Shop and moved to Prosser in 1945. He operated the shop full time until 1968 when he began working for various canneries in Alaska during the summer months.
In 1983, he and his wife built their home on Byron Road where they lived for the rest of their married life. They both loved their home, their flowers, their garden, birdwatching and the river.
After retirement, Millard and Millie traveled across the country visiting family and friends. Their travels took them from Alaska to New England to Florida and Hawaii.
Millard was a member of the Masonic Lodge where he served as Master. He and his wife, Millie, were members of the First Baptist Church in Prosser.
After Millie’s death in 2007, Millard began to write his memories of his jobs and family as a way to work through his grief. The result was the book, “Things I Remember and Before”. During this process, he discovered a love of writing and continued to write down stories and memories for the rest of his life.
Millard loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, wood carving, and his family-especially his grandchildren and his great granddaughter. He was a talented welder and machinist and could fix or build almost anything. As he aged, he may have lost the use of his legs but he never lost his memory. He had rich stories of Prosser’s history and took a keen interest in Prosser’s Benton County Historical Museum.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Millie on March 17, 2007; his daughter, Carolyn; and all of his siblings. He is survived by his daughter, Liz and her husband, Dale Travis; his grandchildren, Kristin Travis and fiancé Ryan Bruce, Craig Travis and his wife, Tanae; his great granddaughter, Johana Travis; and many nieces and nephews. He will be missed.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 31 at 2:00 pm at the First Baptist Church in Prosser. In lieu of flowers, Millard would ask people to support Prosser’s Benton County Historical Museum.
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