The WA Death Certificate Index:
Frances Lorinda Dexter, died 7 Feb 1941 in Ellensburg, age 82 years 1 month 18 days (20 December 1858), married to John B. Dexter, father: William B. Smith, Mother: "Custard."
There are a number of family trees for this woman.
She was born 2 December 1858 in Illinois, duaghter of William Badger Smith and Elizabeth McNaught. Married John Benson Dexter on 21 Feb 1881 in Stark County, Illinois. She lived in Bellingham, WA, as identified in the 1910, 20 and 30 US Census. John died in 1931 in Bellingham. He was previously married to Nellie Ramsdell that had died in 1880, and had a daughter Maud, born 1874. Frances had three identified children, Edith 1888-1927; Vernon 1882 to 28 May 1965 in Ephrata, Grant Co, WA. Roy Rex Dexter, 1899 to 15 may 1988 In Los Osos, San Luis Obispo, CA.
An obit: Many persons of this age did not have obituaries. They depended on the pre-spoken desire of the person, financial means of the descendents. It also depended on the length of time they had lived in an area. It appears she "might" have been in this area to live with/near her son Vernon. If she hadn't lived in the area long enough to gather a lot of family or friends, one might not be published here, but "possibly" in Bellingham. Other factors also exist.
With the "demise?" of the Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness, someone here might obtain the obit for you, otherwise:
The Washington State Library has a free research service, the ask-a-librarian program, where they will look for information in the archives, in this case the newspaper microfilm for an event. They will look up to an hour and send you the results. For an obituary:
http://www.sos.wa.gov/library/Obituaries.aspx Due to staff cuts, economy, mass requests, they are now taking up to six weeks.
Ron Bestrom
Tacoma, WA