My great uncle John Wesley Sumey was born in Minnesota in 1890 and passed away 22 May 1961. I have a picture of his headstone in Sunset Memorial Park, Hoquiam, WA. His family came from Minnesota to Puyallup. WA 1904-1909. I have been told he was in Canada for a bit then told his father he was coming home to join the military. His WW1 military registration was filled out in Hoquiam. His headstone said he had been in the 99 Aero Sq. A cousin told me when he got sick her father took him to Seattle to a hospital where he died and was buried in Sumner. I found a picture of his headstone in Hoquiam which shoots that info. If anyone has any info on my uncle I would be grateful to hear it. Would anyone know how I would go about finding out if there is a death certificate in Grays Harbor for him. Also, does this cemetary have any mortuary attached with it that might have info on file regarding him? Thanks...Linda

Linda,
There is only one funeral home in Hoquiam and that would be Coleman Mortuary. Their address is 422 5th St in Hoquiam WA 98550. The phone number might still 360-532-4090 but this is from an old directory. There are two other funeral homes in the area but I would try Colemans first. Could not find the name Sumey in my "very old" telephone directory.
As for a death certificate you would need to contact Center for Health Services, PO Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507-9709. You can Google their sight for the form.

Good luck,
Polly

Polly, thanks for the info. I will contact them to see if they have any info. This is interesting to me because the info that was passed on to me from an older cousin is contradictary to what I am finding so I am finding Uncle John intriging so far. So off I go on this lead...thanks...Linda

I am still researching John..any info would be appreciated.

Linda,
Did you have any luck with the mortuary? Did you contact Sunset Memorial Park? I've checked the local newspaper archives but they only go back to 1997 online. They do have obits on microfilm but need to be viewed at the local Timberland libraries - Aberdeen and probably Hoquiam are in the Timberland system. I don't live in the area but may be there sometime this summer. I've checked some other sources but your John Wesley is a mystery with all that is out there to research. Loved the sight that showed his headstone.

Polly

I had great luck with 'AskALibrarian@secstate.wa.gov' getting Uncle John's obit. I love this site. It is a Washington state site and they will email you a copy of the obit for the person if they can locate it..of course the person has to have had a Washington state obit. Here is a copy of the obit just in case you wanted to read it.
Aberdeen Daily World
Tuesday May 23, 1961 pg 11
John W. Sumey Taken By Death
Hoquiam (Special)-John W. Sumey , 70, Route 2, Box 175, Hoquiam, died yesterday morning at Veterans Hospital in Seattle. He had been ill only a short time.

Born in Staples, Minn., Mr. Sumey had been a Grays Harbor Veneer Corp. sawyer for many years. He retired about five years ago.

He was a World War I veteran and belonged to Grays Harbor Barracks I, World War I Veterans. He also was a life member of Henry L. Robb Post 1135, VFW, Hoquiam.

Survivors are a sister, a Miss Nittie Sumey, Des Moines, Wash; five brothers, Lewis and Ketchel, both of Puyallup, Rudolph of Elk River, Idaho, and Irving and Loyd, Tacoma, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 11a.m. Saturday in the Coleman chapel with Rev. Robert Postma officiating. Internment will be in Sunset Memorial Park with the local VFW post conducting its ritualistic service and providing military honors.

They misspelled my Aunt Mittie's name...it is Mittie not Nittie. This obit gave me information about Uncle John that I did not have before. You know how it is with family research..you get a little and you would like more. I would just like to know a little more about the man..I really do not remember meeting him when I was a child even though I was told I had met him and my family did not talk a lot about family members. So know I am trying to do catch up but the people that could have told me about this man are no longer here to tell me.

I thank you for the interest and help you have given me! People like you make the family research pleasant to do!