Velita Hargraves Zager Obituary (1928

Velita Hargraves Zager Whited, 87, of Yakima, died Monday, June 22, 2015 at Cottage in the Meadow. Velita was born in Wapato on June 20, 1928 to Samuel Isaac and Kate Malliot Hargraves. She graduated from Wapato High School in 1947 and was the class Valedictorian. During her high school years and for some time after, she worked for the Oregon-Washington Telephone Company in Wapato. She attended Central Washington College of Education in Ellensburg, majoring in secretarial science. She worked for Lovering Tire Company for many years and while working there, she met her first husband, Herman Zager. She and Herman were married for 19 years before his death in 1968. Several years later she married Clifford Whited on September 23, 1971. They were married for 41 years. Velita worked for several insurance companies including United Pacific Insurance Company in Yakima. Velita lived in the Wapato-Yakima area her entire life. She loved to hold dinners and family get-togethers and also loved sewing and making holiday treats and baskets for step-daughters Barbara and Nancy's children. Birthdays and holidays were special gatherings for the whole family. She greatly enjoyed dancing and especially enjoyed the dances at Playland in Selah, the Elks Clubs in Yakima, Sunnyside and Oregon City, Oregon. Velita and Cliff would often follow the swing-band up and down the valley every weekend. After Clifford retired, they traveled to many places, cruising and taking many trips to the East Coast and throughout the United States. Velita and Cliff resided at Rexford Manor for many years and after Cliff's death, she lived at Chesterley Meadows and Brookdale/Wynwood Senior Living and Landmark Care Center. Velita helped raises Herman Zager's two daughters: Barbara and Nancy. She was close to her niece, Delores St. George, who cared for her the past three years. Although she never had any children of her own, she was a mother and grandmother to many. Velita was preceded in death by her parents, her husband's Herman Zager and Clifford Whited, brothers: William, Harold, Harvey, Verl and Toby Hargraves. Sisters: Kathryn Keeton and Athalia Reed. She is lovingly survived by her sister Margerie Craig of Yakima, four step-children: Barbara Zager (Walt) Fountain McGahuley of Wenatchee, Nancy Zager (Dale) Jones of Pasco, William (Mary) Whited of Kent, Virginia (Don) Weber of Post Falls, ID; numerous nieces and nephews, including Delores (Jerry) St. George of Yakima. Several step-grandchildren and great grandchildren. At her request, no services will be held. Memorials may be made to the Memorial Hospital Foundation for Children's Village, North Star Lodge, or Cottage in the Meadow, in care of Brookside Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1267, Moxee, Wa. 98936