| Graduation Year | Class of 1962 |
| Date of Passing | Jan 01, 2020 |
| About | Elberta Lee (Baker) Woody went to the loving arms of her family and Lord on the first day of this New Year. Born in Yakima on November 20, 1943, she was the second child of Beulah (Wilson) Baker and Herbert A. Baker. Elberta grew up in the Yakima Valley, graduating from Eisenhower High School in 1962, and attended YVCC where she acquired office and secretarial skills. After working several years as a legal assistant for a local law office, Bert purchased the Idle Hour Tavern in Wiley City. It was during her time as entrepreneur of the Idle Hour that she met Pete James and they were soulmates for the next 24 years until Pete’s passing in 1997. Bert’s warm personality and skill in organizing pool tournaments earned her many great friends during more than 15 years owning the Idle Hour Tavern. After selling the tavern, she returned to work as a legal assistant for the Law Office of Kevin Kirkevold where she made herself indispensable for over 28 years. Bert was truly a woman of talent who proved herself to be tenacious in all her endeavors. Bert loved to play pool!! At times she involved herself with three different pool leagues at the same time as well as participating in tournaments on the weekends. For over 50 years she shared her knowledge and passion for pool with her teammates as well as newcomers and even opponents. She was President of the Upper Valley Pool Leagues for many years. Elberta was a good-hearted and generous woman. She always put others before herself and when seeing a need in another, tried her best to meet it. She was always a compassionate woman with a quick wit and a ready smile. She will be sorely missed. Elberta was preceded in death by her husband, Pete James, her parents, Herbert and Audrey Baker and Beulah and Bill Klingaman as well has her sister, Carmen Calhoun. She is survived by her children, Cinda Woody and Troy Woody, daughter-in-law, Debbie Woody, grandsons, Ryan and Dylan Woody and great-grandson, Braxton. Also, her brother, Ray Baker, sister-in-law, Nancy Baker, sister-of-the-heart, Carol Murphy and her husband Mike, cousins, Joy (Ed) Staley and Jerry (Susie) Wilson, and nephew, Steve (Nancy) Calhoun and clan. Elberta will be remembered with Visitation on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 from 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm and a Memorial Service on Thursday, January 9, 2020 at 10:00 am, both at Shaw and Sons Funeral Home (201 N. 2nd St., Yakima, WA). A procession will follow the service to West Hills Memorial Park and a potluck gathering in Bert’s honor will be held at West Valley Bar & Grill. The family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses, and caregivers on the Virginia Mason Memorial and Cottage in the Meadow staff for their care of Bert during her last days and hours. Shaw & Sons Funeral Home is caring for the family. Condolences can be shared at www.shawandsons.com. |
