| Graduation Year | Class of 1971 |
| Date of Passing | Sep 16, 1969 |
| About | June 30, 1953 to September 16, 1969 posted TCH September 12, 1969 CAR CRASH KILLS TWO TRI-CITIANS Two Tri-City area residents were killed and two others injured when their car rolled early today on Highway 12 west of Clarkston. Killed were the driver, Carmen Sue Illg, 19, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wilbert R. Illg, Burbank, and a passenger, Carl W. Jensen, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Strong, of 409 S. Larch St. Kennewick. Relatives said they believed the four had ridden to the Clarkston area to see friends. Injured passengers, both reported in poor condition at Tri-State Hospital, Clarkston, were Denton L. Howard, 20 of 1736 Lucas Ave, Pasco, and Michael P. Cokeley, 17, of 333 W. 10th Ave., Kennewick. Howard has a broken right arm and possible internal injuries. He was planning to attend Columbia Basin College this fall, his mother, Mrs. Maurice Howard, said. Cokeley, a junior at Kennewick high School and son of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Cokeley, received severe head cuts. The State Patrol said the accident occurred about 12:30 a.m. 13 miles west of Clarkston. The car went off the right shoulder of Highway 12 and rolled several times, coming to rest on its wheels. Jensen was a returning senior at Kennewick High. Strong said his stepson had signed up for two more credits to receive his diploma. Funeral arrangements for Jensen are pending, Strong said. Miss Illg was born Aug, 11, 1950, in Pasco and attended Burbank schools and Columbia Basin College. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Pasco. Survivors include her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wilbert R. Illg; brothers, Roger, Pasco, and grandmother, Bertha Feldt, International Falls, Minn. Bruce Lee Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. posted TCH September 14, 1969 INJURED YOUTHS NOW IMPROVING Two Tri-Citians, injured in an auto accident near Clarkston Friday, were showing signs of improvement Saturday night. Tri-State Hospital officials said Denton Howard, 20, of 1736 Lucas Ave., Pasco, was in good condition. He had a broken right arm and possible internal injuries. Michael Cokeley, 17, of 333 W. 10th Ave., Kennewick, under treatment for severe head cuts, remained on the critical list but "the three doctors seemed encouraged", an official said. "They are pleased but they don't want to seem to optimistic yet," it was added. Howard and Cokeley were passengers in a car driven by Carmen Sue Illg, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wilbert Illg, Burbank. The three, accompanied by Carl Jensen, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Strong, of 409 S. Larch St, Kennewick, were reportedly headed to Clarkston to visit friends. About 12:30 a.m., when they were some 13 miles west of Clarkston on Highway 12, the car left the road and rolled several times, killing Jensen and Miss Illg. Howard and Cokeley were hospitalized soon after the accident and both listed in poor condition. Wednesday afternoon, almost two days before the Friday morning tragedy, Cokeley escaped injury in a two-car accident in Kennewick. The other driver Larry Witham, 21, Blue Lake, Calif., received a head injury when the cars collided at 10th Avenue and Washington Street. posted TCH September 17, 1969 THIRD TRI-CITIAN DIES AFTER CRASH Michael P. (Mike) Cokeley, 17, of 333 W. 10th Ave., Kennewick, died early today in a Clarkston hospital from injuries received Friday in an automobile accident. The lone survivor of the crash that no has claimed the lives of three Tri-City youths is Denton Howard, 20, of 1736 Lucas Ave., Pasco. Hospital officials reported his condition as "serious but improving," adding "he will be in the hospital quite some time yet." He has a broken right arm and possible internal injuries. Carmen Sue Illg, 19, Burbank, the driver, and Carl Jensen, 20, of 409 S. Larch St., Kennewick, were killed in the crash. Cokeley was born June 30, 1952 in Pasco. He was a junior at Kennewick High School and was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene D. Cokeley, Kennewick; sisters, Mrs. Michael (Sheila) Kauer, Seattle, and Mrs. Gary (Sandra) Anderson, Richland, and maternal grandmother, Anna Gaspard, San Bernardino, Calif. Services will be announced by Mueller's Funeral Home. posted TCH September 18, 1969 MICHAEL COKELEY Rosary for Michael (Mike) Cokeley, Kennewick, who died in a Clarkston hospital Tuesday, will be at 8 p.m. Friday at Mueller's Funeral Home. Requiem Mass will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church with Rev. Martin Skehan officiating. Burial will be in Desert Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to the Morning Star Boys Ranch, 44th and Dyer, Spokane. |
