McCaws Are Parade Marshals

WAITSBURG - " My granddad settled in the area in 1898 and we still farm some of that original land," said lifelong resident, Jack McCaw. Area roots run deep for Jack and his wife Lauretta, parade marshals for this weekend's 100th Anniversary Waitsburg Celebration Days.

Jack was born to Jay and Katherine McCaw in March of 1927, on a farm three miles from Prescott. Lauretta, whose parents farmed near Dusty, was born to Martha and Jake Stueckle, in June of 1930. Her family moved to the Prescott-Clyde area in 1936.

The couple attended school together in Prescott, but didn't date until later. "My parents never would have let me date him. I would have said 'no' even if he'd asked," said Lauretta. "He was a senior and I was a freshman."

Jack enlisted in the Navy at 17 and was deployed to Japan just before graduation. His mother accepted his diploma for him. He returned home in 1946, attended Washington State College (now University), and worked the family farm. Lauretta was attending college at Whitworth when they began dating.

Married in 1949, they moved to the home built by Jack's father, took over the family farm, and started their own family. First to arrive was J.E. in 1952, followed by Guy in 1955 and Laurie (McCaw-Withers) in 1957. In 1954 the McCaw's moved to a farmstead just outside Waitsburg where they remained for 52 years, until moving to town this March. Their children all attended school in Waitsburg and have remained to raise their own families here.

Running the farm was a family affair. Jack drove tractor and Lauretta cooked and drove truck. "The kids would drive in from the field and I would drive to the elevator," said Lauretta. "Since we didn't have radios back then, I'd spend 15 minutes at the house, and then drive back to the field where I'd listen to hear where Jack was."

A very partial list of Jack's community involvement includes: Rainbow Dad, Little League Coach, School Board member, Master of the Mason's Lodge, Worthy Patron of Eastern Star, President of the Waitsburg Lion's Club and much more.

Jack is known throughout the area for providing the resonant bass in the popular Waitsburg Barbershop Quartet. Now the only original member still singing, Jack continues to perform regularly. And his performance isn't limited to song. "I've been in every production at the Liberty Theater since it started," he said.

Lauretta sings in the Presbyterian Church choir, and has been involved in Eastern Star, P.E.O. and Odako, though she says her main priority was always, "Keeping the home fires burning and raising my family."

"She was the worker and I just fooled around," said Jack, laughing.

Jack noted that his sister, Kathleen McCaw Bergevin, was Days of Real Sport Queen in 1940 and their daughter, Laurie, was Queen in 1975. The couple was both pleased and surprised to be honored with the role of Centennial marshals. "Now I just have to figure out what to wear," said Lauretta.