Arvilla May "Arlie May" Katsel

Arvilla, known in her family as Arlie May, was born March 15, 1933, and passed away on April 13, 2015. She came to this life on the South Fork of the Coppei near Waitsburg, Washington. She was born at home and delivered by her grandmother, Cynthia Katsel. She attended the old South Coppei School and Dixie Elementary. For high school, she attended all four years at Waitsburg High and graduated in 1951. Arvilla worked all her life beginning at home, as a cook for harvest crews, then in the office of the Green Giant Cannery in Waitsburg. She graduated from Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho, with a business degree. She was the first member of her family to attend college. After college, she returned to the area and began a career in mortgage banking with Sherwood and Roberts in Walla Walla. Later she continued her career in Portland, Oregon, with various banks in their mortgage and loan departments. Arvilla returned home to the South Fork of the Coppei to care for her parents in the mid 1980's. Soon after her return, she married Jack Cyr. Both lived at the family home on the Coppei until 2008.

Arvilla loved music, playing piano and accordion. She continued to play piano for the Dixie Christian Church so long as she was able. She and Jack also loved to square dance, and they traveled to various square dance meets in the area and around the country. Arvilla's family was very important to her. She helped various members of her family in many ways throughout her life. She is survived by her husband, Jack Cyr, a sister, JoAnn Perry of Spokane, a brother, Garry Katsel of Captain Cook, Hawaii, two nephews, Frank Perry Jr. of Seattle, and Nathan Perry, London, England, as well as several cousins, step grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Earnest and Beula Katsel. Especially important have been cousins, Judy and Darrell Benzel of Dixie, Washington, who have been her caregivers since her diagnosis with Alzheimer's.

A memorial service is planned at the Dixie Church in Dixie on Thursday, April 23rd at 3:00 pm. Donations in her memory may be made to a charity of choice. Arrangements are entrusted to Mountain View-Colonial DeWitt 1551 Dalles Military Road of Walla Walla, Washington.