"When I come to the end of the road,
And the sun has set for me,
I want no rites in a gloom-filled room,
Why cry for a soul set free.
Miss me a little but not too long,
And not with your head bowed low.
Remember the love that we once shared,
Miss me but let me go.
Yes, this is a journey we all must take,
And each must go alone,
It's all a part of the Master's plan,
A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick at heart,
Go to the friends we know,
And bury your sorrow in doing good deeds,
Miss me but let me go."
Our mother, Katherine "Kitty" Gamet, passed away Friday, July 29, 2016, at Guardian Angel, Liberty House in Lewiston. Mom was born June 21, 1916, to Louis and Maude Bolen at Spalding. Louis worked for the railroad, while Maude stayed home to care for Mom and her eight siblings who were all born at home.
Mom went to school at Spalding and, after finishing the eighth grade, fellow students told her about ninth grade initiation. Mom, being a little shy, said she was finished with formal education. Mom helped her mother at home caring for her crippled brother and four younger siblings. She also worked for a Chinese truck farmer named Ning Huey, raising vegetables for sale from the rich soil of the Lapwai valley.
Mom's older sister Juanita caught the eye of Dad's older brother Lester, and when he came to call on her, Dad just happened to be with him. We believe it was love at first sight for Mom and Dad.
Mom married our father, Raymond Gamet, at the Asotin Courthouse on July 23, 1934. Dad was a local young man from the Tom Beall area between Spalding and Lapwai. They had been married 66 years when Dad passed away Jan. 20, 2000. Early years of marriage, they lived on rented acreage on the Tom Beall. During harvest for the Camas Prairie wheat farmers, Dad hauled 100-pound sacks of grain on a Model T Ford off the old Winchester Grade. Mom and Dad had milk cows, hogs, chickens and a big garden to tend. Mom said you could plant anything and it would grow on that sub-irrigated 40 acres.
Times were tough, but they ate well and two children, Neva and Roy, were born. About this time, Dad worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps. Money was scarce during the Depression/World War II years, so Dad left Mom at home to find work at the Umatilla, Ore., ammunition depot. Still looking for better employment, Dad packed up the family and moved to Portland, Ore., to work in the shipyards. Here he became a certified welder and was promoted to welding superintendent/inspector.
In 1944, another child, Darrell, was born and in 1946 Mom and Dad moved home to Clarkston, where they purchased a "mom and pop" service station/garage/welding shop/grocery store named Gamet's Riverview Service and Grocery. They worked side by side. Mom was behind the cash register and pumping gas (we actually used to do that). She also picked up produce at Pacific Fruit and Produce, meat at Bristol's Packing and Meats Inc., and canned foods and sundries at Roundup Grocery Supply, hauling it in, pricing and stocking. Mom and Dad had the first coin-operated 24-hour self-service gas pumps in Washington state.
When you work with each other six days a week, you don't have many outside activities. Dad had one of the first pleasure boats on the river, and summer evenings found them swimming and water skiing on local beaches enjoying the free-flowing river. Neighborhood kids were always invited to join them. They also loved to go dancing on Saturday nights at the Metronome Dance Hall where Casey's used to be, and were charter members of the Twin City Twirlers and Square Devils dance clubs until the turn of the century. They were also life members of the Church of God.
Mom and Dad were "unofficial" building inspectors on the Washington side construction of the Gamet/Bryden Canyon bridge, due to the fact it went right through their property and very nearly their home. Consequently, the state renamed it Bryden Canyon/Fleshman Way. Wouldn't it be a hoot if they would name the new roundabouts soon to be constructed "Miss Kitty's Roundabouts"?
Mom and Dad offered credit to most anyone without a credit check, just a handshake and the promise to pay within 90 days, same as cash, no interest. That's not all, folks. Mom and Dad also had eight rentals and a 20-unit mobile home park that needed renting, cleaning and maintenance.
Mom is survived by her daughter, Neva Morrow; son Darrell (Carol) Gamet; sister Jean (Charles) Wood; and grandchildren Shelley (Dick) Flerchinger, Stephanie (Marc) Hodges, Brook (Lilly) Morrow, Kevin (Sonia) Gamet and Darren (Tandy) Gamet. She is also survived by 15 great-grandchildren, 12 great-great-grandchildren and one due in September.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and beloved husband Raymond; sisters Florence Goucher, Ada Peterson and Juanita Gamet; brothers Arthur, Clarence, Chester and Gale Bolen; and son-in-law Sherrod Morrow.
The family extends with heartfelt gratitude and special thanks to the staff and caregivers at Guardian Angel Homes who cared for Mom over the past 11 years, and Hayden Flerchinger for providing joy and a bright light in Mom's life.
At her request, no memorial service will be held.
