Cleo Washington Sims
Monitor, Washington
November 1, 2007

Cleo, a long-time resident of Monitor, passed away November 1, 2007 at the age of 83.  Born January 3, 1924 to Henry and Hardie Sims at home in Melbourne, AR, Cleo would grouw up to be a tall and strong man with a booming voice, quick wit and unmatchable charm.  Although mostly referred to as “CW” or simply “Sims” by his friends, all who knew him could not help but admire him for his pride, his accomplishments, his convictions and his fortitude to anything he set his mind to.  Whether it was breaking horses, growing vegetables or cracking jokes, Cleo was a man whose demeanor commanded dignity and respect from those all around him.  Just like the old black and white westerns of bygone days that he loved to watch, Cleo came from a breed of man they just don’t make anymore.  Cleo was tougher than nails, yet full of tender reminiscence when talking about the people he loved.  A legendary storyteller himself, we will try and do him justice as we hope to honor and pay tribute to a man we will forever hold embedded in our hearts.

The fourth of ten children, Cleo was born in an era when you worked from the earliest days.  He described how his dad would pile him and all his siblings in the back of a horse drawn wagon to go cut firewood.  Although it was hard and they would labor all day to get enough wood to sell in town for dinner that night, he said at the same time they didn’t think of it as work as they sang songs the whole time.  One day, while riding his horse out in Guion, AR, Cleo fell in “love at first sight” when he saw Ina Loggains working with her dad out in a hay field.  Having already signed up to serve his country, he told her dad he would be back to marry her after the war.  Cleo served the USA in World War II as an infantryman in the Army.  Stationed in the Philippines, he entered the military at the green age of 19, however, over two years later, he came home a man of great stature after earning many honors for his service including two Bronze Stars, a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster and a Purple Heart, just to name a few.  Ina waited for him and upon his return, he went straight to her house and on January 26, 1946, they wed.  In 1951, times were tough in Arkansas and work was scarce, so at the urging of Homer, his older brother, the family piled into a silver 1935 Ford convertible with a rumble seat and moved to the Wenatchee area.  Ina and Cleo had two children then, Mary and Lloyd.  Finding work at Alcoa and making a new life, they bought a house in Monitor and raised four more children, Geneva, Louise, Ada and Chris.  Cleo retired from Alcoa after 30 years and he and Ina remained in Monitor where they lived for the rest of their days, enjoying grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Cleo loved riding horses in the high country, camping and fishing.  A well reputed horseman, all Cleo’s friends admired his eye for a good horse and his ability to ride the not so good ones while getting the best out of them.  Cleo was a member of the Tillicum Riders and competed in numerous horse contests that were held at the Chelan County Fair.  He also enjoyed bartering and trading, most always coming out on the good end of the deal.  Cleo was proud to be a member of the Cashmere American Legion Post #64.  Never one to poke his nose into other peoples’ personal business, but if he was asked by them for direction, Cleo would tell them what he thought, even if it wasn’t what they might want to hear.  He only spoke truths and had no problem telling it like it was.  Many people held his opinion in high esteem and came to him when they wanted to know the facts of the matter.  Cleo believed in helping others, had a generous heart, and if he knew of someone in trouble, usually found a way to help them without making it feel like a hand-out.  Though not a man to show outward affection, everyone who knew Cleo knew he had much love and pride for his family.  He and Ina made it a priority to keep in touch with family and traveled many times back to Arkansas to check on family that had not moved out West.  Cleo absolutely loved all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and often ‘bragged them up’ to his friends over coffee.  There are no words to truly describe the impression he left on us.  He will forever ride in our hearts on a buckskin horse, hat cocked off to the side and a pretty girl named Ina beside him!  Cleo will always be held in our memories with the highest esteem and with much love.

A man who feared nothing, the hardest thing he ever did was live without his beloved wife, Ina, who passed eight years before him.  Cleo was also preceded in death by three brothers; Troy, Homer and Hubert Sims; one sister, Virgia Ledford; and a daughter-in-law, Christine; as well as his parents, Henry and Hardie.  Survivors include his daughters, Mary Cook of Cashmere, Geneva (Richard) Martin of Wenatchee, Louise (Doug) Eisenrich of Monitor and Ada (Dan) Hutchinson of Wenatchee; sons, Lloyd Sims of Monitor and Chris (Shannon) Sims of Cashmere; two brothers, Delbert and Toby Sims of East Wenatchee; and three sisters, May White of Melbourne, AR, Eula Duncan of Batesville, AR, and Edith Fellows of Cashmere; plus 17 beloved grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, November 5, 2007, at Jones & Jones~Betts chapel.  Military graveside services will follow at the Cashmere Cemetery.  Viewing will be held from 3-8:00 p.m., Sunday, November 4 at the funeral home.