Emiliana Gascon Inay

Emily (Emiliana) Inay, 88, of Wapato went to our Heavenly Father on November 13, 2012 at Yakima’s Hospice Cottage in the Meadow. Emily was a New Years’ Baby born on January 1, 1924 in Sinait Ilocus Sur, Luzon, Philippines to Anastacio and Augustina Gascon.

Emily was the first Filipina war bride to arrive in the Yakima Valley during the post World War II era. She worked right alongside our Dad farming various vegetables and raising cattle. Momma was a hard worker in everything she attempted. Mom’s education came to an abrupt end after fourth grade. She and her siblings had to work with their Dad planting and harvesting their rice crop.

Although Mom’s education was limited, she strongly wanted her children to have the best. Mom and Dad worked hard to put Beverly and Judy through college. Even to this day, Mom would stress to her grandchildren, nieces, and nephews to do well and get a good education.

Mom was so admired for her skill to be a master at crocheting. Mom could take an actual finished product, figure out the design, and crocheted beautiful items like doilies, table tops, bedspreads, and afghans.

In deep heart ache, a great loss of losing her only son, Marine Lance Corporal Christopher H. Inay in the Vietnam War, Mom was bestowed the honor and recognition of being a Gold Star Mother.

Mom was a pioneer member and behind the scene member of the Yakima Valley Filipino-American Community. In her small simple ways and contributions, she was never one to seek recognition. A sincere “Thank you”, if given, was her personal reward.

Mom’s dry sense of humor confused people’s thinking. If you thought about her punch lines, you would either be puzzled, smiling, or burst out laughing seeing the humor or moral of it all.

Emily is survived by her two daughters of Yakima: Beverly and Dick Krous; Judy Inay-Salverda; grandson, Jamie and Heather Murphy and great grandchildren-Hayley and Hunter Murphy, Wapato; granddaughter, Cassandra Murphy, Bellingham; a brother, Vicente Gascon (Lita), Seattle; a sister, Leoning (Marcos) Imperio and a brother Plegonte Gascon (Cidad), Philippines.

Besides her parents, Mom is preceded in death by her husband Ernie, son Chris, two sisters, two brothers, and son in law Steve Salverda.

In lieu of flowers, donation in her memory may be given to Wapato’s Filipino-American Community of Yakima Valley-The Mabuhay Foundation for educational scholarships, Emerald Care of Wapato, or Yakima’s Memorial Foundation’s Cottage in the Meadow.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, November 20, 2012 from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Merritt Funeral Home in Wapato. On Wednesday, November 21, a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. at Wapato’s St. Peter Claver Catholic Church. A private interment will be held at Reservation Community Memorial Park.