Orlo Tift

Orlo Ross Tift was born to Paul Tift Sr. & Mathilda (Wohlgemuth) Tift at their family home in Milford, Nebraska, built in 1869 by his great-grandfather. Orlo grew up working on the 200-acre family farm, growing hay, feeding cattle, milking cows, and raising pigs & chickens with his father, mother, and 5 siblings. For fun, he remembered hunting, fishing, and trapping with his older brother Paul. During hard times in the late 1930s, his father sold the farm and moved the family to Beaver Crossing, Nebraska, where they ran a farm for the county commissioner. In 1946, the family moved west to Cashmere, Washington where guess what?? They bought a 5-acre farm on Pioneer Avenue across from the cemetery, raising livestock and growing hay. After graduating from Cashmere High School in 1951, where he was voted class president, Orlo and a good friend competed for the lowest GPA of the graduating class. On August 26, 1952, Orlo married his high school sweetheart, Gloria Ann Rockenfield. They raised 3 sons on Chapel Street in Cashmere. Orlo enjoyed and supported his son’s activities, including high school sports, scouting, and outdoor adventures. He was a member of Cashmere Active Club and Cashmere Lions Club. Orlo worked for Columbia Concrete and Pipe Company for 23 years and was known by the nickname Curly. In 1975, Curly went to work for Wenatchee Sand and Gravel. He retired in 1996 as the plant manager. In 1981, Orlo and Gloria bought their 5-acre farm near Three Lakes in Malaga where they planted cherries, raised a cow or two, a goat now and then, & had a few chickens. He remodeled their home, built a garage, and barn, and added a mother-in-law home, transforming the property into a welcome & loving gathering space for the whole family. In 2017, after 65 years of marriage, Gloria passed away. Orlo will be warmly remembered for his work ethic, loving and supporting his family, and being a generous member of the community. Preceded in death by his brothers David Tift and Paul Tift; and sisters, Avis Asdourian and Betty Easterly. Orlo is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law: Steve Tift & Melissa Sternhill of Entiat, WA, Jeff Tift of Wenatchee, WA, and Alan and Debbie Tift of Wenatchee, WA; grandchildren: Cori (Paul) Moreno of Irvington, NY, Sean Tift (engaged to Xena Murugappan) of Portland, OR, and Seth Sternhill-Tift of Bellingham, WA; great-granddaughters: Addison and Ainsley Moreno; his sister Ida (Dick) McCoy of Stanwood, WA; brother-in-law, Doug (Sandy) Rockenfield of Redmond, WA; along with nieces and nephews. Orlo left us all with lots of fun-loving, family memories. Memorial donations may be made to the Cashmere High School Student Body Fund. Arrangements by Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee.

Orlo Tift

January 13, 1933 - October 18, 2024