Yakima Valley Genealogical Society Family History Resource Center

02/23/2026

Washington State Mayflower Society

02/23/2026

FYI, with the code RobertaFeb26, DNA testing kits are only $20 at MyHeritage.com through the end of February. I have never seen them so cheap, so now's the time to do it if you have been thinking about it, or need to re-test, or need to test some relatives.

https://dna-explained.com/2026/02/19/myheritage-whole-genome-sequencing-wgs-results-and-comparison/

I’m excited to receive my low-pass whole-genome sequencing test results from MyHeritage. When MyHeritage initially introduced their new test, I wrote about what that means in the article, MyHeritag…

02/23/2026

Saturday, March 7th – General Meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. in the Y.V.G.S. library, 1901 So. 12th Ave, Union Gap, WA.
Following the meeting, Kathy Sizer will be giving a presentation on researching the state of Connecticut.
In January 1788, Connecticut became the fifth State of the union, played a crucial role in the early history of the United States, being one of the original thirteen Colonies has plenty of rich history to explore.
Feel free to join us in learning how to expand your ancestry through researching Connecticut.

Send a message to learn more

02/22/2026

Finding your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr.
KYVE – Channel 47 & KTNW – Channel 31
New Season - 12th year
“Artistic Roots”
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2026 – 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Director – Spike Lee
Actress – Kristin Chenoweth

Send a message to learn more

02/15/2026

Finding your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr.
KTNW – Channel 31
“Family Harmonies”
New Season - 12th year
Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026 – 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Musicians
Melissa Vivianne Jefferson (Lizzo)
Michael Peter Balzary (Flea)

Send a message to learn more

02/05/2026

Finding your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr.
KYVE – Channel 47 & KTNW – Channel 31
‘Westward Bound’
New Season - 12th year
Tuesday, Feb 10, 2026 – 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Talk Show Host & Journalist – Sara Haines
Screenwriter, Actor, Playwright – Tracy Letts

Send a message to learn more

01/29/2026

We would like you to share with your family and friends a 30-minute interview on KIMA Wine Time television about genealogy and the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society. www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3y7wSd-eL8

We want to thank KIMA Wine Time Television for the opportunity to introduce our Society to the public.

The Vice President of the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society, Richard Kyle joins us for a conversation at the Yakima Visitor's Center this Saturday, January ...

01/29/2026

Finding your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr.
KYVE – Channel 47 & KTNW – Channel 31
New Season - 12th year
‘Love and Basketball’
Tuesday, Feb 3, 2026 – 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Professional Basketball Players
Brittney Griner
Christopher Paul

Send a message to learn more

01/29/2026

Mark your Calendar:
Saturday, February 7th –General Meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. in the Y.V.G.S. library (1901 So. 12th Ave, Union Gap, WA).
Following the meeting, Linda Lantis will be giving a presentation on How to research in the State of Arkansas.

Send a message to learn more

01/23/2026

Finding your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr.
KYVE – Channel 47 & KTNW – Channel 31
New Season - 12th year
'The Road We Took'
Tuesday, Jan 27, 2026 – 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Beautiful and Talented Actress – Lizzy Caplan
American Actor & Comedian – Hazan Minhaj

Send a message to learn more

01/19/2026

Just a friendly reminder that our 2026 Membership dues are due.
The Membership fee is $25.00/$27/00 if you choose to renew online.
There are several ways to renew:
[1]. Renew by coming into the Y.V.G.S. library,1901 So. 12th Ave., Union Gap, WA 98903 and fill out the membership form.

[2]. Renew only by PayPal, $27.00 through Y.V.G.S. Website. https://www.yvgs.net/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.ViewPage...

[3]. Download a Membership Form off the Website, fill it out completely and mail it to the Y.V.G.S. library, 1901 So. 12th Ave., Union Gap, WA 98903 with your check.

Whichever way you choose, Please make sure you fill out the Registration Form completely, so we have all of your current information.

Thank you and we are looking forward to having you renew your membership.

01/18/2026

Old Sunnyside Cemetery, Sunnyside, WA
The Ball family operated the most notable funeral home in Sunnyside’s history, helping to bury many of those interned in the cemetery.
Walter Charles Ball was born in London, England. In 1889 while still residing in England, he married his wife, Amelia. Within months of their marriage the couple immigrated to America, settling for a time in Minnesota where they welcomed two sons, Herbert, and Percival to their family.
In 1905 they moved west and settled in Sunnyside. Walter was the fifth-generation family member to work in the undertaking business.
After arriving in Sunnyside, he combined three old undertaking businesses to form the Sunnyside Undertaking Company. The company had a chapel, a display room for caskets and a Winton Six hearse. Eventually the business was changed to reflect his name.
Not to be overshadowed by her husband, Amelia was also involved in the business. She made local and state history when she became the first woman in the state to become a licensed undertaker.
She is reported to have worked alongside Walter conducting the embalming at their business.
In 1911, they welcomed their last child, a daughter named Margaret. Eventually the family started the Sunnyside Memorial Cemetery and erected the building that still stands within the cemetery. It was designed by Walter and Amelia’s son Percy to resemble the Chingford Church in England.
Since its completion, the building has had various purposes, including housing the location of the Ball Funeral Home crematorium as well as a chapel.
Walter passed away at the age of 70 from diabetes. His burial was handled by none other than the Walter Ball & Sons Funeral Home. The family laid him to rest in the Lower Valley Memorial Gardens near the very building they erected. His sons continued to run the family’s funeral home business until 1973.
Since Walter’s death, Amelia and other family members were laid to rest next to Walter. To help preserve the history of their business and those buried in the valley, the Ball Funeral Home’s early records were shared with the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society Library who has them available for viewing and research. The building that once housed the Walter Ball & Sons funeral home business was also preserved when it was donated to the City of Sunnyside. It now serves as the home of the Sunnyside Historical Museum.