Nellie Bacon, a life-long resident of Republic, passed away at the Ferry County Public Hospital on Friday, July 12, 2019 surrounded by family and friends. Services will consist of a rosary on Thursday, 18 July 2019 at 7:00 PM and a Funeral Mass on Friday, 19 July 2019 at 11:00 AM at the Catholic Church in Republic, WA

Nellie was born in Republic, WA to Hugh and Marguerite Phylomena (McAdams) Maycumber on 7 March 1932. She was raised on the Maycumber ranch on Fish Hatchery Road. Nellie Jo spent her childhood playing follow the leader, climbing trees, picking posies, huckleberries and apples, riding horseback and crick fishing in the beaver dams on the North Fork of the San Poil River. She saw her job as to provide fish for Friday's dinner.

Nellie had nine brothers and sisters and is survived by two brothers, Hugh Maycumber, DVM of Republic and David Maycumber of Spokane.

Nellie worked for a short time in Spokane after graduating from Republic High School with the class of 1949. She loved basketball and played on the girl's team.

Nellie married George Francis Bacon on 22 July 1951 at the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church in Republic. For the first few months of their marriage they lived in the Hunters, WA area and moved into Spokane Valley when the snow got too deep during the winter of 1951-52. George worked construction in Spokane in early 1952. They moved back to the Maycumber ranch for a short time and then to Keller, WA. In 1954 George went to work at the Knob Hill mine and they settled in Republic.

George and Nellie commenced to produce a family of thirteen children, 12 of whom were born in Republic. In 1965 they purchased the ranch at West Fork and built a house to accommodate their brood. George passed away in 1985. At that time she still had three children living at home. The ranch was sold in 1992 and she established her home in Republic.

For many years, beginning in 1972, Nellie read meters for the PUD, she cooked at the old Ferry County Memorial Hospital on Clark Ave. and the new hospital at the time of its opening. She operated Nell's Upholstery in the basement of the ranch house and in the shop she had added to her Republic home.

Three of Nellie's children, Diane, Dick and Jim, predeceased her. She is survived by Ron Bacon of Republic; Joe (Carol) Bacon of Oro Grande, CA; Francis (Nancy) Bacon of Republic; Laura (John) Pakootas of Nespelem; Doris Bacon of Republic; Ed Bacon of Republic; Marie (Todd) Harris of Pasco;   Dan (Jana) Bacon of Republic; Barbara (Brent) Flock of Spokane; and Christina (Mike) Lamb of Spokane Valley.

Nellie cherished her 23 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and, to date, 3 great-great grandchildren.

Nellie was an accomplished card player. She attended her first St Patrick's Day Card Party at the age of ten. During the 1950's, bridge was all the rage in Republic and many learned bridge at that time. In fact, when Doris was born, her favorite duplicate partner, Dr. Graham McConnell, checked her out of the hospital to go play a tournament and checked her back in when it was over. The local bridge group will miss her but the best bridge game in town would be among the occupants of the cemetery. Please take your seat, Nellie, and deal the cards. After all, every deal is an opportunity for a SLAM!