Page 142 - PGM Compendium

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Of
M⸫W⸫ Elmer C. Huntley

1961-1962

Most Worshipful Brother Elmer Carl “Bud” Huntley was born
in St. John on June 1, 1915, the son of Emily Schuster Huntley
and Ernest Chester Huntley. His mother was a teacher in the
public schools before her marriage. The father was not only one
of the outstanding agriculturists of Eastern Washington, but also
a leader in marketing and finance in his community. He
attended grade school in Whitman County, and graduated from
the high school at St. John. He would then matriculate to
Washington State College, intending to major in pharmacy.
Sadly the country was in the depths of the Great Depression,
and he couldn't afford to finish his studies. It wasn't a total loss,
though. He met his wife, Necia Bennett of Klickitat, on a blind date while at college, and they
were married on September 29, 1935. The Huntleys settled on the family farm in Thornton, where
they farmed wheat and raised a few cattle and sheep. He helped organize the Washington
Association of Wheat Growers, and served on its board of directors. He was also the first president
of the Whitman County Association of Wheat Growers.

Our Most Worshipful Brother’s Masonic journey began in 1936 when he received the Degrees of
Masonry in Thornton Lodge, No. 195. His degrees would be conferred by his father, himself a
member and Past Master of Coin Lodge No. 132. Brother Elmer would become Worshipful Master
of Thornton Lodge No. 195 in 1940.

In addition to his membership in Thornton Lodge No. 195, he held dual membership in Walter F.
Meier Lodge of Research No, 281; was an honorary life member of Tanana Lodge No. 162; an
honorary member of Lawton Lodge No. 292; a member of the York Rite Masonic Bodies in
Colfax, Washington; a member of the Scottish Rite Bodies of the Valley of Spokane, having been
coroneted a 33 Degree Inspector General Honorary; a member of El Katif Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S.
rd
of Spokane – serving as Potentate in 1975, and served on the Board of Governors of the Shriners
Hospital for Crippled Children located in the City of Spokane. He was a member of and a Past
Illustrious Sovereign of St. Raphael Conclave of the Red Cross of Constantine, and a member of
Golden Link Chapter, No. 121, Order of the Eastern Star of which Necia, his wife, was a Past
Matron.

Brother Huntley would serve our Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington as
Deputy of the Grand Master for District No. 26 in 1954 and 1955; as a member of the Jurisprudence
Committee in 1956, and Grand Orator in 1957. Because of his modest yet friendly personality, his
proven ability in discharging with consummate skill and efficiency all of his previous Grand Lodge
assignments, he was elected Junior Grand Warden of this Grand Lodge at the Annual