Page 137 - 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
rd
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. 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 Communication held in Spokane in 1958.
He was steadily advanced through the successive stations and was elected Grand Master in 1961.

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