Henry Telles

Henry G. Telles, Jr. died Thursday, October 20th, after a valiant battle with Cancer. He was 72. Henry arrived in the world in Yakima on February 4th, 1950, to Irene and Henry Sr. When Henry was 6, the family moved to a 3-room house in Toppenish, where Henry helped his father add rooms onto the house as the family grew to 10 children! Henry and his siblings worked in the agricultural fields of the Yakima Valley to contribute to the family’s income. Despite the hardship of fieldwork after school, weekends, and school breaks, Henry succeeded in graduating from Toppenish High School in 1969. In 1970, Henry received his military conscription to the Vietnam War, and he joined the U.S. Marine Corp Reserve 4TH tank battalion 1970 – 1976, as a Lance Corporal. In 1971, in what was both his proudest achievement and the best decision he ever made, Henry married his high school sweetheart, Delores Meiser. She supported him in the heyday of his youth, and lovingly cared for him during their last days together. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2021. He worked for McKesson Drug Company for 21 years. He retired in 2013 from Del Monte Foods after 15 years as the forklift mechanic. Henry and Delores had two girls, Lisa (Cesar) Castillo, of Moxee Washington, and Abbey Telles of Toppenish. Abbey’s son Henry is their only grandchild. He had a love affair with milk, peanuts, popsicles, salmon, pork chops, and Busch Light. He loved to cook a tortilla on the stove top until it was black and crispy and eat it with a cold hot dog. If it was 4PM, then it was time for Judge Judy. Sundays were for the Seahawks. Bonanza, Gun Smoke, The Rifleman, and Little House on the Prairie were his everyday favorites. He knew how to do a lot of stuff too: Change a tire, install brakes, prune trees. He never learned how to send a text or listen to a voicemail. Henry’s smile was beautiful and made other people smile. He didn’t think of himself as a vain man, but he was relieved his hair grew back just as thick after chemo. His perfect day was spent in a boat on the Columbia River fishing for steelhead with buddies, hunting for pheasant with Steven and his lab Misty, drinking coffee in the early morning with his mother, or just hanging out with his wife, daughters and grandson. He was a true gentleman and a good friend. He was kind and honest. He always told you his honest opinion. He didn’t say “I love you” or do hugs, but he showed you his love in his actions. He was dependable, if you needed him, he was there. He led by example and his daughters did their best to live up to his expectations. Henry, Jr’s greatest joy was his grandson and namesake Henry, age 2. Papa Henry’s biggest regret was not being able to see him grow up. His love for Henry was his primary motivation to continue life-extending treatment in his final months. Henry fought a long and valiant battle with metastatic dedifferentiated liposarcoma. He had hoped to live to see little Henry start school. Henry was outnumbered by the women in his life. He worshiped his mom, Irene Telles. He loved his sisters, Esther (Manuel) Mendoza of Kalispell, Montana, Julie Cruz of Auburn, Washington, Vickie Laddrout of Wapato, Washington, Shirley Palomarez of Toppenish Washington, Linda (Danny) Day of Puyallup, Washington, Maria Orlando of Toppenish Washington, Virginia (Vinnie) Cannasso of Chelan, Washington, and Christina (Dale) Enockson of West Pasco, Washington.
 He was preceded in death by his father Henry Sr, his beloved brother Anthony, his infant brother Richard, and his cherished mother, Irene. Cancer is a merciless thief, stealing the healthy cells in our body. It’s on the move, its cells dividing and trying to spread to new places. It steals the threads that hold you to the living world. Our dad found out that his cancer had recurred and was terminal in June 2021. He chose to begin palliative chemotherapy because of his love for his family, so we could have a little more time together. He never worried about himself, he only wanted to make sure we were going to be okay. We have clung to each other with love, and in the end, cancer couldn’t steal the love. That’s when the grace poured in. Our greatest hope is that we will be reunited with him in the afterlife. The Telles family would like to thank Henry’s doctors at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center: Dr. Lee D. Cranmer, Medical Oncologist, Matthew J. Thompson, Orthopaedic Oncologist, and Stephanie K. Schaub, Radiation Oncologist, for the care they provided to him in the sarcoma clinic. They are the best of the best. In lieu of gifts or flowers, the family ask that donations be made in Henry’s name to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, to help support their extraordinary work. www.fredhutch.org A celebration of the beautiful life of Henry will be held in the spring, with details to follow. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Henry Telles, please visit our flower store.