May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sunshine warm upon your face, May the rain fall softly upon your fields until we meet again, And may God hold you in the hollow of His hand. Irish Blessing
Our dear friend, Yvonne Louise Harrigan Prettyman, climbed her stairway to Heaven on January 26, 2024, ... one day before her 74th birthday.
Born in Fallon, NV, Yvonne was the first child of Vera Schoefer Harrigan and David ‘Skip’ Harrigan. The Harrigan family, early settlers in Nevada, homesteaded the Harrigan Ranch in Fallon in 1905. Yvonne was very proud of her heritage and never forgot her roots.
Yvonne was many things to many people: a trusted and valued friend, a sister and aunt, a cousin to many generations of Harrigan’s, Smart’s, Ferguson’s, Oats’, and other names I have forgotten! A graduate of Churchill County High School, Yvonne was active in band and in 4-H activities. Attending the University of Nevada Reno, Yvonne graduated in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in home economics. For several years, Yvonne owned and operated Harrigan Electronics in Fallon, which later became Radio Shack.
She was a strong, independent, intelligent woman, with a wee bit of stubbornness, due in part to her Celtic Irish heritage. Two of her favorite characters were Maxine and the Grinch!
Deeply involved in her own family genealogy and other aspects of Nevada history, most days found her immersed in research projects. There were plenty of research trips across Nevada and to the Family Research Library in Salt Lake City, UT. Yvonne was an active member of local genealogical groups. She taught genealogy classes at Western Nevada College in Carson City and in Douglas County, NV.
Yvonne married Thomas Prettyman, her spouse for 25 years. Tom preceded her in death in 2014; Yvonne has now been reunited with Tom. Survivors include her sister, Sydney Ellen (David) Imeson, nephews Luke and Aaron Imeson, brother, Marvin, other relatives, and many dear friends. No services are planned per Yvonne’s wishes.
Rest in peace, my friend, you deserve it! Written by her friend, Cindy Southerland