Myrtle Myrt Lang passed away suddenly at her home, in Richland, on Sept. 24th.

Myrtle was born in Scobey, Montana on November 29, 1918 to the late John and Alice Reid. The family moved to Washington State living in Moxee and eventually settling in Prosser, WA, where Myrtle graduated from Prosser High School in 1938.

She met and married the late Fred B. Lang in 1940 in Yakima, WA and continued to live in the Yakima valley until moving to the Tri-Cities in the late 1940's. She worked for JA Jones Construction Battelle and retired from WPPS.

She was known as the ''Queen of Hearts'' by her family and those who experienced her love of card playing! It was always known that Myrt was born with a deck of cards in her hands! She could be found playing bridge, pinoccle, poker and cribbage on a weekly basis. She taught her daughters and grandkids how to play and they loved to challenge her at every turn.

Bingo was another favorite pastime of hers. She had been an avid bowler until about three years ago, when her health didn't allow her to bowl anymore. Before she quit bowling, she and her partner won the State Seniors' Doubles tournament.

Myrt was known as a ''classy'' lady with a wonderful warm smile and a great sense of humor and enjoyed life everyday.

Her grandkids were the center of her world and she loved to be around them, so three years ago she treated them all to a Mexican Riviera Cruise, and as recent as a week ago had planned another cruise for them to Alaska next August/2004. This was her way of being able to enjoy her time and good fortunes with them.

Myrt will be deeply missed by her family and all of her very special friends, but she will never be forgotten and living in our hearts forever.

She is survived by her daughter, Sharon Gallagher and husband Jim of Bellevue,WA -sister, Ethel MartinMidland, TX-brothers, Chet Reid Vancouver, WARichard Reid Prosser, WA. Grandsons: Danny Vetsch, Damon Vetsch, Steven Vetsch Lynn, John Youngquist Shelley, Jeff Youngquist Kelly, James Youngquist Stacy. Step-grandsons: Jim Gallagher and Michael Gallagher Roxanne. Granddaughters: Paula Palmer Byron and LeAnn Vetsch. Plus, 15 great-grandchildren and several sister and brothers-in-laws.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Fred B. Lang; daughter, Janet Youngquist; one step-grandson, Kelly Gallagher and 2 sisters Mabel and Nellie and a brother John.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to: Richland Senior Assoc. at 1015 Perkins/Richland, WA 98352 or American Diabetes Association, PO Box 375 Richland, WA 99352.

Services will be held at Einan's Funeral Home on Friday, Oct. 3, 2003 at 2 pm.Viewing on Thurs. October 2 from 5pm to 8pm and on Friday October 3 from l0am to 2pm. A 'Celebration of Myrtle's Life' reception will be held at the Shiloh Inn following the services. Interment will be held Saturday, October 4th at l0am in Prosser, WA at the Prosser Cemetery located on Paterson Road.