Chewerl Radican, age 67, passed away peacefully in her home on August 12, 2014. Chewerl was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on June 17, 1947, and graduated from high school in Cincinnati, but never claimed to be "from" that city. As an army brat, she spent her "growing up" years in places like Mt. Olivet, Kentucky; Ankara, Turkey; and Fort Ord, California. She lived in Richland since her wedding in 1983 to Dan Herting.

After obtaining a degree in forestry from Oregon State University, Chewerl had a 20-year career in timber management for the U.S. Forest Service. Always an activist, Chewerl figured prominently in the birth of the feminist movement in Ohio in the 1970s. After her early retirement from the Forest Service, her activism turned toward advocacy for the mentally ill. She chaired the Benton-Franklin Mental Health Committee for several years, instigated the first Crisis Intervention Team CIT training for first responders in the Tri Cities, organized the first mental health court symposium for Benton County, and was an active member of NAMI National Alliance on Mental Illness for more than ten years.

Chewerl was preceded in death by her mother, Frieda Cordell, and two half-brothers Jack Massey and Wayne Selby. She is survived by her father, Hewerl "Chic" Cordell, of Richland, her husband Dan Herting, their daughter Ila McKenzie of Centerville, Washington, their son James Herting of Richland, and grandchildren. A memorial service for Chewerl will be held at Shalom United Church of Christ, 505 McMurray, Richland, at 2:00 pm on Saturday, August 16.