Obituary Records help families preserve memories and researchers trace family histories. These records are collected from newspapers, funeral homes, and library archives. The searchable database includes recent and historical notices that can be found by name, date, or publication source. Entries may contain birth and death dates, residence details, and family relationships. Death notices, memorial pages, and funeral announcements also help relatives find information about loved ones.
Obituary Records can be searched by funeral home, newspaper, or publication date. Online archives provide access to digitized newspaper notices and historical library collections. Funeral home listings may include family tributes, service details, and burial information. These resources also support genealogy research by helping users identify family connections and trace earlier generations.
How to Search Obituary Records
You can search Obituary Records using free and paid resources that collect notices from local newspapers, funeral homes, libraries, and memorial websites. Start by entering the deceased person’s name to find matching entries in the obituary database. For related public documentation, you can also consult dissolution of marriage reports. Search results may include obituaries organized by date, newspaper, or funeral home. These search options provide access to recent notices and historical obituary archives.
Online obituary search tools connect users with death notices and funeral announcements. Entering a name allows the obituary index to match available entries from newspaper and library collections. The obituary records search also helps locate specific notices among thousands of historical and recent listings.
Official Search Portal https://www.piercecountywa.gov/
Steps to Search
- Open the county’s search page at https://www.piercecountywa.gov/ and look for the records or genealogy section.
- Type the full name of the person into the search box, and add a date range if you know when the person passed away.
- Choose a filter such as newspaper name or funeral home if you want to narrow the list.
- Read the results and click on the matching entry to view the full Pierce County WA obituary details.
- Save or print the notice, or use the copy request option if you need an official version.
Search by Deceased Name
Searching by name is a simple way to find a specific notice in obituary archives. Enter the person’s first and last name to see matching entries. Adding a middle name or approximate date can help narrow results when multiple notices appear.
Search by Death Date
Searching by death date helps locate obituary records from a specific period. Enter the day, month, and year to find notices associated with that date. This method is useful when the exact name spelling is unknown.
Search by Obituary Date
Search by obituary date when you know when a notice was published but not the actual death date. Select the publication date to view listings from that day, including recent and historical notices.
Search by Newspaper or Funeral Home
Choose a newspaper, such as The News Tribune, or a local funeral home to find notices from a specific source. This method helps locate newspaper obituaries and funeral home announcements.
Information Needed for an Obituary Search
A search generally requires the deceased person’s name, approximate death date, and county of residence. Newspaper or funeral home details can further narrow the results. A surname and estimated year of death may also help locate an entry.
Obituary Details
Obituary details provide information about a person’s life, family, and final arrangements. Notices may include the full name, birth and death dates, residence, relatives, funeral services, and burial location. Other details may cover education, career, hobbies, and community involvement.
The obituary database organizes these details into searchable entries, making it easier to identify important information without reading every notice.
Name of the Deceased
The deceased person’s name usually appears at the beginning of an obituary. It may include a full legal name, nickname, maiden name, or honorific title.
Birth and Death Information
This section includes birth and death dates and may identify the cities where these events occurred. Comparing these details with death records can help confirm a person’s identity.
Residence Information
Residence details identify where the person lived before death. Notices may mention a city, neighborhood, previous residence, or length of time spent in the area.
Family Relationships
Obituaries often list spouses, children, grandchildren, siblings, parents, and other relatives. These details can help researchers trace family connections and build family trees.
Funeral and Memorial Information
Funeral details may include the service date, time, location, funeral home, and officiant. Some announcements also mention receptions, memorial donations, and family requests.
Burial Information
Burial details may identify the cemetery, city, and plot or section number when available. Cemetery records can provide additional information about the burial location.
Personal and Professional History
This section highlights the person’s education, career, awards, military service, hobbies, and community involvement. It helps preserve memories and recognize personal contributions.
| Obituary Section | Information Type | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Name and Title | Legal name, nicknames, titles | Identity confirmation |
| Birth and Death Dates | Dates and locations | Record matching |
| Residence | City and previous locations | Location history |
| Family | Relatives and relationships | Genealogy research |
| Service Details | Funeral date, time, location | Attendance planning |
| Burial | Cemetery and plot details | Visit planning |
| Personal History | Career, education, hobbies | Life tribute |
Obituary Sources
Obituary sources include local newspapers, funeral home websites, public libraries, and genealogy databases. Each collection provides different information. Newspaper archives preserve older notices, while funeral home websites often publish recent announcements. Library collections can help locate notices that are not available online.
Local Newspaper Archives
Newspaper archives contain published obituaries from The News Tribune, the Tacoma Daily Ledger, and other regional publications. Searches by name, date, or keyword may locate original notices and scanned newspaper pages.
Funeral Home Websites
Funeral home websites publish notices from local providers. Users can search by deceased person’s name or funeral home. Some pages also offer guestbooks, memorial messages, and flower arrangements.
Library Collections
The Tacoma Public Library and Washington State Library maintain obituary collections in print, microfilm, and digital formats. Researchers may visit libraries or ask about available copies and indexing assistance.
Historical Newspaper Collections
Historical newspaper collections preserve notices from the 1800s through the early 2000s. They can help locate older obituaries from publications that are no longer operating.
Genealogical Databases
Genealogy databases organize obituary information by surname and family connections. Some also link to death records and cemetery records, helping researchers build family histories.
Family and Memorial Collections
Family and memorial collections include tributes shared through personal websites, social media, and online memorial platforms. These notices may contain photographs, videos, personal stories, and memories contributed by relatives and friends.ppear in the original newspaper obituary. Searching by name across these platforms helps you find tributes that newspapers did not print.
Recent Obituaries
Recent obituaries cover notices published within the past few days or weeks. They are available through funeral home websites, newspapers, and memorial pages. Listings include recent death announcements and funeral details for residents of Tacoma, Lakewood, Puyallup, and nearby communities.
The obituary index updates as new notices are published, helping families find service information, send flowers, and contact relatives.
Newly Published Obituaries
Newly published obituaries appear in online listings after submission to a newspaper or funeral home. Users can sort entries by date and access full notices for life stories and service details.
Recent Death Notices
Recent death notices provide brief information about a person’s passing, usually including their name, age, and funeral home. These announcements appear in local newspapers and funeral home websites.
Current Funeral Announcements
Funeral announcements provide service dates, times, and locations. They may also include visitation hours, reception details, and charitable donation requests.
Recently Updated Memorial Pages
Updated memorial pages may contain additional photographs, guestbook messages, and memorial candles. Families and friends can continue sharing tributes after the funeral.
Historical Obituaries
Historical obituaries cover notices published decades or centuries ago. Libraries, archives, and genealogy databases preserve these records for family history research. Older notices may contain immigration details, religious affiliations, and extended family information. Some are digitized, while others remain available only on microfilm.
Older Newspaper Obituaries
Older newspaper obituaries appear in historical publications, including newspapers that are no longer operating. Searching by surname, publication year, or newspaper can help locate entries with older spelling and naming conventions.
Archived Death Notices
Archived death notices are brief announcements from earlier newspaper issues. They may include a person’s name, age, and funeral home without a complete life story. Searching by year can help locate these entries.
Digitized Historical Collections
Digitized collections contain scanned newspaper pages and obituary books. Users can search available archives by name and view original publications when digital images are available.
Obituaries From Earlier Periods
Obituaries from the late 1800s and early 1900s often contain family and community details. They are useful for tracing ancestors who lived in the area before modern recordkeeping.
Unindexed Historical Obituaries
Some historical notices appear in scanned newspapers but are missing from name-based search tools. Browsing newspaper pages or requesting help from library staff may help locate them.
Accessing Obituaries
Obituaries are available through free databases, newspaper websites, subscription services, and public libraries. Some collections require a paid membership or library card. Online searches provide remote access, while library archives help researchers locate older notices.
Free Online Obituaries
Free obituaries are available through funeral home websites, local newspapers, and public genealogy portals. Users can view, print, or save available notices. Some funeral homes keep published entries accessible for several years.
Newspaper Archive Access
Newspaper archives provide access to death notices and full obituaries through searchable databases. Some collections are subscription-based, while others offer access through library memberships.
Funeral Home Access
Funeral home websites provide recent obituaries and service information. Visitors may also find guestbooks, memorial messages, and flower-ordering options.
Library and Archive Access
The Tacoma Public Library and Washington State Library maintain older obituary collections in print, microfilm, and digital formats. Researchers may visit in person or ask about available scan services.
Subscription-Based Collections
Subscription databases combine obituary entries and indexes from multiple sources. Paid access may include broader searches, full records, and download options.
Restricted or Removed Obituaries
Some obituaries are restricted or removed at the request of families or funeral homes. Others may require account access. Contacting the original publisher can help locate an unavailable notice.
Requesting Obituary Copies
Obituary copies can be requested from newspapers, funeral homes, or libraries. Available methods include online forms, mailed requests, and in-person visits. Applicants should provide the deceased person’s name, death date, and publication source when known.
Newspaper Copy Requests
Newspaper offices may provide printed clippings or digital copies. Requests generally require the person’s name, publication date, and page number when available.
Funeral Home Copy Requests
Funeral homes may provide copies of published obituaries through email or phone requests. Providing the deceased person’s name and date of death helps staff locate the notice.
Library Archive Requests
Libraries may provide scans of historical notices through online forms, mail, or in-person requests. Availability depends on the collection and archive policies.
Digital Copy Options
Digital copies may be delivered through email or downloaded from newspaper, funeral home, and online archive websites. Access depends on the source’s available services.
Copy Fees and Processing Times
Fees and processing times vary by provider. Some sources offer free copies, while library scans and archive requests may involve charges.
| Source | Request Method | Typical Fee | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newspaper Office | Online, mail, phone | Free to $10 | 3–14 days |
| Funeral Home | Email, phone, website | Free | 1–5 days |
| Public Library | Online, mail, in person | $0.25–$5 per page | 7–30 days |
| Online Database | Account download | Subscription-based | Instant |
| State Archive | Mail, online form | $1–$10 per record | 14–45 days |
Obituaries for Genealogy Research
Obituaries are valuable resources for building family trees. Entries may identify parents, siblings, spouses, children, and other relatives. Birthplaces and residence details can also help trace family movements across counties and states. Combining obituary searches with death, funeral, and cemetery records provides additional information for family history research.
Identifying Relatives
Obituaries list surviving relatives and family members who passed away earlier. These names provide useful leads for researching additional generations.
Establishing Family Connections
Comparing names across multiple obituaries can help identify shared parents, siblings, and spouses. This information supports family tree research.
Locating Residences
Residence details may identify cities, neighborhoods, and previous addresses. Researchers can compare this information with census records and city directories.
Identifying Occupations
Some obituaries mention occupations, employers, and years of service. These details can support further research through business records and historical publications.
Finding Burial Locations
Obituaries may identify the cemetery and burial city. Cemetery records can provide additional details, including plot information when available.
Connecting Obituaries With Other Records
Comparing obituary details with death indexes, census records, and cemetery information helps strengthen family history research. Each matching source provides additional evidence about an ancestor.
Obituary Verification
Obituary verification involves comparing published information with other available records. Names, dates, and family details can be checked against death certificates, funeral records, and cemetery information to identify possible errors.
Confirming the Deceased’s Identity
Compare the full name and birth date with available death records and obituary indexes. Matching details can help distinguish between people with similar names.
Comparing Dates
Check birth, death, and burial dates across available sources. Record any differences and look for additional documents to confirm the correct information.
Checking Family Names
Compare the names of spouses, children, and parents with other records. Matching family details can help establish relationships across generations.
Comparing Multiple Sources
Review at least two sources when verifying important facts. Obituaries, funeral home records, death certificates, and cemetery documents may provide supporting information.
Distinguishing Published Information From Official Records
Obituaries are generally prepared using information supplied by families and may contain errors. Official documents, such as death certificates, may provide stronger evidence when details conflict.
Search Problems
Search problems can occur because of missing names, spelling differences, unknown dates, or records that have not been digitized. Trying different search methods and sources may help locate missing notices.
No Obituary Found
A search may return no results if the family did not publish a notice, the record is old, or the name is spelled differently. Try searching by date, newspaper, or funeral home.
Name or Spelling Differences
Older records may contain alternate spellings or abbreviations. Searching by surname, partial name, or similar spelling can help locate matching entries.
Unknown Death or Publication Date
When the exact date is unknown, try a broader year range or browse newspaper issues from the estimated period. Death records may also help identify the correct date.
Historical Obituary Not Digitized
Some older notices remain available only in printed newspapers or microfilm. Visiting a library or requesting an archive scan may help locate them.
Removed Online Obituary
Families or funeral homes may remove notices from their websites. Contacting the original funeral home or checking available archived pages may help recover the information.
Archive Access Restrictions
Some collections require subscriptions or library cards. Access rules depend on the database and the type of record requested.
Conflicting Details
Differences between an obituary and another record should be documented and checked against additional sources. Official documents may provide stronger evidence for confirming dates and other details.
Contact Information
For assistance with obituary research, genealogy questions, and copy requests, contact the relevant newspaper, funeral home, library, or county office. These sources can direct users to available death records funeral information, and cemetery collections. Their official websites may also provide search resources and request forms.
- Department/Service: Pierce County General Information
- Official URL: https://www.piercecountywa.gov/
- Search/Records URL: County Resources
- Phone: 253-798-6000
- Email: —
- Address: 1501 Market St., Tacoma, WA 98402
Frequently Asked Questions
Finding obituary records in Pierce County, WA helps families remember loved ones and gives researchers clues about local history. The county offers several free and paid ways to view recent notices, older archives, and funeral details. By using the right keywords and a few simple steps, you can locate a name, date, or newspaper source quickly. The answers below walk you through common searches, verification tips, and what to do when a record seems missing.
How can I search obituary records online?
Start at the official Pierce County website and look for the “Obituary Search” link. Enter the full name or part of the name, then choose a date range if you know it. The system pulls matching entries from the county’s obituary database, showing the newspaper source, publication date, and funeral home details. You can click each result to read the full notice or download a PDF. The tool is free and updates daily with new submissions from local papers and funeral homes.
Where can I find recent obituaries by name?
Recent obituaries appear on the county’s public portal and on the ObituaryMonitor feed, which tracks new notices from more than 20 local sources. After entering the name, filter the results to the last 30 days. Each listing includes the death date, age, and a link to the original newspaper page or funeral home site. If the name does not show up, try removing extra spaces, using just the last name, or checking nearby city listings such as Tacoma or Puyallup.
How do I locate historical obituary archives from the 1900s?
The county’s library keeps digitized copies of newspaper obituaries dating back to the late 1800s. Visit the Tacoma Public Library’s online catalog and search for “Pierce County obituary”. You can also request microfilm copies by phone or email. When you find a record, note the newspaper title, issue date, and page number. Some older notices are also available through genealogy sites that have scanned the original pages and added searchable tags.
What steps help verify a death notice against official records?
First, locate the obituary in the county’s online database. Next, compare the death date and name with the Washington State death index, which is public after one year. You can access the index through the Washington Department of Health website or a local library. Finally, match the funeral home name and burial location shown in the notice with the cemetery’s online plot finder. Any mismatches may mean a typo or an alternate spelling, so try variations of the name.
Why might a Pierce County WA obituary not appear in the online database?
Some notices are published by small funeral homes that do not feed their data to the county’s system. Others may be in newspapers that the county has not yet digitized, especially older or very local publications. Privacy rules can also delay posting for recent deaths. If you cannot find a record, contact the funeral home directly or call the Pierce County Records Office at 253‑798‑6000 for help locating a hard‑copy copy.