Search Thurston County Obituary Records

Thurston County obituary and death records can be accessed through the county health department in Olympia, the Washington State Department of Health, and a range of free online archives going back to the late 1800s. Thurston County is home to Olympia, the state capital, and to communities including Lacey and Tumwater. Death records are maintained locally for deaths within certain date ranges and statewide for records the county cannot issue. This guide covers each source, what it holds, and how to get what you need.

Thurston County Health Department Vital Records

The Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Vital Records office is the local source for certified death certificates in Thurston County. The office can access Washington State birth records from 1907 to the present and most deaths that occurred in Washington State from January 1, 2008 to the present. For deaths that happened before 2008, you must order from the Washington State Department of Health rather than the local office.

Death certificates in Thurston County are generated by the funeral home and signed by either the attending physician or the Thurston County Coroner's Office. The funeral home registers the certificate with the Thurston County Health Department and the Washington State Department of Health. The Thurston County Coroner's Office page notes that the coroner does not distribute death certificates; copies must come from the health department or state DOH.

Washington's vital records law under RCW 70.58A changed on January 1, 2021, restricting certified copies to qualified applicants only. That means spouses or domestic partners, parents, step-parents, legal guardians, children, step-children, siblings, grandparents, great-grandparents, legal representatives, and authorized agents. Noncertified informational copies can be requested by anyone and are suitable for genealogical research. Requestors must provide valid photo identification and documentation proving their qualifying relationship with every certified copy request.

The Thurston County Health Department Vital Records office at 412 Lilly Road NE, Olympia, is the local source for certified death certificates for Thurston County deaths from January 1, 2008, to the present.

Washington State Digital Archives Death Index

The Washington State Digital Archives Death Certificate Index covers deaths across all Washington counties from 1907 through 1960 and from 1965 through 2017. It holds more than 2.3 million records and is free to search. For Thurston County deaths in these date ranges, this is often the fastest way to find a death date, certificate number, or basic identifying information before ordering a certified copy.

Records from 1907 to 1960 tend to include more information because they were transcribed by FamilySearch volunteers who worked from the original certificate images. Those entries can show cause of death, surviving family members, burial location, and the physician or coroner who certified the death. The 1965 to 2017 data came from the Department of Health and is somewhat less detailed. Certificate images are available for deaths that occurred more than 25 years ago. To order a certified copy after finding a record in the index, call the Center for Health Statistics at (360) 236-4313 or (360) 236-4312.

Note: Death index records for 1961 through 1964 are available only on microfilm at the State Archives in Olympia, not in the online database.

The Washington State Department of Health vital records page is the main portal for ordering Thurston County death certificates for deaths that occurred before 2008 or for any death statewide when a local office cannot issue the record.

Thurston County Historical Death Records

Before July 1, 1907, death records in Thurston County were collected and maintained by the county auditor. Those pre-state records have been microfilmed and are available at the Washington State Library. The Washington State Library vital records LibGuide explains how the early county register system worked and describes the typical information those records contain. Researchers can submit lookup requests through the Ask-A-Librarian service to have staff search microfilm on their behalf.

FamilySearch holds Washington County Death Registers from 1881 through 1979 as a free indexed collection, along with Washington Death Certificates from 1907 through 1960. These are free to search with a FamilySearch account and cover Thurston County throughout the settlement period and much of the 20th century. For deaths in Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater during these periods, FamilySearch is often the quickest way to find a record before going to the state office for a certified copy.

Because Thurston County is the home of the state capital, the Washington State Archives main facility at 1129 Washington Street SE, Olympia, is nearby. That location holds state-level records as well as records transferred from Thurston County offices. Researchers in the area can schedule research visits to access materials that have not been digitized.

Ordering Thurston County Death Certificates

You have several ways to get a certified Thurston County death certificate. For deaths from January 1, 2008 to the present, you can go in person to the Thurston County Health Department at 412 Lilly Road NE, Olympia, or send a mail request to that same office. Walk-in requests are typically processed the same day if the record is available. Mail requests take 2 to 3 weeks. The fee is $25 for the first copy and $10 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. You must include proof of identity and proof of your qualifying relationship.

For deaths that occurred before 2008 or for any death that falls outside the local office's date range, order from the Washington State Department of Health. Mail orders go to Washington Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics, P.O. Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507-9709. The fee is $25 per certificate and processing takes 8 to 10 weeks. The state DOH ordering page lists all required documentation and includes a link to the application form.

Online and phone orders through VitalChek start at $40.50 per certificate, with typical delivery in 3 to 7 business days. VitalChek is the only state-contracted third-party vendor for Washington vital records. The death record ordering page explains exactly what information and documentation to provide. For questions, the Consumer Resource Center is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at 206-464-6684 or 800-551-4636 (Washington State only).

Genealogy Resources for Thurston County Deaths

Thurston County is well served for genealogical death research because of its location in the state capital region. The Washington State Library, located in Olympia, maintains the Washington State Death Index from July 1, 1907 through 2004 on microfiche and microfilm. Researchers can use the vital records LibGuide to understand the collection and submit lookup requests without visiting in person.

FamilySearch is free to use and holds multiple Washington death record sets covering Thurston County, including county registers from before 1907 and statewide death certificates from 1907 through 1960. Those collections can often help confirm a death date before you pay for a certified copy. The Washington State Archives main office in Olympia is a short drive from the health department and holds records transferred from state agencies that may supplement what is available through the Digital Archives.

Local newspapers serving Thurston County, including publications covering Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater, have run obituaries and death notices for generations. Many of those notices are now accessible through Genealogy Bank and Newspapers.com. Cemetery records for Thurston County communities can be searched through BillionGraves and FindAGrave. The combination of local health department records, the state digital archives, FamilySearch collections, and newspaper obituary databases gives researchers comprehensive coverage from the county's earliest settlement period through recent years.

Cities in Thurston County

Thurston County includes Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater, along with smaller communities. City pages for Thurston County communities are not currently available on this site.

Nearby Counties

Thurston County borders several other western Washington counties. Each has its own vital records office and death record system.