How is the best way to search for WA marriages?
A Neil Thompson was in the following states and dates according to his military records. He married ALYCE CLARA_____ somewhere along the way.

Neil Thompson was born 20 July 1904 in Glen Cove, Coleman County, Texas. By 1925 he was in Alamogordo, Otero County, NM. I have traced him through Military and other records here:
1927 Oregon nto married
1929 Colorado not married
1942 Washington if married unknown
1943 Massachusetts if married unknown
???? New Mexico
1947-48 Yuma AZ married
1949 California married and died
Suggestions are appreciated.
Charles Barnum, Reno

Here is the short answer:
http://www.doh.wa.gov/EHSPHL/CHS/cert.htm
But, since your information is limited...not a very good chance they will consider doing a search. I looked in the Washington Archives, but no records for these names.

So, going back to what you know:

You have the name of "Alyce Clara", do you have her date of birth, place of birth. Her DOB would be great. How about her date of death? That would be very good also. If you can establish her date of death, that would identify her Social Security Number.

Then, using that number, you could request a copy of her application for that number, the SS-5. That would identify where and when she was born and the names of her parents. All of that should lead to information that could identify where they married.

You said you traced him through military records...here...don't know where "here" is; but, I don't have his military records, so had to see:
Neil Thompson, born 20 Jul 1904, died 2 Jan 1949, buried Los Angeles National Cemetery, section 245, Row E, site 19.
--Have you obtained his death certificate, an obituary?
--If he was living in Los Angeles at and before his death, local city directories (Polks?) would/should identify him, his spouse, his occupation, where they lived.
--This is also true for other places he lived. Have the Polk Directories reviewed to see if he had a spouse with him. They are published yearly.

Did he have any children? If so, obtain their birth certificates. That "should" identify the full maiden name of the mother.

Did he divorce his wife? If so, Superior Court records would identify information. NOT necessarily her maiden name, depending on the documents. I've looked at enough of them to know that some, even in the same county, have glaringly less information.

I looked for ANY Alyce Clara, and this one came up. There are a few "coincidences" in the criteria being sought (Colorado). But, there is NO proof this is the correct person. If it was, they would have had to been divorced before his death. I am ONLY leaving this here for your future elimination of others presenting this person; or to add facts if this person does appear again.
The California Death Index has an Alyce Clara Good, born Alyce Clara Sorensen on 7 Nov 1910 in Nebraska. She died 4 April 1986 in Los Angeles County, CA. Mother's maiden was Jensen. She was buried in Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, Colorado, wife of Albert Lacey Good. A Lacey Albert Good, born 9 Oct 1913, died 19 April 1979 is buried with her.
--The SSDI has Lacey Good, "last residence" in Castle Rock, Douglas Co, Colorado.
--California Voter Registration has both living in Los Angeles in 1948 at 343 Dayman Street. Lacey was living alone in 1940. In 1942, he was living with Alyce in Los Angeles. Thus, it "appears" they married around 1940-1942.

Ron Bestrom

Ron, That was a thoughtful reply to my post. Thank you.
I have all the information I need on Neil Thompson, birth and death, etc.
My problem in finding his wife's maiden name. I've looked for years. His death certificate states his wife was ALYCE CLARA D. His obituary says his wife was ALYCE CLARA. Neil died in California as you found in the records in 1949. ALYCE then moved to POLK Co. FLORIDA where she had relatives. I do not know the names of her relatives, but it was said a brother was named Frank or Francis. ALYCE reportedly died in FLORIDA in the 1970s and did not remarry. I have never found her death certificate in FLORIDA, nor her SS Number. It was said she may have been self employed or worked for the military and did not use a SS#. She was some type of executive secretary.
A family story states Neil married ALYCE in WWII. She was was from "back East." Since he was in MA to end the WAR, I assumed he married her in MA. I checked in MA for a marriage but none found. I did find a family with a ALICE CLARA in MA. I also checked for a marriage in nearby state of NH with no luck. I also checked in Colorado for a marriage but no luck. I checked Yuma Co. AZ for a marriage but no luck. I checked some counties in CA for a marriage, but no luck.
The prime target now is WA. But marriage data prior to 1950 is located in each county according to the link you
provided. I will have to check all of the counties in WA which could get expensive if they charge for a search.
His obit read: Neil Thompson, 43, of 879 Sierra Way, a veteran of World War II, died Sunday at Norco Naval Hospital. A native of Glencoe, Texas, he had been a resident of San Bernardino and of California only seven months.
Surviving are a widow, Mrs. Alyce Thompson; three brothers and five sisters in the east. He was a member of the V.F.W. post in Yuma, Arizona.
Funeral services will be held Thursday at 10A.M. at Stephens AND Bobbitt chapel. Interment will follow at Sawtelle cemetery, Los Angeles. (end)
The funeral home stated in a letter to me that their records said his wife was ALYCE CLARA with no other information.
MA has this birth record for an ALICE C. Donnly
Alice C. Donnly born 1916, Middlesex, MA
This would have been about the right birth date for her.
I found this census data for her in MA:
Evelyon Donnly 24
Mary L. Donnly 23
Alice G.? (not C.) Donnly 17
Lee J. Donnly 12
Walfred F. Donnly 8
Earl Francis Donnly F. 3. Note the name Francis.
This was near Ft Devin, where Neil was probably discharged from the Army.

I have tried to get photos from both sides of Neil’s headstone in Sawtelle National Cemetery in Calif.
I’ve had no luck with RAOGK. There is a chance the reverse side of the stone contains the name of Alyce. I do not know who can get that photo for me.

I contacted a professional genealogist in MA to do research but he said he could probably could NOT add to what I already did, so save my money.

I’ve learned that Alice was 5'6" tall. Very intelligent. Blonde hair, blue eyes and beautiful. She lived in Lake Wales of Polk County FL. She played the Piano. She lived her last few years with her brother who took care of her as she arthritis.

Thompson, Neil, b. 07/20/1904, d. 01/02/1949, PFC 416TH SIGNAL CO 8 AF, (Army)
Plot: 245 19/RE, bur. 01/07/1949. The VFW building in Yuma burned down with all the records. I cannot find any VFW or other organization to answer me in San Bernardino, California.
It was said ALYCE was active in supporting the military, perhaps supporting the VFW, but I do not know where to look for that data.

Looks like my current effort should be in WA until the 1940 census is available which may give some additional data.

Neil Thompson Military records: #06 537 258
First service: October 24, 1927 to June 7, 1929
Second service June 17, 1942 to February 3, 1943
In: Pendleton Oregon. Out Vancouver, Washington. (Wash 1930)
In Denver Colorado, out Devens, Massachusetts. (Colorado 1942, Mass. 1943)

Charles Barnum
Reno NV

I don't know if you have had any luck with your research but you can try the Washington State digital archives on-line at: http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/default.aspx
I have been able to find a lot of my relatives information using this search.

Good luck

Joyce

Joyce, YOU are wonderful.
I found my Neil Thompson's marrige in Tucson AZ a few months ago after years of searchng. BUT I tried the link you supplied and found the marrige of his brother that is the last brick wall in taht family.
Charley G Thompson to Catherine B McCrocken.
I had her name as McCracken from family hearesay.
Your link made me think that ther needs to nbe a list of State and other data bases all in opne place. for istance, Familyserach.org just came out with the death records 1899 to 1945 for New Mexico.
I'd like to gather all these rexcords up and place them on a web page on this web site: http://newmexicoalhn.net/
Any ideas?