Family and friends are remembering Larry Hilden and sharing this with the community:

Laurence Roland Hilden passed away peacefully at his home at age 94 on April 24, 2022.

He was born in Hager City, WI to Arthur and Ruth Hilden. After graduating from school, he joined the US Navy a month before his 18th birthday in November 1945. He served aboard the USS Trippe (DD-403) and participated in the Operation Crossroads nuclear weapons tests at Bikini Atoll on July 25, 1946.

After returning from the service, he worked at the Red Wing Shoe Factory where he met his wife, Elaine. They were married in Red Wing, MN in June 1949 and moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1951, eventually settling in Ballard in 1962. Laurence (known as “Larry” by his customers) owned and operated G&B Shoe Rebuilders (“If the shoe fits, repair it”) in the West Seattle Junction for 41 years.

He enjoyed traveling, playing guitar, writing song lyrics, boating, voracious reading, crossword puzzles, daily walks at Golden Gardens, and he especially enjoyed taking the “devil’s advocate” position in spirited and lively conversations.

He was preceded in death by his wife Elaine in 2005. He is survived by his daughters Loreli Tarsiuk (Terry) and Elana Bryan West (Chuck West); grandchildren Justin Tarsiuk (Kristen), Alissa Tarsiuk, Jackson Bryan, and great-grandson Rocco Tarsiuk. He is also survived by his brother Floyd Hilden, sister Jeanne McArthur, and his aunt (yes, his aunt!) Ruby Foley of Red Wing, MN.

He was interred at Crown Hill Cemetery in Ballard on May 14, 2022.

Memorial contributions may be made to Ballard NW Senior Center.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

Family and friends will gather May 23rd to remember Jack Geary, and are sharing this remembrance with his community:

Thomas “Jack” Anthony Geary, 77, of Seattle, passed away on May 6th, 2022, after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

Jack was brought into this world on June 12th, 1944, by his loving parents, John “Jack” Geary and Sarah “Sadie” Geary, in Nuns Island, Galway, Ireland, where he spent the early part of his life. As a student, Jack attended Saint Patrick’s Primary School in his youth, then graduated from Saint Joseph’s Secondary School in 1961. True to his studious nature, Jack went on to earn a college degree in both English and History, as well as a Higher Diploma in Education in 1965 at University College Galway.

Throughout his academic years, Jack was enthralled by recreational activities like rowing and rugby. He won five rugby championship cups, one during secondary school and four while attending college. While Jack was a gifted student and sportsman, most people remember him for his lifelong passion for music, which he enjoyed up until his final day. To Jack, music was life. As a keen musician, he became well known in the folk scene in Galway following college and went on to start his first band in Galway called “The Galway Blazers.”

Eager to establish a meaningful career in music, Jack left Ireland in 1968 and moved to New York City, where he played music in a band called “The Freedom Folk” with Sean Tyrrell. Together they produced a beautiful folk album called “Apples in Winter.”

Soon after, Jack moved to Boston and then to Newburyport, Massachusetts in 1969. It was in Newburyport that Jack met the love of his life, Terri, at a restaurant called the Townhouse, in Lowell, Massachusetts. The two married a year later on January 27th, 1970. On June 9th, 1971 they had their son, Colin Geary. Colin was raised in Newburyport, Massachusetts.

While in Newburyport, Jack formed a band called Harvest Home. For two decades Jack continued to play music; Terri had careers as a flight attendant and a restaurateur. Together they were living their best lives while raising their son.

In 1991, Jack and Terri drove across the country to settle in Seattle and care for Terri’s elderly mother. Jack played music in the local area and in 1993 he and Terry became proprietors of The Owl n’ Thistle Irish Pub, located in downtown Seattle. Eager to make this a family business, Colin answered his parents call to move to Seattle and help run the pub. It was at The Owl n’ Thistle that Jack felt the greatest joy entertaining friends and patrons, which he did up until his final days. To this day, The Owl n Thistle has been wildly successful and a staple in the community. Thanks to Jack’s hands-on approach and generous nature, many of his employees went on to become entrepreneurs, restauranteurs, and successful musicians. Walking into The Owl n’ Thistle for the first time, there’s a strong sense of community with patrons and locals but also a rich connection with the Seattle music scene, all which Jack took great pride in fostering. Today, Jack’s memory is celebrated by friends and family who he loved with all his heart.

Jack was predeceased by his parents, Jack and Sadie Geary, his siblings Angela Packard, John (Poonah) Geary, and his son Colin Geary. He is survived by his wife Terri Geary, his brother Eamonn Geary, and his sisters Maura Castling, Jane Bilyard, and sister Susan Quinn.

Please join us on Monday, May 23, 2022 @ 11 am at Holy Rosary Church in West Seattle, 4139 42nd Ave SW. Reception to follow at The Owl n’ Thistle Irish Pub, 808 Post Ave.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

So many of the remembrances we published these past two years ended with the promise that a celebration of life would be scheduled at a later date. One such was that of Ralph L. Heitt, remembered here in April of last year. Now we have an update on plans for a gathering: “A memorial/celebration of Ralph’s life will be held at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church, 1501 32nd Ave S., Seattle, on May 28th, 2022 at 11 am.”

Family and friends will gather May 21st to celebrate the life of Mike Lobdell. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing:

Remembering Mike Lobdell, 1950-2021

For those who had the privilege of knowing Mike through the years, you know that nothing made him more proud than his family. You’d often catch him saying, “Yes, that’s my family, I did that.”

His legacy will continue to live on. He is survived by his wife Lynn, their three daughters and their husbands, three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren.

Please come help celebrate Mike’s life on the 21st of May at the White Center Eagles from 2-5 pm. Bring your best stories to share as we raise a shot in celebration of Mike.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

Family and friends are remembering John S. Rundberg and have just provided this remembrance to share with the community:

John Sarjent Rundberg was born on November 22, 1939 in St Louis, Missouri to Ray A. and Wilma G. Rundberg. John passed away on December 28, 2021 after being diagnosed on his 82nd birthday with a very rare undifferentiated, aggressive pancreatic cancer.

The things John was most proud of:

~His time at Ohio State University
~Four years of service in the U.S. Army
~Being a teacher/ librarian with the Seattle Public Schools from 1969-2008 – Teaching from high school down to kindergarten, while always inspiring students with his love for books and reading.
~Marriage to his wife Diann and helping her raise her four children: Tyler, Ryan, Sarah, and Micah. His love of being a Grandfather to Granddaughters Zoey A. and Taya V.

While being a member of the Hutchison family for 25-plus years.

~ A beach home in Manzanita, Oregon
~ Leading six major river canoe trips 1989 -1997
~ Maintaining deep lifetime friendships
~ Travels all over the US and Canada: camping in tents, Tipi, and finally an RV
~ Six years of taking a group of volunteer friends and family to “The American Prairie Reserve” to clean up and preserve the land for the growing Bison population.

The John We All Came to Know and Love:

Tipi man John * wood crafter John * plaid flannel shirt John * newspaper clipper John * Montana bison fence remover John * dog lover John * comes down for dinner, then leaves John * pie lover John * always has 5-7 knives on him John * surprise benefactor John * storyteller John * teacher John * canoe paddler in the pool John * musician John * technophobe John * historian John * Friend John * knitter of squares John * book collector John * librarian John * Manzanita community member John * won’t fly, train man John * cowboy novel reader John * and: “Always about our age” * Plus: Husband * Father * Brother * Uncle * Cousin * Grandpa *

John is survived by his wife, Diann Hutchison Rundberg; Brother, Paul Rundberg (Sandy); nieces Suzanne Jones and Rebecca Boozer, all of Greenville, SC
Sister Karen Rundberg Bunney (Rob) and niece Annika Bunney, all of Bellevue, WA.
Stepchildren, Ryan, Sarah, and Micah Packard (Tyler Vance, preceded him in death in 2012 )
Two Granddaughters, Zoey A. and Taya V.
And many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Please read: “All Is Well” by Henry Scott Holland

Share memories, condolences, and photos of John on the Tribute Wall at emmickfunerals.com/obituary/John-Rundberg

Arrangements entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home & Cremation Services of West Seattle

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

When we published this remembrance of Paul Randall (1973-2022) two weeks ago, his family promised an update when the date was set for his Celebration of Life. Now we have the date and place: Sunday, June 19th, 1-4 pm, at Sleight of Hand Cellars in SODO, 3861 1st Avenue South.

Family and friends are remembering Paul Randall and sharing this with his community:

Our beloved Paul has left us far too early. He passed peacefully, and painlessly, in his sleep.

For those that had the privilege of living life with him, he was known for his unmatched humor, his servant leadership, his passion in each endeavor of his life, a vast appreciation for music, and adoration for his cats. He is survived by his wife Vicky, his parents: Mike and Becky Randall, and Joan and Mike Miller, in addition to his sisters Christa, Lyndzie, and Aubree, as well as his brother, Joel and all of siblings’ spouses. He had 12 nieces and nephews that he loved very dearly. His large extended family will miss him intensely. Many friends and family will find celebrating life more difficult, but will no doubt meet the challenge, because that is what Paul would have wanted from us. He would ask that all of us raise a glass of our favorite beverage, and love each other well.

A celebration of life will be planned in the coming weeks. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to kexp.org/donate or paws.org/donate

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

Family and friends will gather April 30th to celebrate the life of Jim Sullivan. Here’s the remembrance they are sharing with his community:

James “Jim” Sullivan lost his 8-year battle with an aggressive form of Parkinson’s Disease on March 15, 2022, just shy of his 69th birthday. All who knew and loved him are so impressed with the grace he showed during the course of his disease and the many life changes it caused. He will be remembered as a hard-working family man with a quick wit and infectious smile.

Jim was born on April 6th, 1953 in Raymond, Washington, to Leoncie and Ray Darling. His birth followed that of his siblings, Linda (1950) and Ray Sullivan (1952), his lifelong best friends and partners in crime. A decade later, his mother remarried and he gained a father in Terry Sullivan. Jim was no longer the baby but became a big brother to his sisters. First came Terri (1963) and soon after Toni (1966), and the family was complete. Jim was born in Raymond but moved to West Seattle as a young boy and was a West Seattleite through and through. Jim lived in the Alki and Arbor Heights neighborhoods growing up and attended school at Alki Elementary, Arbor Heights Elementary, Denny Middle School, and Chief Sealth High School (Class of 1971). Early on, his teachers noticed his artistic talents. The subject he was most interested in and excelled most in was art. After high school, he took art classes at South Seattle College and began life as a starving artist. He rented a studio in Pike Place Market where he would design artwork for bands, magazines, restaurants, and anyone else who would pay! In his years after high school, Jim enjoyed sailing around Puget Sound, hiking, duck hunting, and traveling to visit his sister Linda at her home on the big island of Hawaii.

At 30 years old, Jim met the love of his life, Michelle. They enjoyed many trips to Hawaii, driving their white Fierro around town with their cooler strapped to the back, hunting and spending time with family and friends. A handful of years later, the two got married, bought their home in Arbor Heights, and welcomed the joys of their life, Alexis (1992) and Alana (1994). They bought a commercial space on 35th Avenue and opened Alexis Antiques and held onto the building for years as landlords. The years were filled with projects in the yard, hikes to the community beach, barbecues, Chief Sealth sporting events, his daughter’s softball games, and many laughs.

During all of those busy years, Jim supported his family using his artistic skills as a furniture refinisher and carpenter. In the furniture world, he was known as “Sully.” He worked for various furniture companies in the area, including the Bon Marche, where he started his career, and Room & Board, where he ended his career. Jim was the “antique whisperer” – he could take a banged-up old piece of furniture and bring it back to its original condition. When not working at his full-time job, he was always working on a side project through his business “Sully’s OnSite Furniture Repair.” He worked extremely hard and never complained. His daughters will always remember their dad as a hard worker who would do anything for his family. After years of this work, Jim realized that his speed and ability to prioritize projects at work was deteriorating. He also read an article about a celebrity who was having a hard time brushing their teeth and had noticed changes in handwriting. These were changes Jim had noticed in himself as well, so he reached out to a neurologist. It was in 2014 that his Parkinson’s diagnosis was confirmed, and he retired from Room & Board and sold his commercial real-estate building.

It wasn’t the retirement anyone was hoping for for Jim, but he had many good years. He filled these years with trips to Westport with his family and grand-dogs, Mariners games with his daughter Alexis and her partner Chuck, bike rides, yard work, and working on home improvements with his brother Ray. One of his favorite activities was visiting his daughters at The Original Bakery, where they both worked for many years. The disease was always throwing something new his way. As his disease progressed, Jim was becoming more and more frustrated and depressed. Fortunately in 2019 his daughter Alana and her husband Ruben produced the best Parkinson’s treatment on the market … grandchildren! Jim’s granddaughters Clara and Ella were immediately his new best friends and biggest joys. No matter what his disease was throwing at him, a visit from his granddaughters would turn his day right around. The trips and outings were replaced with walks at Lincoln Park, dance parties, cuddles, barbecues, and pool parties in the yard.

In 2021 after many loving years and making memories as a family, it was time for Jim to receive care outside of the home and give his wife Michelle some much-needed rest from years of around-the-clock caregiving. Jim moved into the Rosewood Adult Family Home in Normandy Park and was treated like family. He loved his caregivers and made many special bonds with them. He raved about the food and enjoyed visits from his family and friends as well as occasional outings. After 6 months and even more progression in his disease, it was time to transition to memory care. Jim was cared for at the Chateau at Valley in Renton for the next 6 months, where they were extremely patient and communicative while his disease continued to complicate life for him.

Jim passed peacefully at Valley Medical Center after an overnight stay. He spent one last night with family and rested overnight with his daughter Alana. Close family members who live locally came to say their goodbyes and he was surrounded by love until the end. It has been a long road with lots of ups and downs, and we are at peace knowing that he passed peacefully, painlessly, and is no longer suffering.

For those of you who loved Jim, we would enjoy your presence at his celebration of life. We will eat, share stories, and enjoy celebrating such a wonderful soul. The celebration will be Saturday, April 30th at his family home from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Please reach out to his daughter Alexis Sullivan for further details (alexissullivan318@gmail.com).

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

Family and friends are remembering Steve Fuller, and sharing this remembrance with the community:

It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of Stephen “Steve” Linton Fuller. Born May 23, 1968, in Columbus, Ohio, Steve passed in Seattle on March 25, 2022. He leaves behind his daughters, Anna and Sophia, and their mother Katharine, his brother Michael, and his family, and his parents David and Mary Ann.

Steve graduated from Medina High School in 1986 before participating in the Rotary Student Exchange Program from ’86 to ’87, where he lived in Sweden for a year. He then studied at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, class of 1991, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International/Global Studies. He was a 4-year member of the Miami University Glee Club.

After undergrad, he worked with AEISEC and participated in an International Internship in St. Julians, Malta from ’91 to ’93. He continued to travel and even lived in Costa Rica for a few years with his then-wife Katharine. His eldest daughter, Anna, was born in July ’98 while they lived in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Shortly after her birth, Steve enrolled in a Master of Fine Arts program at Savannah College of Art and Design, graduating in 2000. He and his family moved to Seattle in May 2000 and Sophia was born in 2003. Steve joined the Rotary Club of West Seattle and served as Rotary International Chair from 2006 to 2010. He proudly became a 4th generation Rotary Club President in 2010. In December 2011, he led a group to Nepal, serving as the Team Leader for the Rotary Group Study Exchange.

Steve traveled to 40 different countries and lived in at least 6 different states, collecting friends along the way. He was an accomplished artist and collector of art and antiques. Steve enjoyed being in nature, cooking and entertaining, camping, and sailing Puget Sound. There is a Steve-shaped hole in our hearts that cannot be filled. He will be deeply missed. A Memorial Service is planned for late May. Details will be provided on howden-kennedy.com/obituary/Stephen-Fuller. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the West Seattle Rotary Club in honor of Steve. A link to donate will be provided on the website above.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

Family and friends are remembering Roger Steiner, and sharing this with his community:

Born February 7, 1969, Pocatello, Idaho
Died March 16, 2022, Seattle, age 53
Parents: Gene and Sharon Steiner of Ketchum, Idaho
Husband: Joel Williams of Seattle
Cause of death: Unexpected sudden death in epilepsy

Roger and Joel were together 21 years. The officialdom of their relationship followed the path of same-sex marriage in this state/country. They became Washington State domestic partners in 2007, and when the referendum passed for marriage in this state, the law stipulated that their partnership would roll over into marriage in 2014, which it did. Of course, the US Supreme Court also added their imprimatur somewhere in there as well.

Roger attended schools in Ketchum and Hailey, Idaho, and then switched to The Community School in Sun Valley, Idaho, where he graduated in 1987. He attended Whitman College, graduating in 1991 with a major in history.

Roger’s hometown Ketchum is a unique place, beloved to so many. Roger went to Ernest Hemingway Elementary School. Roger’s brother Eric’s grave is a very few steps away from the Hemingway grave. Growing up in Ketchum is the kind of experience parents dream of giving their children – a closeness to nature that fostered a great love of the outdoors. Roger could hike around the mountains just above the house he grew up in and name the flora and fauna, but he was no match in that sport to his mother Sharon. Ketchum is a tight-knit small town where he knew other people well and where other people knew him, and where bonds of friendship cross generations. Anyone who walked down a Ketchum sidewalk with Roger, even long after he had moved away, would know that there were slim chances of getting more than half a block without running into a longtime friend or acquaintance and stopping for a chat.

Gene owned Chateau Drug in Ketchum, and was the pharmacist there. Roger got a long-lasting “family internship” in running a business, growing up partially in the store. The lessons, the practices he learned there infused his whole life. You have never known such a beloved drugstore, and it modeled the practice of Roger’s future real-estate business – authentic kindness and consideration for other people, meticulous note-keeping, the immediate comfort and safekeeping for the needs of others that he conveyed.

Roger grew up on skis in the winter, wandering around trails and rivers in the summer. His father is a gifted fly fisherman, and Roger learned from the best. He loved to join his father on the streams and lakes and loved to share fishing with others.

In his time spent indoors, Roger grew up loving and playing music and was a good violinist, playing on the instrument his grandfather brought with him when he emigrated from Switzerland. He wrote songs and brightened many gatherings with his playing and singing.

Like his school’s namesake, Hemingway, Roger also loved books and was a lifelong writer, keeping journals, writing restaurant reviews for a Seattle local paper, taking writing classes, and always thinking of ways to share his experiences through literary expression. His writing was sharp, compassionate, and funny, and it left an impression.

After college, he spent time in Ketchum teaching drama at the Community School. He moved to Boise after a short while, worked in restaurants, and, most important of all, continued to grow up with the loving all-but-blood family he found there, friends who are dear and close to this day.

Roger moved to Seattle in 2000. He and Joel met before he even moved here, and were friendly acquaintances until love blossomed in 2001. They lived through experiences like 9/11 and the pandemic together, but also supported one another strongly through career ups and downs and changes, through difficulties with Roger’s epilepsy, and also many long years of being seizure-free. The idea that this condition could lead to this outcome was not a concept for them.

In 2004, they moved to their home in West Seattle, and right around that time, Roger transitioned into the life of a real estate agent and built his business almost entirely from word-of-mouth. His friends referred clients and many of his clients became friends. Their lives together became a kind of Ketchum-on-Puget Sound.

Roger was always physically active, appreciating Seattle on a bike, often walking in Lincoln Park, always up for a group exercise class where he inevitably found friendship and fellowship. Two weeks before his death, Roger skied the entire vertical drop of Bald Mountain at Sun Valley a few times, drew new friends into the loving atmosphere of his childhood home and hometown, and returned to Seattle to help his clients get into and out of the real-estate market with grace and expertise. He will be forever in our hearts, but his physical absence is a void that is very difficult to face.

Celebrations of life will occur in Seattle and Ketchum this summer, dates to be determined.

Roger cared about many people and places. If you are looking for a place to make a memorial donation, consider the Idaho Conservation League, the Seattle YMCA Social Impact Center, and the OutRight Action International LGBTIQ Fund.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

Thanks to the reader who sent the link to this remembrance announcing the death of Dr. Susanne Gee, a longtime West Seattle dermatologist who had moved to New Mexico in her retirement. Dr. Gee died this week, not long after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. In addition to her practice, she also was active in the local community over years of involvement with the Rotary Club of West Seattle. Dr. Gee’s memorial is set for April 4th at Sunset Hills Funeral Home in Bellevue.

Family and friends will gather March 25th for a Funeral Mass in memory of Dorothy Neal. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing now:

Dorothy Neal joined her husband Jim and son Jimmy in heaven on February 25th, leaving behind a legacy of love.

She was born on June 9, 1924, to Louis Joseph and Hannah Murdoch Blanchard in Seattle. She was raised in South Park, the 9th of 10 children. A fondness of dancing the Jitterbug and Swing attracted her to the “best dancer in Ballard,” Jim Neal, and the two married in 1944. The family moved to Vashon in May 1951 and spent many happy years grilling salmon, singing around the fire, reading stories, and dancing. She worked as a librarian for the Vashon Island School District and she received her BA from CWU in 1984. Along with skiing, jogging, and boating, Dorothy was a gifted artist, seamstress, and puppeteer; and crafted over 250 marionettes for her traveling show, “The Theater of the Little People.” The show went on tour in Washington and BC.

The passing of her son Jimmy and suffering from breast cancer were two tribulations that had a huge effect on Dorothy but attested to her tenacity, faith, and spirit. She spent her later years working for daughter Shelley at her preschool and was known for her loving presence, hand-painted cookies, and the way she made each child feel special and loved. She was called Grandma Dorothy by all.

She lives on through her family, students, and friends whom she affected greatly with her positivity and living life to its fullest. Dorothy leaves behind her sister Irene Dufort, her five children Kathy Winge (Carl), Joe Neal, Diane Kukull (Walter), Teresa Walsh (John), Shelley Neal (Ralph), 18 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, 6 great-great-grandchildren. There will be a Rosary said Thursday, March 24th at 7 pm at the Island Funeral Service and a Funeral Mass celebrated by Rev. David Mayovsky at St. John Vianney, Friday, March 25th at 11 am. A luncheon will follow. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Seattle Saturday morning. Remembrances in Dorothy’s name can be sent to Providence Mt. St. Vincent Foundation, where she was lovingly cared for the last years of her life, 4831 35th Ave SW, Seattle 98126.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

Family and friends are remembering Yvette A. Laughlin, and sharing this remembrance with her community:

Yvette Anna Laughlin passed away peacefully on February 24 with her daughters by her side, holding her hands.

Yvette was born March 27, 1938, near Poitiers, France, the oldest of five siblings. She grew up on a small farm in the French countryside, and in 1961, she married and moved to Seattle with her husband and first child. She lived in West Seattle the remainder of her life.

She was French through and through but was also fiercely proud to be a naturalized citizen of the United States. She never missed a voting day and instilled in her children a duty to vote as well.

She was beautiful, outgoing, and she never met a stranger. She loved young people and stayed younger by hanging out with them. She was always willing to lend a hand to help anyone that needed assistance and supported many causes to help those less fortunate, people and animals alike. Her faith in God sustained her through many difficult times.

Her love of gardening was always on display every spring and summer when neighbors would stop by her yard just to see what was new that year.

She is survived by her children Betty Laughlin (Pierre LaRochelle), Steve Laughlin (Suzanne Nielsen), and Michelle Laughlin, and by her siblings, Andre Maillochot (Simone), Bernard Maillochot, Michelle Maillochot, and Remy Maillochot, as well as nieces and nephews in France.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

Family and friends are remembering Dr. Allen Watts, and sharing this remembrance with his community:

Dr. Allen Watts
November 17, 1923 – March 4, 2022

Few people have touched as many lives in West Seattle as Allen J. Watts. “Al” to his friends. “Doc Watts” to his generations of dental patients. Born in 1923 in rural Minnesota, he grew up without electricity or running water, and was instilled with a work ethic that he carried throughout his 98 years.

When he was 5 years old, Al started helping his father milk their 14 cows twice a day. They relied on their horses for plowing their field because they couldn’t afford a tractor, and they fed their family all year long with what they raised on their land.
He recalled one time when they couldn’t afford to pay their full property tax bill and his father borrowed $8 from the bank to make up the difference.

After serving in the Navy during World War Two, he graduated from dental school and decided to settle in Seattle. He began his practice in White Center and then opened his own dental office in West Seattle where he served the community for 39 years. The brick office he built near the VFW Hall on Alaska Street is still in use today.

Al Watts also left his mark with considerable community service, starting as a volunteer at the nearby YMCA and later as a board member and chairman of the building committee for 18 years. He led the $5 million effort to build the structure that currently houses the West Seattle Y. And Dr. Watts was often the one who quietly did the repairs on the building.

He was one of the founders of the West Seattle Helpline, which continues to offer emergency aid to the needy. Al was also a Boy Scout leader in West Seattle for many years, acting as Scoutmaster to as many as 74 boys at a time. Another one of his passions was the West Seattle Lions Club, where he served in every leadership role for many decades. In every one of these selfless roles, he was the driving force to get things done and make a difference in other people’s lives.

In 1963 Al and his wife bought property on Maury Island and called it Appleyard Farm. He raised chickens and exotic birds that won prizes at shows all over the country. Some of the species were nearly extinct when he started breeding them and he took great joy in seeing their offspring at shows in the subsequent years. He also had a donkey named Rosie and a pet llama, which were big hits with the neighborhood kids.

Over the years Al raised many varieties of apples, pears, berries, rhododendrons, Japanese maples, sunflowers, prize-wining pumpkins, and corn. One of his other great joys was sharing that bounty with others.

He is survived by his wife of more than 65 years, Muriel, their children Brad, Tim, and Leanne, 7 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren who will never forget him.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

Family and friends will gather Thursday to remember Colleen Mary Doyle. Here’s the remembrance they are sharing with her community:

Colleen Mary Doyle passed away peacefully at her home on February 15, 2022 with her family by her side.

Colleen was born on April 29th 1945 in Seattle and was the middle of three children. She lived her entire life in Seattle, where she attended Holy Rosary School, met her husband Thomas Walior, and where they raised their four children, Daimon, Joe, Shannon, and Erin.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Walior.

She is survived by her sons Daimon (Olympia, WA), Joe (Seattle), Shannon (Seattle), and her daughter Erin (Seattle).

Five grandchildren: Katie, Danny, Sam, Josh, and Mira. Also, one great-grandchild, Delilah Lou.

She was a part of many stewardships in her parish of Holy Rosary in the last decade of her life. Colleen was a devoted and beloved wife and mother and will be terribly missed by her entire family and anyone who had the opportunity to call her friend.

Funeral will be Thursday, February 24th, 10:30 am, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 4210 SW Genesee St.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

Family and friends are remembering Jeffrey L. Parsons, and sharing this remembrance with his community:

Jeffrey Lloyd Parsons
May 3, 1947 to February 10, 2022

Jeffrey “Jeff” Parsons was born on May 3rd, 1947, the youngest child of Lloyd and Dorothy Parsons. Jeff was born and raised in West Seattle and was the “favorite brother” of his two older sisters, Kay and Judy. He passed away at home on February 10th, 2022, surrounded by his family, after a brief illness.

Jeff attended EC Hughes Elementary, Denny Middle School, and Sealth High School, where he graduated with the class of 1965. He had many fun adventures with his childhood friends and fellow Boy Scouts and was an active member of Calvary Lutheran Church.

In 1967, Jeff joined the United States Navy Reserve and completed his training and service at the Naval Air Reserve Training Unit in Memphis, TN and the Naval Air Reserve Training Command in Los Alamitos, CA. Upon return to Seattle, he chose to follow in his father’s footsteps and completed an apprenticeship program for sheet-metal fabrication at Seattle Community College. Jeff pursued a lifelong career in commercial sheet-metal work at several Seattle area shops, with the majority of his career spent at Holaday-Parks, Inc., in Tukwila, where he was the Shop Superintendent and proud member of Local Union 66. He retired after 38 years in 2010.

In the late 1960s, Jeff met the love of his life, Sally Paton, and they were married in 1970. Jeff and Sally had over 50 years of adventure together as they raised two children, Maureen and Chris, and built a mountain cabin for their family in the remote community of Stehekin, WA. Jeff loved his outdoor adventures in Stehekin and his time spent with his many friends in the Stehekin community. He loved backpacking, camping, and fishing with his family and enjoyed road trips through the Northwest, Alaska, and Canada.

A gifted carpenter and metal worker, Jeff enjoyed many happy hours tinkering in his shop, and especially loved working on projects with his dad, son, and grandsons. A kind and generous friend and neighbor to many, he looked forward to his daily drives around West Seattle catching up with friends and family and delivering cookies to his grandkids. He loved watching his youngest grandson’s baseball, soccer, and basketball games, and he enjoyed listening to his oldest grandson’s violin and piano concerts. Jeff loved all things vintage; from collectible toys to historical photographs of Stehekin and Lake Chelan, Jeff spent hours curating his fascinating collection. His epic sense of humor was well known and he was appreciated by his family, friends and neighbors for his ability to fix anything.

Jeff’s love for his family was unconditional. Rain or shine, Jeff could be relied upon to help with whatever the situation happened to be, with a powerful mind and an indefatigable work ethic. He was able to provide his family with many decades of safety, opportunities, and beautiful memories. He never seemed to ask for anything in return but the company of his family, which was readily granted on account of his easy-going personality and aforementioned sense of humor. He will be greatly missed.

Jeff is survived by his wife of 51 years, Sally (Paton) Parsons; daughter Maureen Parsons and grandsons Aidan and Ian Busby; son Chris Parsons (Liz Browning); sister Judy Parsons; sister Kay McAvinew (Jerry) and their children Tony McAvinew and Tracy (Tim) Powell; sisters-in-law Sue Lesmeister (Bob) and Diane Peel (Omar); and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Dorothy Parsons, and sister-in-law Laurie Williams.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society.

Please share memories, condolences and pictures with Jeff’s family at bonneywatson.com/obituary/jeffrey-lloyd-parsons. A private family service will be held at Washington Memorial Park in SeaTac.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

Family and friends are remembering Lois Norman Batts. Here’s what they are sharing with her community:

Lois Norman Batts entered fully into the presence of the Lord on Saturday, January 8, 2022. She will be greatly missed until family and friends reunite with her, someday, in Heaven.

She was born to Day and Verna Wallen on February 23, 1930, in Sioux City, Iowa – the youngest of 6 children. Her family moved to the Key Peninsula of Washington State in the early 1940s. As a young woman, she worked as a switchboard operator, long distance operator, and attended some classes at the University of Washington. In the fall of 1956, she met the love of her life, William (Bill) Batts. They were soon engaged, and then married on February 22, 1957, just one day before her 27th birthday. She joked about how she aged a year overnight.

They bought a house and settled down in the Genesee Hill area of West Seattle and raised 3 children there – Ben, Bill, and Janis.

Lois was a stay-at-home mom for many years and involved in the children’s schools. She participated in many ministries and programs at West Side Presbyterian Church during her 62-year membership, including women’s circle groups, Wedded Ring group, Sunday School teaching, VBS teaching/assisting, serving as Deaconess, MOPPETS childcare volunteer, etc… She attended Bible Study Fellowship for many years and volunteered with Friend-to Friend, which is an organization that matches volunteers to elderly folks who need the company of a friend on a regular basis. Lois participated in the West Seattle Hi-Yu parade many summers carrying a banner for Friend-to-Friend which led the vans and buses from local senior-living facilities.

Lois was always putting others first. As a non-skier, she went along on all the family ski trips every other weekend in the winters to Crystal Mountain to provide mothering, warmth, meals, encouragement, and all that it takes to get a family of 5 packed up and provided for. She also supported Bill in his other hobbies of raising & showing dahlias and boating & fishing. During her mother’s last few years of life, Lois cared for her 24 hours/day at home.

When the children were older, Lois went back to work. She started out working in the kitchen at Modern Care Nursing Home and then began to work as an Activities Assistant. She moved on to work at The Kenney Home as an Activities Assistant. Even after she retired from there, she continued for many years, to lead a class for the residents on making Kenney Kards, which were sold to help raise money for The Kenney benevolence fund.

Lois enjoyed traveling with Bill: a road trip around the USA and to Canada, they took many cruises (the Caribbean, Australia, Hawaii, Alaska, Panama Canal), a trip to Europe (France, England, Italy), many October trips to Maui, timeshare weeks to Wapato Point in Chelan. She also enjoyed playing card games and Dominoes with family and friends, making ceramic decorations, watching Mariners games, and spending time with her grandchildren.

In 1997, they sold their house and then moved into The Kenney independent-living apartments. They used to be the young ones there and felt like they were royalty as they looked out from their 4th-floor apartment windows over the beautiful lawn and gardens. In early 2019, they moved into Assisted Living as Lois’s Alzheimer’s worsened; then in October 2019, Lois moved into The Kenney’s memory care, as Bill continued in Assisted Living. For the first time since 1957, they were living apart but able to visit with each other daily. This separation was compounded further in the Spring of 2020, when The Kenney cancelled any visitation to the residents in the building due to COVID, which included any visits between people in the different living areas there. For many months Bill and Lois could only “visit” through a window. Their story was featured in the Seattle Times November issue of The Pacific NW. Fortunately, restrictions were loosened some and they could see each other again in person.

Lois passed away just short of their 65th anniversary and her 92nd birthday. She is preceded in death by her parents and all of her siblings. She is survived by her husband Bill (Mr. Bill, as she would say), son Ben Batts, son Bill Batts (Jen), and daughter Janis Kelly (Tim), grandchildren Taylor Batts (Mikaela), Ruth Sonsteng (David), Julia Foote (Spencer), Kathryn Batts, William Batts, Stephen Kelly, and Victoria Kelly-Hodder (Ben) and six great-grandchildren.

Thank you to the wonderful caregivers at Synergy Home Care Seattle, The Kenney, AMR Paramedics, and Swedish Hospital Cherry Hill.

There will be a private family ceremony on March 3rd.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

Family and friends will gather March 5 to remember Janice Tomisser, and are sharing this with her community:

Janice Tomisser left us on January 30, 2022 unexpectedly, and as a good friend said, “Godspeed Sweet Jane, of all the people I have ever known, you’ve got the express train to heaven.”

Janice lived a full life of 73 years and was the conscience of her family, setting such a wonderful example of living a spiritual and faith-filled life, showing her love, compassion, kindness, and generosity, always thinking of others before herself. She leaves behind 4 sisters, 1 brother, 1 brother-in-law, a sister-in-law, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and so many wonderful friends in this world. Preceded in death were her parents, Edward and Maxine Tomisser. She will be missed by all and left a wonderful legacy of love and support. Janice knew it was not the destination that counts but the journey. All the lives she touched, the good she did.

Janice grew up in West Seattle, where she lived for over 50 years. A great community to have been raised in, and after graduating from West Seattle High School, she certainly began her adventures. After college, Janice found her niche working in Medical Billing and Coding for Aetna Insurance for over 25 years and finishing her career with Swedish Institute of Neurology, upon which after another 15 years she decided to retire and enjoy some well-earned time for fun and adventure outside of working. Janice loved many things but more than anything she loved people. Always willing to listen, she connected with people from all walks of life with working colleagues as well as friends and of course her family.

Janice was very involved with her beloved West Seattle Christian Church Family, where she was a member for more than 50 years. She took great comfort in her spiritual life and community, including teaching Sunday School for many years and making so many lasting friendships in her church community. She set a great example to her family and friends, showing her caring ways to others. Upon retiring she also enjoyed volunteering in her West Seattle community at the Senior Center. She had a fun side as well, always wearing matching earrings, and her pearls with her colorful clothes, and shoes to match too! Always looking for the best new haircut to match as well. She took many vacations to Hawaii, enjoyed cruises, a trip to Europe, and always a summer-camp excursion to enjoy each year too.

Janice had many interests. One of her favorites , when not sharing time with her sisters or nieces and nephews as they were growing up , was her ardent support always as a Seattle sports fan. The Mariners, Seahawks, and Huskies were her favorites year round . Once her niece became a Gonzaga student and alumni, she had to add the Zags basketball too! She followed each team with lots of cheering and enthusiasm, especially the year the Seahawks won the Super Bowl! At holiday time she took time with everyone to make some holiday candies and cookies to celebrate the special time of the year.

Janice will be missed by so many. The Tomisser Family wishes to thank the Holistic Adult Family Home in Federal Way as well as the Swedish Hospice Team in Seattle, who cared for her during this last year and her final days.

A service celebrating Janice’s life will be held beginning at 11 am on March 5, 2022 at West Seattle Christian Church. Due to COVID restrictions, masks are required to attend her service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Diabetes Association using their website @ www.diabetes.org.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

Family and friends are remembering Lisa Craig Davidson, who lived in West Seattle for more than 25 years, and sharing this remembrance:

Lisa Craig Davidson
10/13/46 – 2/06/22

Surrounded by family and friends in her beloved home in Ellensburg, Lisa Craig Davidson quietly passed away after succumbing to a brief battle with lung cancer on Sunday afternoon, February 6th, 2022.

Lisa was born in Glen Ridge, NJ in 1946. She grew up in Greenwich, CT and attended Greenwich High School. Lisa spent her early years summering with her family in Rockport, MA and Belgrade Lakes, ME.

Lisa moved to Manhattan, NY at the age of 18 to start a modeling career. While in NY, she also worked for Life Magazine as an administrative assistant. Lisa then moved to Darien, CT, where she attended Norwalk Community College.

Lisa married Enfield “Flicky” Ford on the Lake in Belgrade Lakes, ME on August 18th, 1973. Lisa and Flicky enjoyed a busy family and social life between trips to NY, Maine, and Connecticut. Lisa and Flicky were divorced on March 27th, 1984.

Lisa moved to Seattle in 1991, where she worked for many years at the Mills Meyers Swartling law firm and enjoyed her home and community in West Seattle. While there, she was a passionate advocate for the homeless and enjoyed entertaining and meeting new people while working with premier Seattle catering company Tuxedos & Tennis Shoes.

Lisa moved to Sheridan, WY in 2008 and married Steve Monninger on July 17th, 2008. In 2009, Lisa moved to Paris, France, where she immersed herself in French art, food, and culture and discovered a hidden and impressive talent with oil painting. After returning from France, Lisa and Steve moved to Vancouver, B.C. in 2015 and were later divorced on March 9th, 2016.

Lisa returned to Seattle in 2016 and eventually migrated to her beloved home “Wedding Tree Farm” in Ellensburg. Lisa was very active in the Ellensburg community and made many close friends. She spent much of her time in Ellensburg volunteering with Kittitas County Friends of Animals (KCFOA) and FISH Food Bank.

Lisa loved life and she loved people. She was energy unbridled and moved happily wherever life took her. Lisa loved to live and she will be greatly missed.

Lisa is survived by her sister Lucy Davidson, brother Bill Davidson, niece Sydney Yates, nephew Christian Skovgaard, niece Laura Spuck, and nephew Carey Head. A memorial will be held to honor Lisa’s vivacious spirit and adventurous life in mid-April in Ellensburg.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

Family and friends are remembering Georgia Koenig, a former resident of West Seattle, and sharing this remembrance:

Georgia L. (Petersen) Koenig
February 26, 1945 – December 21, 2021

Beloved wife, mother, aunt, and friend, Georgia left us on December 21. She was greeted in heaven by her parents, in-laws, and sister.

The third daughter of George Martin and Eva Elaine Petersen (Marshall), Georgia was born in Seattle. She lived in Kalispell, Montana, then moved to St. Maries, Idaho, and back to Seattle all before the age of 5. Georgia spent the rest of her life in Washington State.

In 1966 she married the love of her life, Robert P. Koenig, and they raised two children, Susan and Robert.

She was a homemaker and community leader, devoting much her time outside the home to volunteerism, serving as school nurse, library assistant, and Camp Fire leader and Area Director.

Georgia excelled at whatever she put her mind to and had many talents. She loved handwork, crafting, and gardening, and was a voracious reader. She enjoyed card games and puzzles. She was an avid fisher. If the fish didn’t bite, it was always because the boat driver didn’t drive right.

Georgia is predeceased by her sister, Bethyl (Beth) Miller. Georgia, the wild card, had a “full house” and is survived by three Roberts and two Susans: her husband of nearly 56 years, Rob; her daughter, Susan, and son-in-law, Bob Gallagher; and her son, Rob Koenig Jr., and daughter-in-law,Susan (Suzi). In addition, she leaves behind her sister, Adina Waterbury of Vancouver, Washington, six nieces and nephews, and several great-nieces and great-nephews.

There is a deep hole in our hearts, and she is dearly missed.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

Family and friends will gather next Tuesday to remember Mary Louise Campagnaro Giacomini, and are sharing this remembrance now:

Mary Louise Campagnaro Giacomini was born April 29, 1934 in Seattle to John and Maria Campagnaro. She exited to heaven via San Diego unexpectedly on January 19, 2022. She was mom to me, Nonna to her granddaughters, Mary Lou to her friends and neighbors, and Louie to her faithful husband of 59 years, Ray. My mom is survived by my father Ray, her daughter Tina Huston (Jeff), her brother Fred, her sister-in-law Paula, her granddaughters Mallory and Paige, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents John and Maria, her brother Mimo, her aunt and uncle Joe and Adele, her double first cousins Fay, Mario, and Aldo, her in-laws Lorenzo and Louise, and her brother-in-law Larry.

Mary Louise graduated from Holy Rosary High School in West Seattle and worked as a security clearance clerk for Boeing. She met a handsome engineer while working there and they were married in 1962. After their marriage, my dad was transferred to central California and they settled in Santa Maria. Ten years later, my dad accepted a new job in San Diego, where they expected to stay for a few years. Fifty years later, my parents still called San Diego their home.

My mom was a loyal friend and a selfless person. Her first priority was always her family. My mom never met a stranger and had a contagious laugh. She also had a loud, booming voice that she said she “inherited from her dad.” It was very difficult to miss her. My mom was tough – always standing up for herself and her family. Loving but tough – you always got the truth – whether you wanted to hear it or not. I will miss talking to her and still asking her advice after 55 years. She was the best mom!

After settling in San Diego, I started kindergarten and my mom grew bored of staying home. This began her stint with San Diego City Schools as a yard duty and then as an instructional aide for children with learning disabilities. She loved working with kids of all ages and made many friends.

My mom and dad enjoyed many years of retirement and travel with family and friends. Their devotion to our girls made a big impact on their lives and we will always be eternally grateful. She spent years being a taxi service for her granddaughters and volunteered in the CCD program when her granddaughter needed an aide. She loved volunteering and continued working with the kids after her granddaughter graduated the program. Rest in Peace, Mom. Continue to watch over us and provide guidance. We will all be reunited again someday. We love you!

A memorial mass will be held at Holy Rosary Church on Tuesday, February 8th at 10:00 am. holyrosaryseattle.org.

Please make donations to the Autism Society of America, San Diego Chapter swim program. 4699 Murphy Canyon Rd. San Diego, CA 92123

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)