Earlier this month, we reported that Jack Block had died. Today, we have this remembrance from his family, including plans for a summertime memorial:

Legendary former Seattle Port Commissioner Jack Block died of cancer on All Saints Day, November 1, 2020.

Jack was 86 and born on September 17th, 1934. Jack graduated from West Seattle High School, attended the University of Washington, where he pledged Sigma Chi, and received his BS in International Trade, then into the US Navy to complete his military service for several years.

Jack ran and lost four races for public office in 1965, 1966, 1969, and 1971. Jack won his 1973 race to become a Seattle Port Commissioner and served for 28 years, the longest-serving Seattle Port Commissioner. The Jack Block Shoreline Park in West Seattle was named for him as a tribute to his service by the Port of Seattle.

Between 1974 and 2001, Block’s leadership helped transform the Seattle waterfront into a world-class port, wooing shipping lines to Seattle, bringing cruise ships to Elliott Bay, and modernizing cargo handling with huge cranes. As a longtime fisherman, environmental issues were close to his heart. Expanding public access along the waterfront, cleaning up toxic sites such as Terminal 5 and 18, and along the Duwamish River shoreline, were priorities for him.

Block is survived by wife Vicki Schmitz-Block, daughters Joey Mabe, Natalie Ramelow, and Heidi Wallace, and son Jack Block Jr., plus eight grandchildren and three greats! He was preceded in death by Fran Block, his first wife.

A public celebration and memorial will be held at the Jack Block Park in West Seattle on the 4th of July, 2021, COVID rules permitting.

Donations can be made in Jack’s name to the Washington State Council of Firefighters Burn Foundation, the Seattle Seafarers Center; or Long Live the Kings, a salmon restoration nonprofit.

Please share memories of Jack and condolences with his family at emmickfunerals.com/obituary/Jack-Block.

Arrangements Entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home of West Seattle

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

Family and friends are remembering John J. Jackson, and sharing his story with the community:

John was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 29, 1928 to George and Elizabeth Jackson. He was third oldest of 15 siblings.

In 1943, at the age of 15, he enlisted in the United States Navy. John saw action in the battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines. When the USS Baxter sailed into Bremerton to be decommissioned, he thought Seattle would be a good town in which to settle. He went back to Chicago, and took a job selling magazines, where he met Alma Guthrie. They married and in 1954 their daughter, Colleen, was born. They moved to West Seattle six months later and made Alki Beach their home. He became known as the “Cool Dad” because he cooked dinners for Colleen and her friends, drove then to sports activities, movies, and concerts. He even helped them sell Girl Scout cookies.

John was truly one of a kind, and lived his life with flair and ambition, always wearing fine suits and a fedora. He was a creative businessman with unique ideas and enjoyed helping others find ways to help their business’ prosper.  He defended those who needed protection and was incredibly generous. John always had a warm greeting for old friends, had a joke at the ready, and was able to make everyone feel special. He always left an impression on those he met.

He worked in the marketing and promotion business. He promoted many different products ranging from perfume to pudding to kitty litter. He then founded the North American Dinner Club for which he traveled all over the United States and Canada. He could recite all the highways one would use to drive into any area of this country or southern Canada. He was a very creative man and always had a new idea. He loved deeply and had friends all over the US and Canada.

In September of 2007 John married his longtime companion, and love of his life, Patsy Bechtold. They moved to Bonney Lake to live with Patsy’s daughter and son-in-law, Angie and Ryan, where he loved to spoil his two granddaughters. He was a good man, a kind man, and he enjoyed his life.

John peacefully passed on November 5, 2020, with Patsy at his side. He is survived by his daughter, Colleen, his wife Patsy, her daughter Angie (Ryan), two granddaughters (Savannah, Saveya), and six siblings (Patsy, Muffet, Gregory, Francis, Lewis, and Tim). He will be missed by all who knew him.

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

Family and friends have said goodbye to Rick Ream – and are sharing what he wanted you to know:

N. Richard “Rick” Ream
August 1, 1955 – November 13, 2020

N. Richard Ream made his exit on Friday the 13th. He wanted to pass along the following:

As a longtime reader, first-time contributor to these pages, I struggled on where to start. Knowing you are dying should make it easier to write an obituary… and yet. Way back in June of 2010, I was diagnosed with kidney cancer, which presented a sizable but not insurmountable hurdle to the best-laid plans. It went into remission, but before I was able to get a good look in the rear-view mirror, the cancer came back in my lungs. The official diagnosis of metastatic stage four renal cancer and a fresh wave of “science experiments” (avenues of treatment to control but not reverse the spread) slowed but didn’t stop me. I probably should have revisited my obituary, but after retiring from Boeing on April Fool’s Day after 32 years, I found myself with too much to do to bother with that. I threw myself back into house projects, restoring classic cars, and the celebration of the marriage of my only daughter with not one but two ceremonies and lots of family and friends. Despite my own health battles, I visited my father five times a week at the nursing facility he resided at for two years until his passing.

Safe to say, putting off the inevitable has never been a problem. As a jack of all trades, master of none, I enjoy helping out my large extended family with their own projects. I was born on August fool’s day, as the third of four children to Norm and Virginia Ream (Lisa, Don and Mike rounded out the family). I took apart my first car engine at age twelve, and went to work part-time as a mechanic for Stromberg’s Chevron in West Seattle as soon as I could, in addition helping my father’s construction company with projects all over the Pacific. After graduation from West Seattle High School, I enrolled part time at Seattle Central Community College where I met my future wife. I received my Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics License, and hired on as a machinist with Boeing. Over the years, I got to do some pretty cool things there. Among my favorites was selective-etch titanium chemimilling and later integrating robotic arms with six degrees of freedom to improve drilling efficiency on the Boeing 787 assembly line. Initially, the robots weren’t particularly accurate, but they were deathly consistent. Problem solving to consistently produce parts within thousandths of a meter was fun stuff.

In my free time, I’ve always been a fan of racing. In my youth, I ran my ‘57 Ranch Wagon, two-door station wagon far faster than the posted speed limit, tearing up the ski slopes and skies, as well as diving around Puget Sound. With age came wisdom that drag racing might not be the healthiest activity, so I started helping others go fast; first as a crew member for unlimited hydroplanes and then later as pit crew and biggest supporter of my wife, daughter, and niece’s inline speedskating careers as they competed both nationally and internationally.

Time flies when you are having fun, and the rest of the time too. For those of you whose paths I have crossed, I’d like to thank you for making it a fun ride. Realizing I’m not going to be around forever has been somewhat of an inconvenient truth, but I’m survived by my wife of 42 years, Catherine Ream, my daughter Micki Alapati (Jay), my sister Lisa Chamberlain (Clark), my sisters-in-law Annie Wedlund, Deenie Olleman (Ed), my brother in law Steve Cross (Billie), my nieces Tara Wedlund, Natalie Robinson, and Cybil Burnside (Tony), and my nephews Andrew Davis (Mary Ellen) and Nic Cross (Charliann), as well as numerous cousins, second-cousins and friends.

Preceded in death by my father (2019), mother (1983), brother Mike Ream (1983), brother Don Ream (1983), brother-in-law David Cross (2013), niece Julie Davis (2005), cousin John King (2017), and cousin Eric King (2019). I wish to be cremated, and my ashes laid to rest on my family’s beloved Vashon Island home. At some point in the future, there will be a celebration service. In lieu of flowers, I request donations to Seafair. So long, and thanks for all the fish!

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

Those who knew and loved Pat Moak are invited to her memorial Saturday, online. Here’s the remembrance her family is sharing:

Pat Moak passed away November 10, 2020.

She is survived by her husband Bill and son Brent. She is also survived by her brothers Ken and Debbie, Lyle, Ed, and Sue Lyle as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews.

Pat taught at West Seattle Christian School, where she made many friends with staff, parents, and so many students.

There will be a Zoom service from West Seattle Christian Church this coming Saturday starting at 11:00 am; please check the church website for link info.

Any memorials can be made to West Seattle Christian Church.

Share memories and condolences with Pat’s family at www.emmickfunerals.com/obituary/Patricia-Moak. Arrangements entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home of West Seattle.

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

Another well-known West Seattleite has died. Seven years after finally retiring from his Admiral District service station, Dick Barnecut is gone. We just received this remembrance from his family:

Richard J. Barnecut died peacefully in his sleep early Sunday morning, November 8, 2020. “Dick” was born in Seattle on July 20, 1926, and was the oldest son of the late George and Imogene Barnecut. Dick’s father was part of a large clan (sixteen children!) that first settled in Seattle in 1889.

Dick graduated from West Seattle High School, Class of 1944, and was the right-fielder on the city championship baseball team of 1943. He enlisted in the United States Navy immediately after graduation and was honorably discharged two years later after serving as a radioman and gunner on a PBM seaplane. He married his high-school sweetheart, Dolores “Dee” Anderson, in 1947. They first met in junior high school and Mom must have overcome her initial impression of her future husband as “pretty obnoxious” because they were married for 68 years before her demise in 2015. Dick and Dee resided in West Seattle for all of their married life.

In 1953 Dick took over the ownership and management of the West Seattle service station business his father established in 1924. It is unlikely that Dad spent any time writing up a “business model” but he definitely had a philosophy: The customer comes first. A frequent reminder to his employees regarding the clientele was that “we need them more than they need us.” His authentic commitment to customer service and a tireless work ethic explain how a small business survived for almost ninety years.

Dick’s involvement in the community was not merely as a businessman. He was a longtime member of St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, the Monogram Club of West Seattle, and he was a member of the Lions Club for sixty years. He contributed generously, and often, to numerous local charities.

Mom and Dad shared an optimistic, positive outlook on life. They worked hard but they made time to play as well and they had fun together. They owned a vacation home on Hood Canal for many years and they were loyal supporters of Husky football as season ticket holders for five decades. They were not extensive world travelers but they did visit Europe, which included Paris and the ancestral home of the Barnecuts in Cornwall, England.

Mom and Dad emphasized that family came first. And they meant it. By setting a good example, they gave to their children perhaps the greatest gift of all.

Dad will be remembered as a “people person” and it was not an act. He continued working late into life and it was an open secret that it was not the work that he liked so much as it was the opportunity to schmooze with his many longtime customers. In his later years there were some indications that the filter was not fully operational. However, those who really knew him would freely attest to his fairness, his integrity, and his tolerance.

Dick truly loved his wife, his children, his grandchildren, his country, and West Seattle. His passing is a loss for his family and the community and he will surely be missed.

Dick is survived by his four adult children and their spouses: Margaret (Paul) Abrahamson, James (Jamie) Barnecut, Mary Ellen (Ron) Smulski, and Andrew (Lisa) Barnecut. He is also survived by his six grandchildren: Tom Smulski, Jill Deimling, Jenny Abrahamson, Rachel Barnecut, Nick Barnecut, Angelina Barnecut, and his great-granddaughter, Kate Deimling.

A celebration of Dick’s life will have to be deferred due to COVID concerns. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to: West Seattle High School Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, 4742 42nd Ave SW, #215, Seattle, WA 98116; or St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 3050 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116.

Please visit www.emmickfunerals.com to sign the guest book.

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

Family and friends are remembering Diane Creighton, and sharing her story with the community here:

Diane Lovell Creighton passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack on July 18 at her home in West Seattle.

Born in Seattle on Oct. 19, 1938 to Alfred and Anna Finch, Diane spent her entire life living, working, and raising her family in the West Seattle area. Growing up, she attended Lafayette Elementary School, James Madison Junior High School, and graduated from West Seattle High School in 1957.

It was in history class at West Seattle High where Diane met her future husband, James “Jamie” Creighton. She spent many weekends and evenings cheering him on at football games, both in high school and into his college career.

Although Diane pre-dated Title IX opportunities her own daughters benefitted from in sports, she was a fierce competitor on the high school bowling team, as well as on the ski slopes and in the water, waterskiing with friends.

Much of Diane’s youth was spent working alongside her mother at her parents’ grocery store (Al’s Market) on California Avenue. The lessons of hard work and business management helped shape who she was personally and professionally.

Diane worked for more than 40 years as the office manager for Southwest Pediatrics in Burien. There, she enjoyed watching generations of families come through the office.

An active gardener, Diane spent countless hours working in her yard, creating a haven for hummingbirds, which she enjoyed watching from her kitchen windows. She also loved watching football with Jim, cheering for (and critiquing) the Huskies and Seahawks.

Diane and Jim were married for 57 years, much of the last 10 spent with Diane caring for Jim in the final stages of Parkinson’s disease. Her dedication is a testament to their love and commitment to one another – in sickness and in health. They were devoted parents, raising strong and independent women reflective of their own upbringing in West Seattle.

Diane is survived by her two daughters, Jocelyn (Chris) McCabe and Jennifer Creighton; and grandson Ryan McCabe. She was preceded in death by her husband, James N. Creighton; her parents Alfred and Anna Finch; and her brother, Alfred (Al) Finch.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Medic One and Seattle Children’s Hospital.

A joint memorial for Jim and Diane will be held in West Seattle when it is safe for all to gather and remember these two remarkable people – hopefully sometime soon.

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

An online memorial service is planned next Saturday for Christine Horner, who grew up in West Seattle. Here’s the remembrance her family is sharing:

On Monday, November 2, 2020, Christine Horner, loving wife and mother passed away at the age of 72. She was at home with her husband, Bill, and beloved daughters.

Chris was born December 22, 1947 in San Francisco. Her father was a former WWII pilot and her mother was a beautician. Her father’s roots were from Wichita, Kansas, and her mother’s family was from Seattle. Her father (Chuck) was working as a pilot in a commercial air (medical) service when he learned of an opening at Boeing. Chuck took the job and Chris was headed to West Seattle at age 4. Chris’s mother (Marian) had strong ties to West Seattle, so Marian and family were headed home.

Chris went all through public school in West Seattle: Jefferson Elementary, Madison Jr. High, and started her sophomore year at West Seattle High School. Chuck’s career was advancing well at Boeing, and after many years of saving, their dream home in Shorewood on the Sound was completed. Chris transferred from West Seattle to Evergreen High School near the end of her Sophomore year. She left many longtime friends behind in West Seattle but at the same time started to make new friends at Evergreen. She became involved in school activities and was editor of the Evergreen High yearbook her senior year.

High School graduation led to Western Washington State College (now WWU) in the fall of 1966. Initially interested in Chemistry, Chris found her calling in teaching and switched to the Education Department. Chris graduated with a degree in Education in Spring of 1970 and received a teaching contract to teach 2nd Grade in the Edmonds School District.

Chris met Bill in the final quarter of her Senior year at Western. Bill was also an Education Major. Chris loves to point out they met in a class called the “Sociology of Deviant Behavior” – well, what do you expect, it was the early ’70s. Both went two separate professional directions, as Bill took a job with the Aberdeen School District. A few months of separation proved to be too much. Bill and Chris were engaged during Spring Vacation of 1971 and married on June 19, 1971.

Thus began 50 years of marriage. Chris was able to take a teaching job in the McCleary School District for the 1971 – 1972 school year. Unfortunately, McCleary Schools suffered a levy failure and Chris was released. She went into the bank in Aberdeen, inquired and began a 15-year full-time, and later, a part-time career with Seattle First National Bank (SEAFIRST). In 1974, the family of three moved to Burien, as Bill had taken a job with the Renton School District. In 1977, Bill decided to leave teaching and went to work for Boeing.

Bill and Chris have three daughters: Rachele (born 1973 in Aberdeen), Katy (born 1976 in Seattle), and Annie (born 1983 in Seattle). The girls started to enter school and Chris decided she wanted to be a Mom meeting the girls as they arrived home from school. The SEAFIRST work dropped to one day a week with a very few days added in on rare occasions. Chris decided to get back to teaching in the late 1980s. She worked for two years running a preschool center for immigrant families. This program was operated through South Seattle Community College. After this assignment, she decided that she wanted to get back to the Public Schools and was hired as a substitute teacher with Seattle Schools. One sub assignment took her to Maple Elementary School on Beacon Hill. The following year, she had a continuing contract at Maple School, where she remained until her retirement in June of 2008. Her career at Maple School started in the Bilingual Orientation Center (BOC). This was a special classroom designed to receive recently arrived immigrant children. Her job was to prepare them to “mainstream” into a regular classroom. Chris had access to multiple language interpreters. She had no need to speak another language since she would have 5 or more languages represented in the classroom at any one time. Whenever asked how she managed, she simply would say, “My job is to teach them English.” After three years in the BOC, Chris transitioned into a regular classroom, where she taught 1st and 2nd grade for the next 14 years. Bill and Chris both retired in 2008, spending time with daughters and grandchildren as well as pursuing their favorite past time -Travel. Many great International and Domestic trips were taken between 2000 and 2019.

In 2016, the decision was made to leave the 1910 home in West Seattle (a home with many stairs) for a house with very few or even zero stairs. The hunt was started for a “rambler.” The primary area of focus was Bellingham. It appears, however, that the house they were searching for found them. That house was in Anacortes, a town that they have learned to love very much, and the house was perfect.

Chris has had three battles with breast cancer: stage one in 1990, stage 3 in 2014, taking us to stage 4 in late 2019 to the present. She was a fighter.

Christine was predeceased by her parents. She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Bill Horner; daughters (spouses): Rachele (Chris Jacobson), Kathryn (Zach Russell), and Anne (Josh Stilts); grandchildren: Alyssa, Emily Balogh, Lewis, Natalie, Charles Russell, Emmeline Stilts, Kaylee Jacobson; great-grandson Arlo Forville; and brother Jeff Cunningham.

A Virtual Online Celebration of Life for Christine will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, November 14, 2020 at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Anacortes. There will not be an in-person service. The link to attend the Virtual Celebration: here or here. To share memories of Chris, please sign the online guestbook here.

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

A well-known West Seattleite has died: Former Seattle Port Commissioner Jack Block. A moment of silence was held in his memory as current Seattle and Tacoma port commissioners gathered online for today’s Northwest Seaport Alliance managing-members meeting. You might know Mr. Block as the namesake of the port-owned Jack Block Park in West Seattle, which was renamed in his honor in 2001, three years after it opened as Terminal 5 Park. Mr. Block is a former longshore worker who was elected to the Port Commission in 1973 and served until 2001; the port says he was its longest-serving commissioner, adding, “Throughout his life he always supported working people, free trade, and those who needed help most in our communities.” This 1986 Journal of Commerce profile notes some of Mr. Block’s accomplishments, including rising to union leadership at a relatively young age. Mr. Block, who lived in Fauntleroy with wife Vicki Schmitz Block, was 86 years old. Emmick Family Funeral Home (WSB sponsor) is handling arrangements, which are still in progress.

Family and friends are remembering Anne Bentrott Wise, and sharing this with her community:

Anne Louise Bentrott Wise, a giant in West Seattle residential real estate, died peacefully in her sleep on October 26, 2020.

Anne was born on March 15, 1931 and experienced a world of adventure and love in her lifetime. The only child of Navy officer Captain Harry Horney and homemaker Mary Horney, Anne was born in Coronado, California. Her childhood was marked by frequent moves to places as far flung as Panama and as homespun as St. Louis, Missouri. These moves enabled her to easily make friends, and she could talk to anyone and everyone.

After WWII ended, Anne returned to Coronado where she graduated from Coronado High School in 1948. Her high-school years were an idyllic combination of biking, playing tennis, and enjoying the sunny beach. Anne studied hard and was admitted to Stanford University. She earned two scholarships to cover her tuition, $800 per year, and graduated in 1952.

At Stanford, Anne flourished socially and academically. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa in Political Science. Her goal of becoming a Foreign Service Officer took a detour when she met handsome part-time Post Office truck driver Boyd Bentrott. The young couple fell in love and was married in Palo Alto in 1952.

When Boyd elected to pursue a Master’s Degree at the University of Washington, they moved to Seattle. After a brief stint in San Francisco for Boyd’s military service, they returned to Seattle, where both became lifelong West Seattle residents. Anne worked at the Henry Broderick Company, where her intelligence and talent were recognized and she was encouraged to pursue a career in residential real-estate sales. Her business took off from there. Anne made history by becoming one of the first female residential realtors in West Seattle, while Boyd became a beloved history teacher at West Seattle High School. After being told she couldn’t be hired because she was a woman, a broker later admitted not hiring her was the biggest mistake of his business career.

Anne succeeded in real estate because she was smart and loved helping people. We believe she sold more homes in the community than any other realtor in the area. As late as this past year, she still helped out friends and family with their real-estate needs.

Anne and Boyd had three sons: Martin (Beth), Bryan (Mary Ann), and Robert (Tina). Sadly, Boyd died unexpectedly in 1976. Anne went on to have 11 grandchildren: Brandon, David, Kelly, Bryan (Jane), Matt, Mark (Caitlyn), Amy, Corbin, Chase, Kiran, Collin, and 4 great-grandchildren: Estelle, Charlie, Annie, and Emily. Her competitive spirit was evident whether playing Yahtzee or pickle ball with her grandkids. She never “let” anyone win. Grandma Anne loved all her grandchildren dearly and the love was completely reciprocated. To say Anne was generous would be a massive understatement.

After Boyd’s death, she met and married Ken Wise in 1980. Kenny was a great husband and wonderful Grandpa. Anne benefitted greatly from joining the welcoming Wise family. Kenny added another son, Tom (Wendy), and 2 more grandchildren, Chandra and Corinne, to the brood. They built their dream home on Puget Sound in the Arroyos and loved traveling the world together. They spent 2 months a year on Maui enjoying their snowbird friends and fished in British Columbia every summer. After Kenny passed away in 2010, Anne continued fishing (and catching) with family and friends until the age of 87.

The outpouring of stories, calls, and texts has been overwhelming, but here is a favorite: “Anne was a force of nature … a role model of determination, grit, and heart.” A celebration of her life will be held in spring/summer 2021. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to YMCA Camp Colman and reference “Nichols Cabin,” in honor of longtime Camp Director George Nichols.

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

Family and friends are remembering Peter Angle, and sharing his story with the community:

Peter Angle passed away Tuesday, September 29, at the Puget Sound VA due to complications from sepsis. Peter was born to Jack and Trudy Angle in Chicago May 7, 1938. He was the oldest of four brothers growing up in the steel town of Gary, Indiana, on the shores of Lake Michigan. The sand dunes were a constant backdrop of his childhood. Upon graduating high school, the family moved to Pittsburgh, where Pete attended Lehigh University and University of Pittsburgh, earning a Bachelor of Arts.

In 1961 Pete enlisted in the USMC, as he put it, to have a choice in the matter rather than be drafted. He earned his aviator wings at Pensacola and flew two tours in the Vietnam War. His second tour in country, he flew helicopter medevacs. In 1968, he was awarded the Silver Star for piloting the extraction of a recon team under heavy fire: Flying a CH-46, he used a high-speed maneuver, the helicopter equivalent of a skid-out, to perch a single landing gear on the steep slope of the “rock pile,” holding steady while the recon team piled in over the half-open ramp, the crew and aircraft taking rounds, including in the forward transmission. With oil leaking into the cockpit, he flew the mile to safety, black smoke billowing behind, having landed just before the oil ran out and the engine seized. Recounting the event in a letter to his future wife, he said he spent the next several days “taught as a bowstring.”

Pete married Diane Weaver, a teacher, in 1969 in Florida. The newly wed couple were stationed in Quantico, where Peter joined HMX-1, the presidential detail, flying President Nixon in Marine One. Pete and Diane traveled abroad during leave, including a memorable trip to Spain and Portugal. Their first son, Geoff, was born in 1973, followed by Greg, born in 1975. Peter’s aviation career continued as he commanded squadrons in New River, NC, and Futenma, Okinawa. Peter retired from his 28-year Marine Corps career as a colonel.

Their children grown, having grown apart, Pete and Diane divorced. Free of the roles of being an officer and raising a family, he sought to know himself, and be himself, more fully, and he moved to a commune in India. After a couple years in Pune, Pete settled in the Bay Area and took up a massage-therapy practice, with which he earned his living for the next decade-plus, until his health took a downturn in 2012. From then on, he hitched his wagon to his son Greg’s family in California, which ultimately brought him north to West Seattle. He got out daily into the neighborhood using his walker, always ready for a good meal and good conversation.

Pete was not the type to wave a flag, but he was proud of his service. He was a foodie before being a foodie was a thing. He terrified his family with his enthusiasm watching the NFL. He did a pretty good Donald Duck impression for the grandkids. His two sons were always impressed by the size of his calves he got from running on the shore of Lake Michigan. He was a very physical, athletic person. He wasn’t afraid to take risks, whether flying medevacs in Vietnam or, later in life, in going against the grain of who he was raised to be. Pete dated well into his seventies; connecting with other people was central to his character. And as his body declined, his sense of humor gave him the ability to deal with it gracefully.

He is survived by his three younger brothers: Tony, Jeff, and Burr, and their families; also his sons Geoff and Greg, and his grandchildren North, Marin, Parrish, Caper, Archie, Osage, and Maple (Geoff and Megan’s family), Boyce and Fletcher (Greg and Robin’s family).

Peter will be interred at Quantico National Cemetery, November 10, 2020 with full military honors.

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

Family and friends will remember Omar W. Sommer today, and are sharing this remembrance with his community:

On Tuesday, October 6, 2020, Omar Wayne Sommer died at the age of 94, in Seattle, Washington, of congestive heart failure. Omar was born to Walter and Alice Sommer on December 25, 1925, in Waco, Nebraska, and was the oldest of four boys. His family moved from Nebraska eventually into Washington State, and made their home in Winlock, Washington. A brother to Raymond, Wilbur, and Howard, Omar was a child of the Depression and at one time picked ferns to sell to a local florist for a penny each.

Omar served in the United States Navy during World War II and was in Pearl Harbor preparing to ship out when the war ended. Using the GI bill, he graduated from Washington State University with an engineering degree and was primarily employed at the Boeing Company, working in Seattle, Kent, and Everett over the years.

On June 3rd, 1956, Omar wedded Pearl Margaret Cohrs, and they were blessed in marriage for 61 years until Pearl’s death in 2017. They made their home in Seattle, where Omar was a loving father to Cheryl-deceased (Kent, grandchildren Derek & Ian); Loren (Bernadette, grandchild Rachel); Alan (Beth, grandchildren Abigail & David); Neal (Elissa, grandchildren Joshua & Brooke).

He is also survived by his brother Howard; and many in-laws, nieces, nephews, friends, and family too numerous to list but not forgotten.

Omar was baptized into the Christian faith on January 1, 1926, and was confirmed in Utica, Nebraska. A lifelong follower of Jesus Christ, he worshipped at Hope Lutheran Church in Seattle for many years, where he also served as an Elder, Bible study leader, and on the school board at Hope Lutheran School. He was the “signboard guy” at Hope when his children were younger, and often recruited them to help.

Omar loved fishing and gardening, and took care of his yard into his early 90s, also helping with the irrigation system at church. He had a wide knowledge of plants, trees, and animals, and taught his children to love fishing and camping.

A private graveside service will be held on Thursday, October 22, at 11:30 am, and a memorial service for family will also be accessible for others via Zoom on the 22nd at 4:00 pm.

Omar was preceded in death by his brothers Wilbur and Raymond, his daughter Cheryl, and his wife Pearl. We rejoice in the gift of eternal life and salvation given by Jesus, the crucified and risen Savior.

Nearly 2 years ago, a stroke left him unable to speak well. He was always quick to share a smile. Everyone always commented about how nice he was. Clearly the love of Jesus was shining brightly through him.

Please share memories of Omar and condolences with his family at www.emmickfunerals.com/obituary/Omar-Sommer

Arrangements Entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home of West Seattle

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

The family of Beverly J. Thompson will gather tomorrow to remember her; they’re sharing this remembrance with her community tonight:

Beverly J. (Allen) Thompson passed away peacefully at the age of 93 on September 17, 2020.

Beverly was born on April 17, 1927, in Yakima, Washington to Walter and Gladys (Doak) Allen. She was the 4th of 5 children and graduated from Yakima High School with the class of 1945. She was a West Seattle resident most of her life. She married John Saeger in 1950 and they raised three children together. She later married Robert Thompson in 1979.

She was very involved in her West Seattle life. She worked in the medical field at the West Seattle General Hospital for many years, starting out in their Junction location and later on at the location on SW Holden St. She attended West Side Presbyterian for many years and devoted many hours to the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop in the West Seattle Junction. She loved planning the fashion shows and was always recruiting models. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were a huge part of her life, earning her many nicknames over the years. She was fondly known to them and all of their friends as Grabbo, Goggy, or Babbo. She loved playing dress-up, having tea parties, and sleepovers at her house were always a hit.

She had many friends and loved playing cards. She traveled around to many Bridge games and was a ruthless competitor no matter who you were or what card game you were playing. She definitely kept her children and grandchildren on their toes in many a Gin Rummy or a Nertz game.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Jeanne Saeger, her husband, Robert Thompson, and all of her siblings. She is survived by her daughter, Jill and son-in-law Tony Knapp of Port Orchard; her son, Robert and daughter-in-law Casey Saeger of Las Vegas; five granddaughters, Nichole (Darron) Forsell of West Seattle; Jessica (Dave) Cook of Port Orchard; Julia (Alexander) Rosen of Gig Harbor; Marina and Danica Saeger, both of Las Vegas; nine great-grandchildren, Trevor, Shayne, Haley, Matthew, Alyssa, Brandon, David, Quinn, and Dean; and many very beloved nieces and nephews who knew her as their Auntie Bev.

Due to regulations regarding COVID, a small family service is planned for Saturday, October 10, 2020 at Forest Lawn Cemetery in West Seattle. A larger celebration of her life will be held at a later date. Donations in her memory can be made to the American Cancer Society.

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

Family and friends are remembering Wanda E. Carney, and sharing this remembrance with her community:

Wanda Elizabeth Carney passed peacefully in the early afternoon of September 7th, 2020 in Seattle.

Wanda was born July 6th, 1930 in Toronto, Canada to Susan and William MacKay, and was the little sister to her four older brothers. She graduated from Winchester Street School in 1947, and became a nursery school teacher in Toronto. A brief leave was taken in 1953 to cross the ocean and tour Europe with a friend. In 1955 she ventured with friends to teach nursery school in Los Angeles.

On June 22, 1957, she married William E. “Bill” Carney of Seattle after meeting him at a wedding of mutual friends. A long-distance romance via letters between them blossomed into true love and marriage only ten months after they first met. The courtship was short, but the love affair lasted their entire lives.

Wanda and Bill settled in Seattle, and eventually made West Seattle their home for over thirty years. They later moved to the town of Dayton, WA in the 1990s.

Wanda pursued her dream of becoming an elementary school teacher by graduating from South Seattle Community College in 1974, and then from the University of Washington with a degree in English and Elementary Education in 1977. She received her Professional Education Certificate in 1976, and did substitute teaching at grade schools all over the Seattle area.

Wanda was very proud of her Canadian heritage, only becoming an American citizen in 1979 because of a new employment rule requiring it to teach in Washington. As protest, she celebrated Canada Day and Canadian Thanksgiving with even more enthusiasm.

She was a friend to many, and always seemed to be able to make new ones while staying in touch with her old ones. This included neighbors and friends in Seattle and Dayton, people from her church, and her many relatives and old friends from Canada. Her taco dinners were legendary, and her friends and family would eagerly await her annual Christmas gift of homemade shortbread from an old MacKay family recipe.

From an early age, music was a big part of Wanda’s life and passion. She sang in recitals, amateur musicals, choirs, many weddings and the Seattle Chorale. She was often asked to do solos in her United Methodist Church choirs, both in West Seattle and in Dayton. While her children did not inherit her musical talent, they all appreciated and treasured it. Wanda would often sit down at a piano and play a tune, or sometimes just burst out with a favorite song from her memory. It was very special to be able to hear her sing.

Wanda loved to read (something she definitely passed on to her children), and to attend plays, the opera and symphony, musicals and movies. If the movie had good music in it, so much the better. “The Sound of Music” was a favorite of hers. Also, anything with a bagpipe!

She is survived by her daughter Susan Carney, sons Robert Carney (Susanne) and Thomas Carney (Julie Nugent-Carney), and grandchildren Will Kulm, James Kulm, Elizabeth Kulm, Jacob Carney, Cade Carney, and Jackson Carney.

Wanda celebrated her 90th birthday on July 6th of this year outside her residence at the Kenney retirement home, surrounded by family. Jokes were told, laughter rang out, and everyone there had a big smile on their face (especially Mom) – clearly visible despite the protective masks.

She lived a full life, and is dearly missed by her family. A celebration of her life will be held in the near future. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the Dayton United Methodist Church, 110 S. 3rd ST, Dayton, WA, the Salvation Army, or the Special Olympics.

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

Family and friends are remembering Donald A. Gwilym, and sharing this with the community:

Donald (Don) Andrew Gwilym passed away peacefully on September 16, 2020 at his daughter’s home in West Seattle, surrounded by family, after a few months’ battle with brain cancer.

Don was born on June 1, 1935, at Seattle General Hospital, to Herald and Aina Gwilym. Don graduated from West Seattle High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Washington. He served two years in the Public Health Service in Washington, D.C. After a cross-country return trip in a VW bug, Don joined his father and brother at Seattle City Light, where he spent 41 years working on hydroelectric projects on the Skagit and Pend Oreille Rivers, including dam safety.

On September 23, 1961, he married Karen Oberg, and raised three daughters. In 1991, Don and Karen moved to Vashon Island, where they spent 25 wonderful years living in the woods, ferry commuting, and hosting magical “grandparent camps” and family reunions. In 2016, they moved to Horizon House in Seattle.

Don was a gentle, giving, compassionate man with a strong passion for justice and helping others. He was a lifelong member of the United Church of Christ denomination, including 52 years at Plymouth Church in Seattle. He worked to eliminate housing discrimination, desegregate public schools, provide companionship to many who were unhoused or experiencing mental illness, and deliver food to those who were isolated. Up until his illness, Don escorted supported-living residents to events, and coordinated the Horizon House van trips to church. He honored every single individual he met and advocated for those in need.

Don loved dogs, playing with his grandkids, greeting neighbors, learning history, dancing, singing, eating cinnamon rolls, watching Storm/Seahawks/M’s games, traveling to Sweden and China, and cracking really corny jokes.

Don was preceded in death by his newborn son Thomas and his brother Edward Gwilym. He is survived by his wife Karen, daughters Gwen (Fred Williams); Janet (Bing Tso, Jr.); and Kathy, and his brother Herald Gwilym (Kathleen). He is also survived by his five grandchildren—Rheanna (Seth), Tyee, Alana, Morgan, Annika — and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Don’s life will be held at a later date due to COVID. Consider donations in his memory to Plymouth Healing Communities (plyhc.org) or Kids in Need of Defense (supportkind.org), wear your mask for others, and pet a dog.

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

Family and friends are remembering Barbara J. Schorn and sharing this with her community:

Barbara Jean Schorn, loving wife and mother of three children and grandmother to six, went home to be with her Lord on Sunday, September 13, 2020, at age 83, surrounded by her three sons.

Barbara was born on May 9, 1937, in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Victor and Violet Erickson. She was baptized and confirmed at Redeemer Lutheran Church. After receiving her teaching degree from the University of Minnesota, she spent the summer in Europe and then returned to teach 4th grade at Robbinsdale School. On December 22, 1959, she married Robert Schorn. Together they moved to Seattle in 1962. In 1964, they moved to Racine, Wisconsin. Then again in 1965, they moved to Anchorage, Alaska, returning in 1967 to settle in Seattle.

Together they raised three sons, Scott, Eric, and Tyler.

Barbara had a passion for children, teaching and volunteering. While raising her sons, she volunteered in the Seattle Public Schools and was very involved in First Lutheran Church of West Seattle (a member since 1963) being a Sunday School Teacher, Bible School Teacher, serving on Altar Guild, and as a Circle member. She volunteered in her sons’ and grandchildren’s activities such as Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, soccer, baseball, basketball, and paper routes. She loved to take Scott’s dogs on the paper routes of all her sons.

After she raised her sons, she worked at the Seattle Public Schools as an Instructional Assistant and then as an on-call Substitute Teacher. She volunteered at the Son of Heaven China exhibit and others. She also helped elderly couples by taking them on weekly grocery-store trips, and helping them live independently in their homes. She attended all her grandsons’ baseball and soccer games. Barbara was an avid seamstress.

Barbara loved camping, boating, and trips to Lake Chelan. Barbara and Robert were Seattle Sonics basketball season-ticket holders from the inaugural season all the way until the Sonics left for Oklahoma, and also a fan of local baseball, football, and hockey teams. While in Anchorage, they went camping every weekend that weather would allow to explore Alaska. She was known for her kind, caring, compassionate spirit.

Barbara was preceded in death by her sister Gloria Nordin, her parents Victor and Violet Erickson. She is survived by her husband Robert, her three sons, Scott (Valerie), Eric (Wendy), and Tyler (Kaoru), and her 6 grandchildren, Gunther, Peter, Nicholas, April, Miyabi, and Madoka.

The family would like to thank Rosalind Chege and Mercy Muturi for their tender care of Barbara in her final years.

Private family service will be held at Washington Memorial Cemetery. Donations in her memory may be sent to the West Seattle Food Bank.

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

Family and friends are remembering Jon M. Southworth, and sharing this with his community:

Jon Michael Southworth
April 15, 1955 – September 10, 2020

Jon Michael Southworth, beloved husband, father, papa, brother, and friend to many left us too early following complications from a medical emergency on September 10, 2020 at the age of 65, with his wife by his side.

Jon was born in Seattle in 1955, the fourth of five children, to Mary Ann and Howard Southworth. He graduated from West Seattle High School in 1973 and WA State University in 1977 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He met the love of his life, Belinda Fumasi, in 1979. They married in 1986 and built a beautiful life together in their West Seattle home. He specialized in heating and cooling systems and was proud to have engineered the design for the Tacoma Dome and many Seattle buildings.

Following complications from surgery to remove a benign brain tumor in 1990, Jon lost his eyesight and suffered other complications. Over many years, he regained great function, and through his strength, tenacity, and resiliency was fully present to his family and friends. He especially found great joy in bringing laughter and the news of the day to all who knew him.

Jon is survived by his devoted wife Belinda, their beloved dog Bo Bo, daughter Brandi (Robert), grandchildren Malea and Elijah, as well as brother Steve Southworth (Rebecca Wiess), sister Martha Schoen (Steve) and Molly Swain, as well as many nieces and nephews. Jon was predeceased by his parents Howard and Mary Ann and brother Jeff Southworth.

Our deepest appreciation to his caregivers at Elder Place West and to Sue Laden at Jon’s home.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jon’s memory may be sent to Providence Mount St. Vincent Foundation in appreciation of his care at Elder Place at The Mount.

Please share memories of Jon and condolences with his family at emmickfunerals.com/notices/Jon-Southworth

Arrangements Entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home of West Seattle

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

Family and friends are remembering John E. Sacco, and sharing this with his community:

John E. “Buddy” Sacco passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family, on September 7th, 2020 at the age of 91.

John was born at the family home in “Garlic Gulch” on January 19, 1929 with the help of his loving Aunts. He was the second-born son of John B. Sacco and Elizabeth Rickenbacker Sacco, preceded by his brother Carl.

He attended Mt. Virgin Grade School and graduated from Franklin High School in 1947. An independent soul, he attempted to sign up as a cabin boy in the Merchant Marine during WW2, but was stopped by his mother before he could get aboard. He served during the Korean War at the Atomic Bomb plant at Hanford, Washington as an anti-aircraft gunner on the Quad 50 machine gun. He lived in a tent for two years in the desert and would never sleep outdoors or in a tent again for the rest of his life.

He met the love of his life, Elsie Novito, and they were married on April 24, 1954, a marriage that lasted for over 66 years. He held several jobs, but finally settled in at Seattle City Light, at first a cable splicer and then in the streetlight division, retiring in 1990 after 30 years.

A quiet genius, he could make anything and do just about everything he put his mind to. He remodeled the house he and Elsie lived in for nearly their whole married life, working on it after his work day ended and then on weekends. He had many hobbies, from building his own darkroom for color photography, to being an expert airplane-model maker. He could look at a picture of a plane and build it from scratch and fly it, but flying model aircraft only whetted his appetite for flight and he learned how to pilot sailplanes and then small engine airplanes. He was a past member of the Puget Sound Soaring Association.

He also belonged to other clubs: A past member of “The Cascade Mountain Men” and present member of “The Sons of Italy” and the “West Seattle Italian Club.”

He leaves his loving wife Elsie, son Joseph “Joey,” daughters Diana and Mary. Grandchildren Danielle Sacco Wartena (Eric). Erica Concannon Martin (Brett). Anthony Concannon, Katie Concannon Brenner (Nathan), Nicole Concannon, and Sean Concannon. He also leaves 5 great-grandchildren, with one more on the way.

A private family Mass was held at Holy Rosary Parish, West Seattle.

Donations may be made to St. Jude Hospital.

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

Friends and family are remembering Monica Stenberg, and sharing this with her community:

Monica was born Monica Eklöf on October 2, 1944 in Gothenburg, Sweden. She grew up there with her mother and her two younger sisters. During the summers they moved out to their mother’s family home in a small fishing village on the island of Mollösund off Sweden’s West Coast.

As a young adult, Monica got a job working in the finance department of a shipyard in Gothenburg, and it is there that she met her future husband Bengt Stenberg, who was originally from Malmö, Sweden. In 1969, Monica and Bengt moved to the United States, first to New Orleans and then Santa Monica and finally Seattle, where they remained for the rest of their lives. Bengt passed away in 2004. After so many years in the US, Monica felt more and more American, but kept Sweden in her heart and always had a love of the sea.

Monica worked for many years at Seafirst Bank in West Seattle, which later became Bank of America. She enjoyed visits with her Swedish family, travels in Europe and the US, and adventures with friends in the Pacific Northwest. Monica also liked going to opera, musicals, plays, and celebrating the holidays with a traditional Swedish Christmas Eve julbord dinner with friends.

Monica was a happy and energetic person, and was always ready to laugh. She was known for her quick wit and many jokes, and she was a fun person to be around. Monica had a big heart and never forgot the birthdays of her friends and family. Monica was a loyal friend and beloved sister and aunt.

She is greatly missed by her friends and family in both the US and Sweden. Monica is survived by her two sisters, Gertie Skeppstedt and Margreth Eklof, niece Petra Myhren, and nephew Mathias Skeppstedt, and their children.

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

Family and friends of William G. Urlevich Sr. are sharing this remembrance with his community:

William G. Urlevich Sr. passed away unexpectedly on September 5th, 2020 in Seattle at the age of 77.

William, otherwise known as “Big Bill,” is survived by his wife Lauree Urlevich (nee Riefflin) and his son William G. Urlevich, Jr. He is predeceased by his brother, Mike Urlevich.

Bill was born December 21st, 1942 in West Seattle to Gasper and Julia Urlevich. He graduated from West Seattle High School in 1962 and also attended Olympic Junior College. He and Lauree were married in 1966 at Holy Family Church. He was employed as a Longshoreman with the ILWU for over 40 years until his retirement as a checker in 2008.

He was a longtime coach of West Seattle baseball teams from T-Ball, Pee-wee, and Pony for 18 years and won many championships. Bill enjoyed spending time with friends, playing Yahtzee with his brother-in-law Tom, and occasionally traveling. No family gathering was complete without Big Bill getting kids and neighbors together for a game of street football, basketball, or baseball. He was a keen competitor who played championship cribbage and was patient with teaching kids all sorts of card games.

He was an avid sports fan and had a deep appreciation for everything football, especially the Huskies and Seahawks. He and his son won the Seattle Times Guest Guesser in 1984 and were awarded the grand-prize trip to the Super Bowl.

Bill was also known for some serious dance moves, winning dance contests in high school and wowing friends and family at every occasion. On trips to Reno, he got up on stage and danced with Chubby Checker, The Coasters, The Temptations, and the Four Tops. In a revival of Grease, Big Bill and Lauree were pulled on stage to dance with the cast doing “Willy and the Hand Jive.” He will be remembered for his generous spirit, a larger-than-life personality, and the World’s Best Clam Dip! Those closest to him lovingly referred to him as “Johnny.”

A Celebration of Bill’s Life will be held at a later date.

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

Family and friends are remembering Jon D. Rickey, and sharing this with the community:

On a ‘hot August night’ in 1966, (at 7:11 no less!) Jon David Rickey was born in Seattle to Ann Riedasch and Dave Rickey. On another August day, August 28, 2020, Jon passed away far too soon. His short life was packed full of his energy and enthusiasm and humor that was typical of how he rolled.

Seattle, Maltby, Monroe, Yakima, and Billings, Montana, Ellensburg, and Wenatchee are among the places he left his imprint. He graduated from Monroe High School, where he played football for the Bearcats. But that was the just the beginning. With a football scholarship in hand, he left the area to play ball at Yakima Valley College. Soon he was sought out by Rocky Mountain College in Billings to continue college and football. Central Washington is where Jon graduated in Construction Management and met his wife to be, Karen (Harker) Rickey.

Jon had many talents including being part of the marching and jazz bands in high school. In fact, his saxophone skills improved greatly, from being asked by his first teacher to use the ‘sound-proof’ room to practice, to playing a solo at his graduation. Family trips to Disneyland were as frequent as possible and always memorable. He was as excited as the kids, ready to go when it opened and staying until it closed. You can almost hear him cheering for the Seahawks and Huskies. He was probably the best ‘couch-coach’ they ever had! And whether with good friends or family, a round of golf always left Jon with lots of stories to tell as only he could!

His career in construction focused on site development working for others and then\ opening his own business in Wenatchee. After the birth of his two daughters (Megan and Kristin), he returned to the West side and settled in Mukilteo. Jon jumped in with both feet to be part of the the girls’ school activities; coaching and volunteering in their music efforts, sports and theater.

Hitting his stride, Jon gravitated toward Real Estate and opened his own Agency. It was a perfect blending of his construction knowledge, his people skills and his enthusiastic and positive approach to life.

Jon is preceded in death by the brother Erick, sister Laurel, daughter Megan, his grandparents, and stepfather Dan Freemon. He leaves the rest of his grieving family, daughter Kristin Nicole Rickey, his mom Ann Riedasch (Ron), and dad Dave Rickey (Jeanne), his former wife Karen (Harker) Rickey, stepbrothers Dean (Lynn) and Brian Knox and Chris Freemon (Debbie), stepsister Pam Methner (Brad), and more aunts and uncles and nieces and nephews and cousins than we can list. And his best friend Chet Buchanan (Amy) of Las Vegas was as close as a brother. Jon loved his family as he loved life.

Due to COVID-19, there will be no service at this time. Jon was in the process of creating a Foundation to honor his deceased daughter Megan, The Megan Rickey Bright Light Foundation. After all the paperwork has been filed and it’s up and running, when you think of Jon, that might be a good place to leave a remembrance.

For now, grab your favorite beverage, raise it high, and toast Jon!

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

Family and friends are remembering Elizabeth Jane Spry, and sharing this with her community:

Elizabeth (Bette) Spry passed away on August 16, 2020, at the age of 93 at her home in West Seattle with family by her side.

Bette was born on September 28, 1926, in Omaha, NE to Frank and Margaret Swinarski. Bette’s father emigrated from Poland, and her mother was born in Ashton, NE. One of six children growing up during the Great Depression, Bette enjoyed ice skating on cold Nebraska days and spending time with her family. After graduating from high school, Bette went to work to support the war effort. During World War II, she worked for the Glenn L. Martin Bomber Plant as a timekeeper. Bette loved dancing and she met her future husband, Al, while dancing in one of Omaha’s lively ballrooms in the 1950s.

On July 16, 1955 they were married at Immaculate Conception Church in Omaha, NE. Shortly thereafter, they moved to the beautiful Pacific Northwest, where they settled in West Seattle and raised four children.

Bette was a member of the Highland Park Improvement Club in West Seattle, where she and Al regularly participated in monthly dances, and she served terms as Vice President and Secretary. Bette, with Al, knew how to “cut the rug” when it was time to dance. Bette was a devout Catholic and a founding member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, where she helped it grow from its humble beginnings in the school basement to the current church it is today. An active volunteer, she was a member of the church guild, participating in many Parish activities and charitable events.

Bette enjoyed traveling. She and her family made many road trips back to Omaha with the family dog, Cricket, in tow, taking detours to National Parks and other destinations along the way. An international trip with dear friends took her through many of the great cities of Europe, with the highlight for Bette being attending the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany.

Bette was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother and will be greatly missed. She had a sharp mind and kind heart and never forgot a birthday or anniversary. She was also a loyal friend throughout her lifetime and enjoyed organizing dinner parties and having coffee with friends. Bette is survived by her husband, Al, of 65 years, her children Paula Buty (Kim), Sandra Scatena (Brian), Stephen Spry (Brandy) and Michael Spry (Mary Kay), grandchildren (Mitchel Spry, David Spry, Rocco Buty, and Katherine Spry) and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in West Seattle. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, attendance will be limited. A private interment will follow at Tahoma National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be sent to St. Martin de Porres or St. Vincent de Paul.

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

Family and friends are remembering Joyce J. Wiseman, and sharing this remembrance with her community:

Joyce Jeanette Wiseman was born in Madison, South Dakota on July 28, 1930, to parents Orville and Mary Johnson. Joyce passed away peacefully on August 5, 2020 at Aegis Living in West Seattle.

Joyce graduated from Madison High School, where she met her sweetheart and future husband Austin (Cal) Wiseman. Cal and Joyce married May 23, 1950 in Madison, South Dakota.

Cal was soon stationed in Colorado Springs for the South Dakota National Guard, and Joyce moved there, where their first child (Paula) was born. After his service, they returned to South Dakota, where son Daniel was born.

Cal and Joyce moved their growing family to Seattle in 1953, where their four other sons (Stephen, Craig, Scott, and Mark), were born. They were the founders and former owners of the still-operating Wiseman Appliance of West Seattle. Joyce was a devout Catholic, and a longtime parishioner of Holy Family and later St. Bernadette Parish. Joyce and Cal were well-known throughout, and truly loved being a part of, the West Seattle community. She had a warm smile and kind greetings for everyone she met. Joyce loved gatherings with family and friends, travel, and taking in the ever-changing views from the Alki condo, as well as spending time at the lake property in Shelton.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, and Cal, her husband of 68 years. She is survived by daughter Paula (Billy) Small of Renton, sons: Daniel of Seattle, Stephen of Kirkland, Craig of Seattle, Scott of Seattle, and Mark of Des Moines. In addition, Joyce is survived by nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews. Joyce will be dearly missed by her family, friends, and loved ones.

A private family funeral mass will be held at St. Bernadette’s Parish in Burien. A private interment will follow at a later date at Tahoma National Cemetery.

Please share your memories of Joyce by visiting emmickfunerals.com/obituary/Joyce-Wiseman.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the family hopes to host a reception and celebration of Joyce’s life with family and friends in the future.

In lieu of sending flowers, remembrance donations may be sent to St. Bernadette Parish, Alzheimer’s Association, and Children’s Hospital, and would be appreciated by the family.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Aegis Living of West Seattle and the folks at Kline Galland hospice for the kind care and dignity afforded Joyce during her final life chapter.

– Care & Arrangements Entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home

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