Family and friends will gather September 9th to remember Denice M. Kirkland. Here’s the remembrance they are sharing with her community:

Denice Marie Kirkland (Drawdy) passed away June 3rd, 2021. She is now in the company of others who passed before her; her husband Darryl Kirkland, brothers Darryl Drawdy and Mark Drawdy.

Born in Seattle on 1-4-57 to Quincy and Luella Drawdy, she was the middle child, spending her whole life growing up with two older brothers and two younger brothers.

She would graduate from Chief Sealth High School in 1975 and later married Darryl Kirkland. Together, they had their son Curtis, born in 1983. Denice had a beautiful smile and a unique hearty laugh; She especially loved to celebrate birthdays. On holidays like Easter and Christmas, she kept a mile-long list of friends and relatives to which she sent traditional greeting cards each year. Almost every day, she copied scriptures from her many bibles and devotionals.

She wrote it all down more than once and knew it all very well. She loved Jesus and resembled him in many ways doing her best to follow his example. She was reasonably happy in this life without him and is now supremely happy with him forever in the next. She is survived by her son Curtis Kirkland and brothers Larry Drawdy and Jeffrey Drawdy. We all miss her very much.

On September 9th at 11 am, a memorial service and lunch will be held at the West Seattle Junction Church, located at 4157 California Ave. SW.

In her honor, donations can be made to the Senior Center of West Seattle at 4217 SW Oregon St., Seattle, WA 98116.

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

Family and friends will gather next Saturday to celebrate the life of Marian S. Nelson. They’re sharing this remembrance with her community:

Marian Sarah Nelson passed away peacefully on June 29, 2021, at the age of 90.

Born on August 13, 1930, to Andrew and Amanda Melby in Ashby, Minnesota, Marian was the youngest of three – her brothers, Howard and Warren, having predeceased her. In 1949 she married Gerald R. “Jerry” Nelson and they moved in 1958 to West Seattle, where they raised their family. They were married for 55 years until Jerry’s passing in 2004.

Marian was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother; her family meant everything to her. She was quick to laugh and to hug; had a wonderful green thumb and loved to travel. She was a passionate, and often lucky, participant of contests and sweepstakes; her winnings provided for many trips and experiences over the years.

Together Jerry and Marian had five children: Gordon Nelson (deceased), Kenneth (Pam) Nelson, Carol (Jim) Killoran, Jeffrey (Kim) Nelson, and Kay Nelson. Ten grandchildren: Tamara (David) Schaffert, Marie (Dan) Burke, David (Marci Dray) Killoran, Karen (Tom) Johnson, Timothy (Traci) Killoran, Jenny (Michael) Marier, Harmony (John) Sousa, Clayton Nelson, Felicia (Daniel) Nelson, John Paul (Kristina Bishop) Nelson. Twelve great-grandchildren: Whitney, Austin, Nathan, Tyler, Travis, Kaylee, Wylie, Cody, Avery, Zane, Zoe, Zander. And her nephews Joey Melby and Brian Melby.

A Celebration of life for family and friends will be held on August 28, 2021, from 12 pm-4 pm at the family home.

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

The family of Brick Ludington is sharing this remembrance:

Brick (Harvey) Ludington was born in Seattle on March 26, 1948. He died January 14, 2021 in Carson City, Nevada.

He was a proud Vietnam Veteran! He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He loved to golf.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Jan, daughter Bridgett (Barry) sons Shane (Huong) and Harvey (Dana). Grandchildren Brittany, Bryce, Brandon, Janet, Harvey, and Alexander. Great-granddaughter StellaRose. Brother Ron (Denise) sister Bonnie (Rick), and many nieces and nephews.

Brick graduated from Chief Sealth High School in 1966.

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

Family and friends are remembering Wayne Wilson and sharing this remembrance with his community:

Wayne Paul Wilson
1944-2021

Wayne was born July 4, 1944 in Seattle to Walter Edward Wilson and Catherine Anne Kennedy. His parents were at the local parade that day and needed the help of a police car to get to the hospital. Wayne always loved that his birthday was a guaranteed party. The youngest of four children, twins David J. Wilson and Dolores Syverson (Albert) and brother Walter E. Wilson, Jr.

He attended West Seattle Holy Rosary grade school and was a lifelong member of the church. Wayne went on to attend O’Dea High School, Class of ’62, where he became one of their school cheerleaders for games. After graduation, Wayne went to the UW, where he received his BA in Business Finance. He also joined the US Air Force Reserves, serving as an operating-room tech at hospitals. Later, Wayne received his Masters in Finance from Seattle U.

Wayne went to work for the Boeing Aerospace Company in 1968, working on several important projects; AWACS, The 747 aircraft, and many other programs throughout his 33 years with them.

Wayne married Nancy McDonald in Port Orchard, WA on March 23rd, 1968. They met while Nancy was mowing her family’s front lawn at the farm and Wayne was visiting her neighbor in June 1962. It was love at first sight. They were married 53 years. They bought a house in West Seattle and had three children together.

He is survived by wife Nancy and his children, Michael (Dr. Erin O’Connell Ph.D.), Mark, and Theresa Kim (Paul), along with four grandchildren, Kailey and Keira Wilson, Aidan and Isabel Kim. Also survived by brother Walter (Marianne) Wilson, brother-in-law Al Syverson, and many nieces and nephews.

Wayne was a kind, intelligent, funny man. He loved to talk and had kept several friends from his schools and neighborhood. He loved the Seahawks and never missed watching a game.

Wayne suffered a traumatic brain injury in December 1988. He spent over 2 years in recovery relearning how to do everything. The last 3 years of his life, the brain injury caught up with him, causing his dementia. He fought hard and never gave up. He will be missed by his family and all those who knew him.

Arrangements entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home of West Seattle. To share your fond memories of Wayne with his Family, please visit his Tribute Wall at emmickfunerals.com/obituary/Wayne-Wilson

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

Family and friends are remembering Kelly T. Garvey, and sharing this remembrance with the community:

Kelly Thomas Garvey was born September 4, 1948 in Seattle to Irene and James Garvey. He was the youngest of 5 children. He attended Holy Rosary for elementary and graduated West Seattle High school in 1966.

Kelly went on to attend the University of Washington. He paused his college degree after one year to enlist in the US Army, where he served his country during the Vietnam War.

After his discharge he returned to the UW to finish up his Degree in Business.

Kelly met and fell in love with Joanne Silver and proposed 2 months later. They married March 18th 1972 and would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this coming March. They built several homes in Normandy Park and became very involved in the community. They have many wonderful memories with friends and family from the 43 years they lived there.

Early on, Kelly realized his passion for a career in real estate. An entrepreneur to the core, Kelly went to open various Windermere Real Estate offices from Burien to Tacoma, all which he owned and managed. He was highly respected and loved in the real estate industry for his extensive knowledge, mentorship, and his humor.

His passion and drive eventually led him to his love for Commercial properties and his biggest work accomplishment was developing and contracting large pieces of property in Thurston and Pierce County within the last 12 years.

Kelly & Joanne gave birth to two beautiful daughters…Jamie Dianne in October of 1976 and then Anne Elizabeth in December of 1981.

Kelly was the perfect “girl” dad. He was Jamie & Annie’s whole world from the time they were little until the time Kelly left this Earth.

Kelly was the proud Pa to 6 grandkids and he lit up every time he was around them. He had a special bond with every one of his grand children, Chase, Reese, Lane, Charley, Blakely and Presley.

8 years ago Kelly & Joanne moved from Normandy Park to Lakeland Hills and Kelly was blessed to live right down the street from both families, and saw his kids and grandkids several times a week. Although Kelly never got biological sons, he got the next best thing with Pete and Austin. Both sons looked up to Kelly as a father, mentor, but also a friend.

Kelly enjoyed fly fishing, Jeopardy, swimming, practical jokes, card games, but overall spending any minute he could with his beloved family. He spent the last 2 years building a home in Suncadia for his family to enjoy and make future memories. He was loved by all for his selflessness, sense of humor and being the most intentional and giving man. A true legacy.

Kelly was a devoted Christian who is now with his Heavenly Father.

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

Family and friends are remembering Larry Pierce and sharing his story with the community:

Lawrence (“Larry”) Colman Pierce, devoted husband and father, passed away, surrounded by his loving family, at Virginia Mason Medical Center on Thursday, July 22, 2021, from cancer. He was 84.

Larry was born in Seattle on December 24, 1936, the son of the late Lawrence and Isabel (Colman) Pierce. He grew up in West Seattle and graduated from West Seattle High School in 1955 and Yale University in 1959. In 1961, he married his high school sweetheart, Robin E. Gaffner (1937-1985), also of West Seattle. After several years in the US Navy as a lieutenant junior grade, Larry attended Cornell University, earning an MPA in Public Administration and Finance. A Fulbright Scholarship took him to the University of the West Indies for two years to create a degree program in administration. He returned to Cornell for a Ph.D. in Government and then settled with Robin in Eugene, Oregon, where they had a son, Eric. At the University of Oregon, Larry worked as a professor of political science, department chair, assistant to the university president, and assistant to the chancellor of the University of Oregon system. After leaving Oregon, he spent several months as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Oxford Brookes College, Oxford University.

Larry moved to Baton Rouge in 1990 to become dean of the College of Education at Louisiana State University. There, he met Donna L. Mealey, a literacy education professor, and they married in 1992. They moved to Seattle in 1996 to raise their daughters, Emma and Katie. From 1996 to 1999, Larry was a research professor in the Center for Reinventing Public Education in the Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington before retiring to enjoy his young family. He built a house himself on Horsehead Bay in Gig Harbor and planted and tended a large garden there on beloved family property, the original site of Camp Colman before its relocation to Longbranch in 1966.

Larry served on the boards of Westside School and the White Center Food Bank, taking on the roles of president and treasurer at the food bank for several years. He also served on the board of the West Seattle Monogram Club and chaired the Scholarship Committee. Along with other community members, he was instrumental in bringing the International Baccalaureate program to Chief Sealth International High School and arranged for college admissions representatives from across the country to visit and inform students about schools beyond the Pacific Northwest. He served Fauntleroy Church United Church of Christ as moderator, worked on the finance ministry, helped lead a capital campaign, and was a devoted member of the choir’s tenor section.

Larry is survived by his loving wife of 28 years, Donna of Seattle; son Eric and daughter Katie of Seattle; daughter Emma of Cambridge, Massachusetts; twin sister Katharine Ramfield of Hood River; brother Dr. John Pierce and sister-in-law Leilia of Gig Harbor; and a large, dear extended family. Throughout his life, he enjoyed good books, choral music, national and world politics, and especially gardening. He loved to share cuttings with friends, grow starts for the church’s annual plant sale, and donate his garden’s fruit and vegetable largesse to the White Center Food Bank. We will miss his steadfastness, patience, integrity, quiet humor, devotion, kindness, love, buttermilk pancakes, berry pies, and professorial lectures at Thanksgiving dinners.

A memorial service will be held at Fauntleroy Church in West Seattle later in August. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial donations to the White Center Food Bank and YMCA Camp Colman. Memories and condolences to the family may be written below in the comments.

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

(Tributes on and beneath sign at Charlestown 7-11, photographed this morning)

On and beneath that sign outside the California/Charlestown 7-11, people continue to pay tribute to Victor Henley, who ran the store until his sudden death last Friday at age 50. A family member posted memorial information today in a comment on our previous report, and we’re spotlighting it here:

Dear friends and family: This Friday, July 30, 2021, at 11:00 am, we will hold an online prayer service for Victor. We hope that you will be able to attend via Zoom.

Following the prayer service, and, precisely at 12:00 noon, the immediate family will hold a special send-off as Victor will be aqua-cremated. Because we wish to share this special experience with you, we ask that wherever you are, to please keep Victor in your prayers precisely at noon, as we all send him off together on his next journey.

Please log on to Zoom between 11:00 am and 11:45 am. Meeting ID is 630 596 5334 Passcode is 073021

Community Celebration: Join us for the celebration of Victor’s life this Saturday, July 31, 2021 from 2 pm – 5 pm outside at our family 7-Eleven in West Seattle on 3801 California Ave SW, Seattle. We’ll share stories, eat good food, and raise our glasses high. We would love to see you there.

Sincerely, Mija, Audrey, Ashley, Alexis, Aliyah, Aubriana, Ava, and Ariyah

Please follow current covid safety protocols, stay aware, and mask when possible.

(Victor’s Tribute Wall)

Family and friends will gather in August to remember Doris I. Prescott. Here’s what they are sharing with her community:

Doris Irene Prescott died peacefully at her West Seattle home on July 17th at the age of 93.

Doris was born in Seattle on July 29, 1927. In grade school she was a Girl Scout and later at Garfield High School, sang in the choir, participated in the school operetta, and played the piano in the orchestra. She was also on the Honor Roll. After graduation, Doris started working; among her employers were the Port of Embarkation, Prudential Insurance, and Sears at Christmas time. Doris also worked as a camera girl at the Silver Swan.

Doris, at age 16, met Chuck when he lived in Madison Park in Seattle. On their first date they went by ferry from Seattle to Kirkland to go bowling. They corresponded during World War II by “V Mail,” where the letter was photographed, and 3 pages were condensed into 1.

Doris and Chuck (1925–2019) were married in 1947 at University Lutheran Church.

Larry was born in 1948 and Doris quit working at that time. Linda was born in 1958. Doris was active in Camp Fire Girls for Linda and was a Cub Scouts Den Mother for Larry. In 1974 Doris started working at First Lutheran Church of West Seattle as the office administrator. She retired in 1988.

In 1954, Doris and Chuck found a house on Genesee Hill in West Seattle that would become their lifelong residence. Their second child, Linda (1958–2010), was born there.

Both Doris and Chuck participated in various service projects through their church and worked with the Golden Fellowship, where a monthly lunch was provided for seniors.

Doris is survived by her son Larry Prescott and her grandchildren Ryan Prescott, Jennifer Prescott, Larissa Williams, and Zach Foster.

A Memorial Service is scheduled for Saturday, August 14th, at 11:00 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in West Seattle, with a reception to follow at the church. Pastor Ron Marshall will officiate the ceremony. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Doris’s life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to First Lutheran Church of West Seattle at 4105 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116. Also, condolences can be sent to emmickfunerals.com/obituary/Doris-Prescott

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 ed****@*************og.com)

Family and friends are remembering Dale Palella and sharing this remembrance with the community:

Retaining his amazing inner strength and boundless sense of humor to the very end, Dale passed away peacefully, at home, with Sallie by his side, on July 18, 2021.

Dale was born in 1937 in Seattle to parents Pasquale and Mary. He graduated from Holy Rosary, Seattle Prep, and Seattle University.
He worked 30 years at Boeing (computing) and Emerald Downs (Mutuels). Dale took great pride in his Italian heritage and was an active member of the Italian Community.

Preceded in death by his parents, brother John, and son Anthony (muscular dystrophy). Survived by wife of 30 years, Sallie; former wife, Sharon Palella, mother of their children; son, Dominic (Lily), daughters; Pamela, Paula, and Deblyn (Julia), and granddaughter Michela.

In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Muscular Dystrophy Association, PO Box 97075, Washington DC. 20090.

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

Family and friends are remembering Marty Dirks, and sharing his life story with his community:

The extraordinary life of Martin (“Marty”) C. Dirks, family man, adventurer, and master storyteller who also made significant contributions to Seattle and King County infrastructure as a civil engineer, ended on July 16 in a Seattle hospital, surrounded by his loving family. He was 87.

Marty split his time between Seattle, where he was born on April 9, 1934, and Camano Island, where he was raised. Highlights of his teen years were chronicled in the Seattle Post Intelligencer by his father, Clarence, a sportswriter-turned “City-Bred Farmer” columnist. Clarence frequently wrote about his oldest son’s raising of award-winning Holsteins, rearing chickens and sheep, pitching hay, learning to drive a tractor, and of Marty’s numerous exploits with friends on the island.

Marty once listed 34 duties he had as a youth, from farm chores to working summers as a boatman at Camano fishing resorts to logging and, at age 16, spending one summer in a gold mining camp near Fairbanks before working as a cook in a forest fire fighting camp. He drove heavy equipment during the construction of the Hood Canal Bridge and other road projects and worked briefly as a commercial fisherman around Neah Bay. He had owned 13 vehicles, all in various states of repair, by the time he hit 18.

Following his 1952 graduation from Twin City High School in Stanwood, where he lettered in football, Marty attended Central Washington College in Ellensburg for a year before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps. He attributed his years as an avid hunter to his excellence in marksmanship ratings while in boot camp. He finished top in his class in aviation radio repair school before his assignment to airfield duty in the Mohave desert. Sgt. Dirks later took part in the “Operation Teapot” nuclear bomb tests in Frenchman Flats, Nev.

After three years in the military, Marty earned a degree in civil engineering from the University of Washington. He married his wife of 61 years, Ann K. Smith, on Oct. 16, 1959 in West Seattle. He landed his first professional engineering position with Western Electric in New Jersey, where their twin sons Greg and Brian were born, but then took a position with Boeing so they could return to their beloved home state of Washington, settling in West Seattle, where Ann was raised. The couple would have three more sons in Seattle over the next 11 years: John, Stephen, and Tom.

Marty left Boeing after a year to work at Metro Engineers, a consortium of consulting engineering firms deployed by King County Metro to address the badly polluted Lake Washington and other civic projects. That led to Marty’s long career as a principal officer (and eventually president) of the Seattle firm of Kramer, Chin and Mayo (KCM). At KCM Marty had strong leadership roles over the design of several noteworthy projects, including the original sewage treatment plant at West Point in Seattle and later its extensive upgrade, several fish hatcheries and wastewater treatment plants across Washington, Alaska and the United States, municipal sewage systems, lake restoration projects, and stormwater systems. Marty was KCM’s project manager for the Seattle Aquarium. One of his proudest professional moments was traveling with his teammates to Washington, D.C. to accept his professional association’s national Grand Conceptor Award for the aquarium’s innovative design. In 1974 KCM won a contract with China to design a prawn rearing operation, one of the first of its kind to be awarded after China-U.S. relations were normalized. Marty went to China on behalf of the company for a few weeks to oversee its initial construction, his first of several trips there for other jobs. He also made numerous project trips to Alaska and other parts of the globe. He is credited with bringing in much of the company’s work through his extensive relationships in his field.

Marty was known through his many professional and personal life circles as a trouble-shooter, artful negotiator, problem solver, and relationship builder. Marty was regarded as one of the region’s foremost experts in tunnels and sewer systems and his advice was sought even long after his retirement in 1995. He was a recipient of the Consulting Engineering Council of Washington’s Engineer of the Year award. Following his retirement Marty served on the boards of the Seattle Museum of History and Industry, the Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka, Alaska and the South Seattle Community College Foundation, as well as a dispute-resolution board for major public-works projects. He kept in close contact with many of his high school classmates in Stanwood, even hosting a few class reunions on his property.

More significant to Marty than his professional life was his family and outdoor life.

In the 1960s Marty built a small cabin on Camano Island where the family spent most summer weekends and vacation time and lived for a year while he remodeled an older home in West Seattle. In 1972 Marty won the statewide, summer-long Seattle Sporting Goods fishing derby by catching a 44-pound chinook salmon off Camano and took home a boat as first prize. Marty helped his sons with their paper routes, became deeply involved in their Boy Scout activities, and often took them salmon fishing and hunting.

Marty made annual fishing trips to British Columbia over the years and in the late 1990s began taking his sons along too until mostly hanging up his fishing rod eight years ago. Marty was known for his quick wit and humor and was generous with his time (and stories) with his family, many friends and neighbors. He served as a mentor to many young people, and nurtured professional mentorships. After learning to snow ski in his late 40s, he co-organized annual ski trips of family and friends to McCall, Idaho.

He and Ann, who died in early January, enjoyed a long and fulfilling retirement. When not traveling to points around the world, Marty and Ann spent time with family and friends in their West Seattle and Camano Island homes and volunteered for Ryther and other non-profits. When Ann became infirm, Marty became her primary caregiver for several years.

Besides his sons and their spouses (Nancy, Dee, Ellen and Suzy), Marty is survived by his brother Mike in Spokane, 10 grandchildren, and three great grandchildren, all of whom live in the greater Puget Sound region.

Arrangements are by the Emmick Family Funeral Home in West Seattle. A limited-capacity memorial service for Marty will be held at 11 a.m. on August 28 at the Fauntleroy United Church of Christ in West Seattle. The family is arranging for additional seating and online viewing at the Hall at Fauntleroy across the street, followed by a “Party for Marty” there. The service will also stream online – please send an email to ma***@*********es.net for details. The family suggests donations in his name to Seattle Ryther or to the Stanwood-Camano Area Foundation, which has posted a special link at the top of its web page at https://s-caf.org

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

Family and friends are remembering Barbara Glee Maurer and sharing this remembrance with her community:

Barbara Glee Maurer died on July 15, 2021, at the age of 76, in the comfort of her home overlooking Puget Sound, surrounded by friends and family. Her death was a culmination of a valiant battle against cancer.

Born on Whidbey Island to Dr. A.O. and Glee Brewer, Barbara spent her childhood exploring beaches, swimming in the ocean, and climbing azaleas near her home. At age 11, she was adopted by Roberta and James Lawrence, moved into their loving home in West Seattle, and joined in their many adventures across the Pacific Northwest and Mexico. She was a gifted harpist and practiced dance under the tutelage of an NYC ballerina.

Throughout her life, Barbara had a fierce passion for education. After attending both Whitman College, where she joined Kappa Kappa Gamma, and University of Idaho, she received her BA in Education, continuing on to the University of Washington for her M.Ed. She took her love for teaching to Gatewood Elementary, where she developed a program for high-achieving children of all backgrounds, which was nationally validated by the US Department of Education. She would continue these efforts at Highline Public Schools, expanding her gifted curriculum with colleague and friend Sue Wallace.

Outside of her career, Barbara served two terms as President of the Burien/White Center Rotary, having joined as soon as women were allowed. She also served as Assistant District Governor for Rotary District 5030. In 2018, she and husband Gerry launched and managed a Rotary International Foundation grant-funded water project in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, India. Barbara was also active in the Fauntleroy YMCA and assisted in establishing the Pelly Place Greenbelt.

Barbara loved caring for her beautiful garden, often giving gifts of lavender, pickled beans, and other fruits of her labor. She also enjoyed sailing, skiing, cooking big family dinners, and entertaining at their West Seattle home.

Barbara is survived by husband P. Gerry Maurer, sons Karl Norsen (Michelle), Curtis Norsen (Betsy), step-daughters Kristina Montague (Tom), Serena Maurer (Sam), and grandchildren Tao, Tabby, Harper, Chapin, Max, Ella, and Millie; sister Marti Lawrence-Grant, brother Don McKay, nieces Cheryl Ramon and Mary Cross, and nephew Don McKay Jr.

We are so grateful for the loving care and support offered by Home Care Assistance caregivers, Kline Galland Hospice, and Aging Wisdom, as well as the nurses, doctors, and staff at Virginia Mason.

In lieu of flowers we welcome donations to Susan G. Komen.

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

Family and friends will gather Saturday to celebrate the life of Charlie Nickels. Here’s the announcement and remembrance they are sharing with the community:

Charles Peter Nickels (Charlie)
May 22, 1995 – January 22, 2021

Please join us in Celebrating Charlie’s life.

WHEN – Saturday, July 24, 11 am-2 pm

WHERE – The Lodge at Fall City Farms, 3636 Neal Road, Fall City, WA 98024

For more info, contact Pete Nickels at ni******@*****ok.com or text at 206-707-2016

Charlie was a son, a brother, a cousin, a new uncle, a nephew, and a friend to all that knew him. Most of his friends called him their best friend. He was beloved. Charlie was also a proud, recently enlisted National Guard recruit. We lost Charlie unexpectedly on January 22 and for a moment, our world stopped. Charlie was the youngest of three sons. As a child, he was the comedian, the too adorable to get into trouble boy who managed to charm everyone with his beautiful smile, big blue eyes, and loving nature. He grew into a young man with unlimited\ potential, impeccable character, and an unwavering moral compass, like his dad. He was the peacemaker, the joy bringer with a fantastic sense of humor, like his mom, which he would use in helping his brother Bobby on film projects, and to send hysterical and obscure texts to his friends and family. Charlie was relentlessly curious, like his brother Zack, and loved to ask questions on every topic. And was genuinely interested in others' points of view. He was kind and generous with his time. Many of his friends have a story of how Charlie helped them through a tough time. He was their rock. And they are shattered to have lost him.

We, his family, parents Pete and Laurie and brothers Bobby and Zack, will miss him every day for the rest of our lives. We will miss his daily texts that said “I love you,” his big hugs, his humor, his sense of fashion (he loved his shoes), his dance moves, his love of music, the Mariners, the Seahawks, watching movies, WSU, his ability to be a best friend to many, his smile, his intense dislike of vegetables, his questions, how he loved his family and his friends.

Most of all, we will miss the continuing impact he could have and would have made on the world. We also know that Charlie loved us so much and would want us not to feel pain or sadness. So, in time, we will find our path forward and try our best to honor him. We love you to the moon and back, Charlie.

(Originally published on February 14, 2021)

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

Family and friends are remembering Susan Dale Patterson, a former West Seattle for resident. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing:

Susan Patterson was born and raised in Seattle by Dolores and Olin (Bill) Stafford. Sue learned to cook at a very young age and carried that love all her life. She always loved to cater parties and weddings and was always in demand. Her flair for decorating had everyone asking to have her do something for them.

She loved people and it shows in the amount of people that called her Momma Sue, Mom, or Nana. Everyone was adopted by her. Her first adopted kid, Rick Bredereck, has been in her life for over 50 years. You never left her house without a smile and full belly. Sue has lived in Onalaska since 1987 and has been Mrs. Clause since.

She had been a member of the American Legion Auxiliary most of her adult life. She has held most positions at the Unit, District and State levels. In 1999 she became the Department of Washington President. Her year was full of fun and service to the Veterans and their Families. Her next year she was the Department National Executive Committeeperson. She was always trying to help Veterans and their Families even after she left the American Legion Auxiliary. In 2013 she received the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs Outstanding Service to Veterans Award from Governor Inslee. She also belonged to the Eight and Forty. The organization sponsors volunteer programs on the national, departmental, and local levels, focusing on children and the community. She was a mentor for so many women to help them grow. She was also a member of the New Beginnings Community Church in Salkum, WA.

She is survived by her husband James (Pat) Patterson, sons Damon (Darla) Patterson of Elk City, OK and Vernon (Patsy) Barlow of Onalaska, WA; daughters Dana Cox of Hollis, OK, Dena (Danny) Juarez of Hollis, OK, Bridget (Cindy) Barlow of Yelm, WA, and Rachel (Mike) Lea of Kelso, WA; and granddaughters Ashlyn (Roberto) Barlow of Lacey, WA and Lisa Liddell of Onalaska, WA and Shea (Austin) Peters of Lacey She has numerous Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren in Oklahoma.

She is preceded by her mother, father, brother Ken Stafford, and grandson Nicholas Barnes.

Funeral and Celebration of Life were held July 10 in Salkum.

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

A Funeral Mass is planned Monday for Virginia Sullivan, whose family is sharing this remembrance:

Virginia Sullivan, a long-time resident of West Seattle, passed away peacefully on July 8, 2021, surrounded by her family. She was the adoring wife of John “Dirks” Sullivan, and loving mother of her son, John, and her five daughters, Kathryn, Laura, Marie, Patrice, and Susan. Virginia cherished her other sons, aka sons-in-law, Jim, Kevin, Collin, and Mike. She was always the biggest cheerleader and proud “Gamma” to her six grandchildren, Samuel, Kate, Dirks, Sadie, Quinn, and Max.

Married for 62 years, Virginia, affectionately called “Gin,” and Dirks were high-school sweethearts. They were the best of friends. They cherished one another, and simply loved being together and together as a family. Their love, devotion, and thoughtfulness for each other was amazing. Belief and trust in God were at the center of their relationship. They were an inspiration to us all.

Virginia was born in Butte, MT on July 2, 1936, the daughter of David J and Catherine (Cullen) Sullivan. Virginia cherished and admired both of her parents. Virginia is survived by her siblings, Esther Cote, Mary Murphy and her brother-in-law, John (Harp) Cote, many nieces and nephews, all of whom she adored. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Ellen and Catherine, and her brothers Dave and Frank, brothers-in-law, Emmett Murphy, Howard “Casey” Johnston, and Bill Kelly.

A loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and aunt, Virginia was the dearest friend one could have. She was an attentive listener and counselor to so many friends and students. She was constantly doing for others. Virginia was a friend to all; she knew no strangers. She was ever accepting and always saw the good in people. Virginia had so many wonderful qualities and was eternally humble and selfless. She loved watching and cheering her children and grandchildren at their many school and sporting events. There was never a stronger supporter in their corner.

Gifted with a wonderful sense of humor and incredible patience, Virginia was always there for her family and friends. Her home was always open, warm, and inviting. She would find any reason to have friends or family over, whether for dinner parties or playing cards, board games or just to visit. Virginia’s passion for cooking, coupled with her wonderful sense of humor, always created memorable and lively occasions. She especially loved baking some of her favorite dishes (Irish pasties, apple pies, and carrot cake), with her adoring grandchildren. She enjoyed serving “Tom and Jerry’s” while singing holiday carols and decorating the Christmas tree with family and friends. There was always room for one more person at the table. With that familiar twinkle in her eye, she would say “the more, the merrier.” As her door was always open, so was her heart. She made so many unforgettable memories with her family and friends.

Summers were special to Virginia, as it was a time for the family to travel together. Annual vacations to Montana, fishing, and riding horses with family and friends, were a favorite. Trips, which included other favorites such as California, Hawaii, Mexico, and Canada, were memorable and incredible bonding times with family. Age did not slow Virginia down, nor her desires for family-bonding vacations. She organized family trips with Dirks, their children and grandchildren, to Europe and even attended a family wedding in Ireland. She created so much joy and memories for her family.

As a woman of deep faith, Virginia is now with the Lord and her loved ones who passed before her. She is our biggest Angel and watching over all of us. Please join her family at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in West Seattle on Monday, July 19, 2021, for the Liturgy of the Resurrection Funeral Mass at 11:00 am.

Memorials: Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, University of Washington Hospital, Swedish Medical Center, and Catholic Community Services.

To share your condolences and memories of Virginia with her Friends and Family, please visit her Tribute Wall at emmickfunerals.com/obituary/Virginia-Sullivan

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

Family and friends are remembering Lorraine Delores Ragghianti-Agostino and sharing this remembrance with her community:

Lorraine D. Agostino passed away on June 6, 2021, just 10 days shy of her 94th birthday.

Lorraine, lovingly known as “Ellie” or “Nana,” was born on June 16, 1927, to Jesse and Minnie Ebert. She was the heart and soul, the Matriarch, of the Ragghianti family and is survived by her sons Michael and Steve Ragghianti, their wives, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ellie was a lifelong resident of West Seattle. She attended the old Cooper School from K-8 then on to West Seattle High School, where she graduated in 1946. She was class rep for class of 1946 for 32 years. In 1948 she married her high-school sweetheart Don Ragghianti after he returned from serving in the military. They were married for almost 29 years when Don tragically died in February of 1977.

Ellie was first and foremost a devoted wife and mother. Family and friends meant the world to her. Her most treasured memories were the family vacations to Orcas Island. Family dinners were tops on her list and everyone savored her ravioli, an old family recipe, as well as her amazing butterscotch bars. She was an amazing seamstress and worked in the alterations department at I. Magnin in downtown Seattle after graduating. She also made beautiful quilts, bestowing many a lovingly made quilt to her family. Ellie was gifted in calligraphy and made beautiful cards and was a scrapbooker extraordinaire, leaving us over 50 books to enjoy for many years to come.

Ellie worked part-time at Olympic Heights Pharmacy, then worked at the West Seattle J.C. Penney’s for many years until it closed in 1987. Ellie remarried in 1986 to Roy J. Agostino, who preceded her in death in 2002. Lorraine lived in the family home until 2016, when she moved to an apartment in Mount St Vincent, where she spent four happy and comfortable years. If words could describe Ellie, kind, resilient, humble, and down to earth come to mind. She will be missed by her family and the many friends she made in her long, beautiful life.

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

Family and friends are remembering Anne Marie (Link) Ushler, and sharing this with the community:

It is with deep sadness we share that on June 8, Anne passed away from cancer.

Anne was born October 1, 1955 to Kathryn and Clarence Link. She spent her childhood in West Seattle, on Pigeon Point, attending FB Cooper elementary, Boren Junior High, and Chief Sealth High School. After marrying Kevin Ushler, she moved to Bothell, and also had a home in Palm Desert.

She had a long career in Human Resources for an inhalation-therapy company, retiring to spend extended time on their boat, Haven. Anne and Kevin traveled extensively – to Russia, Hong Kong, Europe – and loved visiting their daughter and her family in England.

We will miss Anne’s love, kindness, understanding, and truly wicked sense of humor. We will miss singing with her, dancing with her, and sharing wine at sunset in the cockpit. Fourth of July in Poulsbo will never quite be the same.

She is remembered by her husband Kevin, her children Kyle (Mika), Jennifer (Craig), and Lindsay (Justin), her grandchildren Isaac, Faith, Josiah, Jeffrey, and Summer, and her brother John Link (Stephanie) and her sister Linda Byers (Gary).

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

Family and friends will gather next month to remember “Reg” Harris, and are sharing this remembrance with his community:

John Reginald Harris, Jr., MD
1960 – 2021

Storyteller, musician, physician, photographer, collector, writer, lover of all things technical; husband, father, son, uncle, and friend were John Reginald Harris, Jr., MD. He made everyone felt listened to, genuinely interested in their story, and could take complicated subjects and explain in easily, comprehensible ways. He leaves behind a legacy worthy of a thousand men.

As an adult, he was known by his middle name, Reg; as a youth, he was little Reggie to his father’s big Reggie. He was born on February 25, 1960 in Richmond, Virginia to John Reginald Harris, Sr. and Catherine Hicks Harris, both of whom proceeded him in death. Reg was released from our world, peacefully, in Bellevue on Mother’s Day, May 9, 2021 under hospice care from the cruel disease of Younger Onset Alzheimer’s, which he had been battling for nearly a decade.

Reg graduated from Jefferson High School in Richmond, Virginia in 1978; graduated with a BS degree, Summa Cum Laude from Howard University in Washington, D.C. in 1981; graduated from Medical College of Virginia (part of Virginia Commonwealth) in Richmond, Virginia in 1985; University of Washington Residency, Seattle in 1988. He married the love of his life, Patricia DuBois Harris in 1997 in Wailea, Maui, Hawaii. Reg is also survived by his sons, Cade and Blake (both studying and living in Seattle); in-laws Clint and Elizabeth DuBois (Issaquah), Charlotte DuBois (Bremerton), and nephews Clay and Rowan DuBois; sister Judy B. Harris (Richmond, VA), numerous cousins, family, and friends; also preceded in death by his beloved Sheltie, Jean-Luc.

He finished first in his freshman class (awarded the Phi Beta Kappa, Alain Locke Award) in his BSMD program. After finishing Medical School (inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and awarded Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation Merit Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement, Leadership and Service) and matching at the University of Washington Residency program, his mother cried about him going as far away as possible from Richmond, Virginia. He loved Seattle and the West Coast. In 1988 he began working at Swedish Medical Center Emergency Department in Seattle. He was an ER doc working nights, and during the days he would work on his music and videos/movies. He started Omniscient Productions to work on his creative ideas in 1992 while still working at the ER. He and Patricia have lived in West Seattle since 1990.

Music was important. He sang in his church youth choir, and later joined Madrigals in high school. He was a DJ in high school and participated in the radio club. He created his own hyper-local neighborhood radio station using CB radios in which he played music, until his parents received a cease-and-desist notification from the FCC for an unauthorized station. He wrote and recorded his music. He played guitar, bass, and keyboard. He loved writing and singing his songs. He would serenade Patricia for hours.

Reg was a collector of numerous things. He loved collecting and using his fountain and ballpoint pens. Letters were written to Patricia using specific pens and nibs. He enjoyed collecting and wearing watches. He made a point of wearing a different watch when Cade and Blake were born, so that they could keep that specific watch. And ask about our DVD, CD, and vinyl record collections.

Photography became a passion as another way to tell stories. He enjoyed taking photos but as the perfectionist and procrastinator, it took time for him to share with those he loved. He was always learning new things, taught himself how to write computer code, and embraced technology. And there always were his stories. He created movies before iMovie and other platforms made it easy. He was an early adopter of Media 100 in the 1990s and was given the Vision Award. He wrote, produced, and created the video and materials to help people navigate personal finances: Beyond Savings. He wrote numerous magazine articles. His beloved Sheltie, Jean-Luc (he was a HUGE Sci-Fi fan) was the star of The Jean-Luc Chronicles series of movies.

Reg always had so many stories running through his head and expressed these through music, video, or print. He kept a journal of his ideas for stories with summaries for each. He often bounced one from another: Ben the Fire Engine for younger kids, The Strange and Exotic Tales of the Messy Pirates who visited after Christmas, Seven Minutes, His Story, The Medical Officer, and so many more. His memory will live on through his stories, photos, and music. We miss and love you always.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, July 8th, at 2 pm at Holy Rosary Church in West Seattle. A Celebration of Life will be held at Good Society Brewery after Mass, approx. 3:15 pm.

Donations to Younger Onset Alzheimer’s Disease or your favorite animal charity in his name.

Arrangements entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home of West Seattle. To share your fond memories of Reg with his Family, please visit his Tribute Wall at emmickfunerals.com/obituary/John-HarrisJrMD

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

Family and friends are remembering Phyllis Harriage and sharing this with her community:

The family of Phyllis Joyce Harriage (Clark) is deeply saddened to announce her death at 81 years old from complications of Parkinson’s disease on June 14, 2021.

Phyllis was born to Leonard and Margaret Clark in West Seattle on September 15, 1939 and graduated from West Seattle High School in 1957. She raised three children with William R. Harriage during their eighteen-year marriage. Phyllis worked as a waitress at the SeaTac Marriott for nearly two decades. Kind, funny, and thoughtful, Phyllis lived her retirement years in the constant company of her beloved family and dogs. She lived in West Seattle until declining health prompted her to move in with family in Tacoma.

Phyllis was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She is survived by her daughter Holly (Kevin) and her children, Emelia, Audrey, Christina, and Gabrielle; her daughter Hayley (Steffan) and her children Crystal, Kaitlyn, and Allison; her son Kurt (Paulette) and his children Lauren, Sierra, Priscilla, Jesse, Laticia, and Lorenzo; six great-grandchildren; and her sister Patricia Schaber and her children, Steven and Richard (and his children and grandchildren).

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Tacoma Humane Society.

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

Family and friends are remembering Greg Cherin and sharing this with his community:

Gregory Arnoldo Cherin was born in Renton on November 7, 1958. He died on June 6, 2021, after dealing with long-term health issues. He left us suddenly and we are heartbroken. He is survived by his wife Janice, sons Andrew (Vanessa), grandchildren Kaylee and Caleb, Derek and Tyler. His sister Lela/DeeDee (Randy) Good. Half-brother Bob Cherin. In addition, there are so many more close relatives and friends that will cherish his loving memory.

Greg was a lifelong resident of West Seattle. He was the son of Eugene (Gene) and Marilyn (Jeannie) Cherin, attended Highland Park Elementary, Denny Middle School, and Chief Sealth High School. He graduated with a Business degree from the University of Washington in 1983.

He married Janice on September 11, 1982. Together they raised three wonderful and caring men, Andrew, Derek, and Tyler. Their lives were all enriched having been raised in a loving family. Greg worked for Boeing at the Plant 1, Plant 2, Renton, and also in Palmdale, California for 18 months and at the Tukwila plant. He was a purchaser/buyer and enjoyed the many friendships from that time.

Greg had a passion for baseball and basketball and relayed that passion to all three sons. Their participation in West Seattle sports fueled many games which he helped coach or was the head coach. Through these many activities he developed many lifelong friendships. He would often run into so many people on a trip to the store that you would think would take 30 minutes but last much longer (Janice says).

Greg also enjoyed fishing. He shared many fishing trips in Puget Sound with his cousin David and sons Andrew, Derek, and Tyler. He especially enjoyed fishing out by Blake Island for ling cod.

Relationships were important to him, and he would do anything he could to help others. He enjoyed family the most and was always checking in on family. He went to all family functions – or as many as he could – that lesson he leaves with us will always be important.

We always found ways to travel within the US, often due to a son’s baseball tournament – the memories from all of these trips are very special. Most recently we discovered Hawaii through Andrew and Vanessa. Greg loved Maui because of the beauty, ability to swim in the pools and the ocean, and just relax with family. We were able to go twice in the past 4 years! He and Janice also loved Leavenworth and enjoyed spending time with family and using it as a meeting place with other family members.

In 2017 the most wonderful event happened to Greg and Janice – they became grandparents to Kaylee, and Caleb in 2019. Being a grandfather or ‘Papa’ changed him in many ways – he melted with them both and would do anything for them. He took Kaylee on trips to see the snow in Snoqualmie Pass and to the Nike outlet in North Bend – of course for the good deals. Kaylee is inquisitive and fun; she loved her Papa and of course her Mimi and Uncles. Caleb is an energetic, fun-loving little boy, and watching both of their wonderful personalities develop has been fun to watch. We have had the wonderful pleasure of living close to this little family and seeing them often. They will greatly miss their Papa.

We are so grateful for the many of you who have already reached out and feel so very blessed and honored by your stories and thoughts. We are planning a memorial service to be held this summer. With COVID restrictions hopefully lessening, we are looking at options and will let you know soon.

Share memories of Greg on the Tribute Wall at emmickfunerals.com/obituary/Gregory-Cherin

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

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

Family and friends are remembering Gloria M. Langen, and sharing this remembrance with her community:

Gloria Mary (Strattman) Langen, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away peacefully in the presence of her children on May 19, 2021.

Gloria was born in St Louis, Missouri on August 7, 1929 to George and Mary Strattman. In the early years of World War II, the family moved to Bremerton, WA when her father took a job as a machinist at the Bremerton Naval Shipyard. Gloria completed her grade school education at Our Lady Star of the Sea and then attended Bremerton High School where she met the love of her life, John “Harry” Langen. She graduated in 1948 and they were married at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church on September 9th, 1950. In 1953 Harry and Glo moved to West Seattle where they made their home, raising 6 children.

Marriage, family, and the Catholic Church were central to her life. As founding members of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Gloria and Harry were active in the parish throughout their many years and were recognized for their legacy with a seat of honor on the OLG 50th anniversary show car in the West Seattle Hi-Yu parade. As her children grew up and grandbabies began to arrive, Gloria embraced her role as a grandmother, always ready to play a game, work a puzzle, or read to the kids.

Gloria and Harry often spent their annual vacations camping with their extended family and friends. As members of the Westside Wheelers Square Dance Club, they traveled to square dance events throughout the Northwest and California. But her true passion was reading and it was a common sight to see her in her favorite chair, coffee cup at her side and a book in her hand. She shared that love of reading with her family and through her many years as the librarian at Guadalupe School. In 2001, her 30 years of service was commemorated with the naming of the school library “The Langen Library.”

In 2012 Gloria and Harry sold their longtime family home and moved to the Bridge Park Retirement Community in West Seattle, where she became a familiar face around the Activity Room, playing dominoes, bingo and her favorite card games.

Gloria was preceded in death by her grandson Joshua Waleryszak. She is survived by her husband John “Harry” Langen and children, Judy Waleryszak (Tom (d)), Mike (Alyson), Cathy Olson (Frank), Teresa Langen Earle (Ken), Margaret “Peggy” and James (Andrea), six grandchildren, Amanda, Elisa, Alexandra, Loretta, John, and Henry, and five great grandchildren.

Remembrances may be made to Our Lady of Guadalupe School Langen Library, 3401 SW Myrtle Street, Seattle, WA 98126. Or donate online at www.guadalupe-school.org

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