If you knew John Jones, we’re told, you’d know he would only have wanted a short and sweet mention like this one:

John was a graduate of West Seattle High and Central Washington University.

The Ol’ Man was legendary for his stories, all of which have all been independently verified by the firm Crabtree, Kavanaugh, Tervo, and Wachsmith.

We will gather at West 5 on January 8 to celebrate the King and Pops.

(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 will gather next Tuesday in memory of Don Gochnour, and are sharing this remembrance with the community:

Donald Earl Gochnour, 83, of Seattle died on November 16th, 2017, at his home in West Seattle.

He was born in Wenatchee on August 17, 1934, to Albert Ross and Helen Gochnour. Don was a longtime West Seattle resident who worked for Boeing and retired in 1996.

Don was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing as well as family camping trips. He loved to bring laughter to others by telling them his jokes and playing jokes on them.

Don is survived by his wife of 61 years, Inge; daughters Judy, Linda (Jim Clark), and son Dan (Julie); grandchildren Eric (Cheryl), Troy, Heidi (LaMarr), Chris, Amy (Justin Fowler), and Brian; and great-grandchildren Marcell, Josiah, and Hope.

There will be a graveside service at Forest Lawn in West Seattle on 11/28/2017 at 2 pm (friends and family are welcome to attend), and a celebration of his life will be held at a later date.

Donations in his name may be made to The American Cancer Society.

Condolences may be left in Don’s online guestbook at emmickfunerals.com. 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 will gather Friday to remember Elaine S. Breuninger. Here’s the remembrance being shared with the community:

Elaine was born in Minneapolis to Easton and Amelia, both of whose parents immigrated from Norway. They moved to Washington, D.C. when her father became employed by the U.S. Government as an architect. In her mid-twenties, she came “out West,” met and married her husband Dave. She resided in West Seattle for sixty years.

She was 96 and died peacefully at the adult family home where she received tender loving care the past eight years.

Elaine enjoyed being a homemaker and she was very good at it. She was a talented piano player and singer.

A 45-year member of the Fauntleroy Church Choir, she often sang as a soloist. She was an active member of the Seattle Music Study Club for nearly thirty years. She will be remembered as a kind, gentle, and artistically gifted lady as well as a wonderful, giving mother. Her loving presence and quiet grace will be missed by all.

She is survived by four children, three grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Harold, and husband, Dave.

A memorial service will be held at Fauntleroy Church, UCC, 9140 California Avenue SW, on November 24th at 2 pm. Memorial gifts may be made to: Evergreen Health Foundation, 12040 NE 128h St, MS5, Kirkland, WA, 98034-3013; Fauntleroy Church, UCC (music program), 9140 California Ave. SW, Seattle, WA 98136; Children’s Hospital and Research Foundation, P.O. Box 5371, Seattle, WA, 98145-5005.

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

You might have known Lance C. Kerwin from Chelan Café, one of two places where his life will be celebrated this Saturday (November 4th). Details are at the end of this remembrance sent to us to share with the community:

Lance Christopher Kerwin was born on July 21, 1965 and passed away on October 24, 2017 from an acute infection of the abdomen caused by liver disease.

Lance grew up in Arbor Heights in West Seattle, attended Arbor Heights Elementary, Denny Junior High, and Rainier Beach HS. As a boy he was active at Arbor Heights Swim Club, he played baseball, soccer, wrestled, and played guitar. He was a paperboy and his first job was at Shakey’s Pizza in West Seattle.

In later years Lance enjoyed bowling, darts, karaoke, going to the casino, and playing cards; he liked cooking and going out to eat. He liked music, loved to dance, liked going to plays and concerts. He also liked to watch the Seahawks and Huskies, reruns of Law & Order, NCIS, and Charmed. Lance loved his cat Sambo.

Lance spent 35 years in the food and beverage service industry at various places in West Seattle, bartending, cooking, and managing, most recently at Chelan Café. He enjoyed working and had a strong work ethic.

He had a sarcastic sense of humor and liked to give people a hard time, but those who knew him, knew he cared. Lance was very generous and loyal and loved his family and friends. Lance, we will all miss you very much.

Lance is survived by his parents Ken and Dale Kerwin; siblings Kendal (John) Hines, Todd (Juanita) Kerwin, Brett Kerwin, and Maria Kerwin; 8 nieces and nephews, Tony, Kayla, Jeffrey, Jack, Joey, Olivia, Adam, and Rosie; great-nephew and -niece Lincoln and Marley; his best friend Jan; the Blayney family; and many other family members and friends. Lance was preceded in death by his partner Tony Hood.

A Memorial Service for Lance will be held on Saturday, November 4, 2017, 1:00 pm at Greenwood Memorial Park Funeral Home, 350 Monroe Ave NE in Renton. A Celebration of Lance’s Life will continue at 3:00 pm at Chelan Café, 3527 Chelan Ave SW in West Seattle. Please visit greenwoodmempark.com to offer condolences or share fond memories with Lance’s family.

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

That New York Times video from 2008 tells the story of Fred Beckey, a climbing legend and West Seattle High School alumnus who has died at age 94. (Thanks to James for e-mailing to ensure we had heard.) Mr. Beckey’s obituary published tonight on Outside Online says he is “widely hailed as North America’s most prolific climber and mountaineer” – in the history books for a multitude of “first ascents.” Before he was inducted into the West Seattle High School Hall of Fame in 2014, this bio was written to explain why he should be part of it (he was in the WSHS Class of 1941); it notes there’s even a mountain named after him (Mt. Beckey in Alaska). Mr. Beckey also recently became the subject of a documentary about his lifelong obsession with climbing:

The Seattle Times reports that Mr. Beckey died today at the home of a longtime friend. According to the SeattlePI.com obituary for Mr. Beckey, his many other climbing companions included Lloyd Anderson, who co-founded REI while living in West Seattle. Mr. Beckey was still climbing in recent years, and was a prolific guidebook writer, as noted on the HistoryLink.org page that tells his story.

Family and friends will gather November 11 to remember Steve Hutchison (Hutch). Here’s the remembrance that’s being shared with the community:

In loving memory of Steven Hutchison. Steve passed away on September 23rd at Virginia Mason Medical Center from complications related to Multiple Myeloma.

Steve was surrounded by his loving family and friends. He leaves behind his wife Edwina, daughter Jennifer, son Tyler, and five grandchildren: Andres, Mariana, Marcelino, Alonzo, and Natalia.

Steve was born and raised in West Seattle, where he lived for most of his life. He graduated from West Seattle High School in 1973. Steve was an active member of the West Seattle Community. He enjoyed coaching boys’ baseball from 1994 to 1999 and boys’ basketball from 1997 to 2000.

Steve really enjoyed and looked forward to his annual vacation to Maui, which was his home away from home. He would say he never felt better than when he was there.

Please join us to celebrate and honor Steve’s life on Saturday, November 11th, from 4 pm to 8 pm at Dakota Place Park. The address is 4304 SW Dakota Street. Everyone is welcome to come and share their stories and memories of Steve.

If you wish to honor Steve’s memory, please consider donating to The American Cancer Society.

(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 will gather next Friday (October 20th) to remember lifelong West Seattleite Greg Ericson. Here’s the remembrance being shared with the community:

Greg Ericson passed peacefully at home surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with cancer on October 10th.

He was born January 14th, 1950, and grew up in West Seattle where he resided his entire life. He graduated from West Seattle High School in 1968, and shortly after launched a successful real estate business. Greg was an incredible handyman and businessman, who built houses from the ground up and could fix absolutely anything. He met the love of his life Sue in 1980, and they had three children which were the light of Greg’s life. He was above all a family man, and also enjoyed rounds of golf, Monday nights with his buddies, playing practical jokes, boating around Puget Sound, tending to his plant collection, cooking, and traveling all over the world, especially to visit his favorite country, Italy.

Greg was an incredible husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend, and will be deeply missed. He has left behind his wife Sue, his daughters Nicole (Scott) and Noelle, son Nolan (Amanda), grandchildren Emily and Owen (and another grandson arriving in November), brother Bill, aunt Sister Imelda, and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Olga and Bill, & sister Dini.

A funeral mass will be celebrated in Greg’s honor on Friday, October 20th at 11:00 AM at Holy Rosary Church, 4210 SW Genesee St. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider donations to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Fred Hutchinson, or a charity of your choice.

(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 will gather October 21st in West Seattle to celebrate the life of Lewis S. Brancati. Here’s the remembrance that’s being shared with the community:

Lewis S. Brancati

Age 21. Born March 27, 1996. Passed away September 20, 2017 in Kirkland, surrounded by family and friends.

Lewis grew up and thrived in Burien. He attended Highline schools, and graduated from Raisbeck Aviation High School.

Lewis was sweet and funny growing up, and a kind, generous, and very loving young man who had a great impact on the lives of his friends, classmates, and family. While he had plans to pursue more schooling, he was most recently a proud employee of the US Postal Service.

Lewis is and will be terribly missed, and held in our hearts forever. He is survived by his parents Amelia Hance-Brancati and Gregory Brancati, grandmother Judith Hance, and numerous aunts, uncles, other extended family, friends, and loving communities.

Celebration of Life will be held at Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation on Saturday, October 21st at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to organizations Lewis grew up a part of: Westside UU Congregation (wsuu.org), Eliot Institute (http://www.eliotinstitute.org), and Seabeck Conference Center (seabeck.org).

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

Two weeks from today, family, friends, and others who knew and loved Janet Osborn will gather at Pathfinder K-8 School, where she taught, to celebrate her life. Today, her life story, written by Zachary Desmond, is shared in remembrance:

Janet Leigh Osborn was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 1st, 1956. In deference to Janet’s penchant for non-linear thinking, compassionate inclusivity, and radical love of learning and discovery, the remainder of this life account is organized not by chronology, but by beginnings.

It begins in a hospital room. “When they brought her in to me, she weighed nine pounds, four ounces, and she was so cute,” Jane, Janet’s mother, tells me over the phone. “The nurses had put a ribbon in her hair and the lady next to me said, ‘Well, why didn’t they put a ribbon in my daughter’s hair?’ And I thought, ‘Well, because your daughter isn’t as cute!'” Sixty-one years later, Janet’s husband, Mike Oliver, upholds the opinion.

It begins in a classroom at the EEU on the University of Washington campus. “It was 1986, and we had a mutual friend, Jennifer Annable, our principal, she got me the job and she and our other friend Debbie Sherwood were trying to matchmake,” he tells me. “We were definitely interested in each other.” He would watch her interact with her students and have “so much fun with her coworkers,” and, “just enjoy being a teacher.”

It begins at home. “It was Matthew who turned her to teaching,” says Jane. When Janet was seventeen, her brother Matthew was born with Down Syndrome. Betty Schwieterman, Janet’s best friend since high school, tells me, “When Matthew was born, a whole group of our friends started learning about babies with Down Syndrome, and what special education is and a few of us were like, ‘Wow, this is cool,’ and we realized that we could actually have this as a career.” That impulse to learn and facilitate learning led Janet across the country and eventually to the school in Seattle, where she met Mike.

It begins with a road trip. “One day out of the clear blue sky, they packed up and went on their way to California.” So the great adventure begins, according to Jane. Betty assures me that it wasn’t quite so spontaneous. “We were planners. We planned the trip, planned the route, but there was a lot we didn’t know.” They’d talked about leaving for awhile, but 1980 was a particularly miserable summer in Kansas City, so they did their research, saved their money, sought out a place with “a pleasant climate, a pleasant political climate, a good graduate school, and good neighborhoods,” and set off on their grand adventure.

Janet had her misgivings, especially about leaving Matthew behind, “but something was drawing us here,” says Betty. “We didn’t know what it was, but we gave each other the confidence to do it.” This is a characteristic Janet later helped cultivate in her children, according to Maggie, Janet’s daughter.

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Family and friends will gather on August 25 to pay tribute to Nancy A. Qualls, and are sharing this remembrance with the community:

NANCY ANN QUALLS, 5/30/1946 TO 7/17/2017

Nancy was born to Leolla and William Qualls at Providence Hospital in Seattle. Most of her life was spent in West Seattle. In high school she was involved in Spades, a volunteer program that assisted handicapped kids to go on outings. This experience drew her to become a special-education teacher. She attended Central Washington University in Ellensburg. While she was there, her father suffered a heart attack and she had to leave school to help support the family. Her time working at Kentucky Fried Chicken convinced her to return to college to finish her degree after his recovery.

She took a teaching position at Woodside Elementary in Burien, where she also lived. Teaching was something she loved, and she enjoyed the companionship of the others there. She met and married her husband during this time. He accepted a forestry position in Madras, OR, and Nancy commuted back and forth to Ellensburg to pursue her Masters degree. At the age of 28 on one of her trips, she had a horrible car accident that left her brain-injured and paralyzed on the right side. Her mother cared for her in Madras, and when her husband left her, she moved back to Seattle.

It was due to her strong and stubborn nature and incredible willpower that she recovered enough to walk again. Eventually she was able to live a mostly independent life with the help of her family and friends. As she aged, she needed to use a powered wheelchair to get around. She was busy going full speed ahead in her chair; taking the bus to the Junction, swimming at the YMCA, visiting Starbucks, Barnes and Noble Books, Easy Street Records, etc. She loved embroidery and drawing trees in the parks. She loved the ocean and became fascinated with Native American culture, particularly the Lakota.

After her mother died, she lived at The Kenney briefly, at Daystar Assisted Living, where she enjoyed going to Westwood Village, and lastly, Normandy Park Senior Housing. It was here she fell and broke her hip, had hip replacement, and was doing well in rehab. She took a turn for the worse and died at Highline Hospital the evening of July 17, 2017.

Join us on Friday, August 25, at 2:00 pm in the chapel at West Side Presbyterian Church, 3601 California Ave SW, for a memorial celebrating Nancy’s life.

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

This Saturday, family and friends will gather to remember Clark J. Beck, Jr. Here’s the remembrance being shared with the community:

Clark J. Beck, Jr. was born in Wichita, Kansas on January 6, 1932, and died at his West Seattle home surrounded by family and close friends on August 2, 2017.

A much admired and respected aeronautical engineer and dedicated aerospace historian, he attended Wichita State University and received Bachelor of Science and Masters degrees in aeronautical engineering. Clark worked at the university wind tunnel and also at Beech Aircraft while attending Wichita State. He served as an officer in the US Air Force at the Arnold Engineering Development Center wind tunnel facility in Tullahoma, Tennessee.

Clark joined the Boeing Company in 1958 and worked at facilities in Wichita, Huntsville, and Seattle until he retired in 1993. He worked with the Structures Engineering Staff and specialized in vibration and noise problems associated with aircraft and space vehicles. He worked on the B-47, B-52, Saturn 1C Launch Vehicle, AWACS, 737, Supersonic Transport, Minuteman, B-l, IUS launch vehicle and 777 aircraft.

Clark took great pride and pleasure in his participation in Boy Scouts, earning the Eagle rank as a teen, volunteering with Troop 288 in West Seattle and forever embodying the scouting ideals of community service, kindness, helpfulness and excellence. Clark was a devoted husband to surviving wife Evalea, and they celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary in September 2016. He was a loving father to surviving sons Dave (Kathleen) Beck and Dan (Toni) Beck, and proud grandfather to Malcolm, Helene, Leah (mother Leslie Beck), Khrystal, Ashley, and Savannah.

In 1999 Clark became a docent at the Museum of Flight in Seattle and in his retirement years diligently researched aviation and aerospace history and shared his discoveries in regular talks and tours for museum visitors. He was a faithful leader and congregant at Seattle First Christian Church and played an important role in the merging of SFCC into All Pilgrims Christian Church. He loved his pets, his garden, listening to “Willie’s Roadhouse” on satellite radio, and keeping all things in good order and repair. He was a man of extraordinary skill and intellect, curiosity, kindness, humility, grace, love, and good humor, much loved by all who encountered him.

We celebrate his life on Saturday, August 12, 2017, at 2 PM at All Pilgrims Christian Church, 500 Broadway East. Memorials can be made in his name to All Pilgrims Christian Church or the Museum of Flight.

(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 will gather Friday (August 11th) to remember Marie E. Sundberg. Here’s the remembrance being shared with the community:

Marie Ellingsen Sundberg passed away peacefully, after a full and happy 96 years of life, early in the morning (she hated mornings!!!) on Monday, July 31.

Marie was born November 20, 1920, on Vashon Island. She was the first of five children born to Alfred and Engvarda Ellingsen. She attended Columbia School, basically a one-room schoolhouse on what was at the time a quiet, not very populated island. It was a close community, and she still cherished the friendships made in those years. She graduated from Vashon High School, and attended Western Washington State College for a short time.

After marrying Les Sundberg, also from Vashon, they settled in West Seattle in the house where she lived until just a few months before her death. She also owned a home on Vashon, which just happened to be right next door to the one where she and her siblings grew up, and in which one of her sisters lived until just a couple years ago. Yes, her roots were planted deeply and firmly in her original and adopted homes!

Marie and Les raised two daughters, Nancy and Cheryl. She was involved through the years in the PTA at their elementary school, as a Camp Fire Girl Leader, and as a youth group leader at the church they attended, Tibbetts United Methodist, for nearly 70 years. She also held several other positions at the church, and loved being involved in the annual rummage sale. Of course, many hours were spent chauffeuring her kids and their friends around Seattle. She was also an active member of Children’s Hospital Alan Richard Howard Guild.

When her daughters were older, she started working, first at Shadel Hospital, and then later at Jencelite, as a bookkeeper, from which she eventually retired, though somewhat reluctantly!

Marie grabbed life by the horns and never wanted to miss an adventure or opportunity! She loved baking (it was expected that there would be cinnamon rolls whenever It was her turn to be hostess for the circle meetings at church). She was a faithful follower of Seattle-area sports teams, including being a season-ticket holder for UW Husky football until recently. As you can imagine, that led to some conflict with Cheryl, and other family members, who were WSU grads! She loved gardening, and could find an empty spot somewhere for just one more dahlia tuber. She didn’t believe in putting plants in the compost … they had to go somewhere in her yard or to a friend or family member. And the horror of those yellow flowers in the yard … they must go, and so, right up until about a year ago, she was out in the yard getting rid of them. Her love of gardening kept her body strong, and her daily devotion to the word search in the newspaper kept her mind sharp, she always claimed.

Mostly she loved family, and that was a large number of people since that didn’t just mean blood relatives, but anyone who was a friend of family as well. Oh, the adventures we all had. In the early years, that meant camping trips to places where the fish were running, from the coast to Eastern Washington. And those trips included lots of family, lots of yummy food, lots of adventures, tons of laughter. Another memorable trip was to watch the Huskies play in the Rose Bowl. Another, a drive up to Ketchikan to visit family there. In more recent years, there were trips to Reno and Vegas and several cruises with family and friends. She loved family reunions (Sundberg, Ellingsen, and any others who would include us … like Freeman’s and Paulson’s since they were basically family) and neighborhood parties.

Marie was preceded in death by her husband Les, her parents, her brothers Dick and Karl, her sister Bea, many other family members. Those of us left behind (including her daughters Nancy and Cheryl, sister Lue (Ray) Wales, sisters-in-law Ginny Sundberg and MaryAnn Ellingsen, grandson Jeff (Linda) Johnson, granddaughter Erica (James) Johnson, and too many to name cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends), are picturing her great reunion with family and friends: eating lefse and lutefisk, playing pinochle, discussing who has the best garden with Karl, Bea, and Dick, getting Les caught up with the current Mariner wins.

Services will be held Friday, August 11, beginning with a service at Tibbetts United Methodist Church, (3940 41st Ave. SW) at 11 AM. If you choose to join us, please wear your brightest, most flowery clothes (in honor of her love of her garden), and wear your pearls (hers were always a part of her dressing up attire), if you have some. That includes men with Hawaiian type or just brightly colored shirts… no suits or ties! If you can, please bring along a few flowers from your garden as we all know those were her favorites. Burial to follow on Vashon Island.

Suggested memorials can be made to Tibbetts United Methodist Church or Children’s Hospital, uncompensated fund.

Please visit our online guestbook at islandfuneral.com.

(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 will gather Sunday to remember Denis Lavoie. Here’s the remembrance being shared with the community:

Denis J. Lavoie, 54, passed away July 30, 2017, surrounded by his loving family and friends.

He will be remembered for his kind heart and his adventurous spirit.

Denis leaves behind his wife Cindy and sons Thomas and Lucas.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, August 6, at 2:00 at Fauntleroy Church in 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 will gather on August 5th to celebrate the life of Joyce King, and are sharing this remembrance with the community:

Joyce King – Beloved Mother, Teacher, Friend, and a Force for Fun, dies at 89

Joyce King loved to make people laugh. From the time she was a young girl in the 1930s to the final days of her life, she found ways to deploy her gentle but constant sense of humor to make those around her giggle, have fun and feel included. Joyce died on July 6, 2017 from complications of dementia, a disease that affects memory and brain function. Despite living with this difficult disease for more than five years, she never failed to recognize her much-loved family and friends. Nor did the disease stop her from making new friends and charming them with her warmth and graciousness, even after moving into a memory-care facility in 2016.

Joyce Elizabeth Horn King was born in 1928 in Langruth, Manitoba, Canada. She was adopted at birth by Ernest and Eva Horn, and brought to Seattle in 1933 by her mother Eva after Ernest died of cancer. Joyce grew up in the Madrona neighborhood of Seattle and attended Garfield High School. She was a graduate of Whitman College in Walla Walla, where she earned a degree in English and Education. Books, literature and poetry were her passion. She could quote from memory poems and passages from the works of William Shakespeare, Robert Frost, and Edward FitzGerald’s translation of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, among many others.

But she also loved silly rhymes, limericks, and jokes and could make an entire room full of people laugh with her rapid-fire series of groaners. She taught English and Drama at Granite Falls High School and fifth and third grades at Sultan School District for more than 25 years.

“Life begins at 70!” Joyce would say after she retired and moved from Startup to West Seattle, where she became an active and beloved member of the Senior Center of West Seattle. She performed with the Senior Center’s ukulele band for almost 20 years. She also loved to travel and visited many U.S. cities and other countries including Spain, Mexico, Brazil, the UK and Iceland and of course Canada. She made friends wherever she went.

But most of all Joyce King loved her family. She is survived by her sister Thelma Thompson of Whitewood, Saskatchewan; her dear cousin Dorothy Johnson of San Jose, California; her children Chris King, Katie King, and Connie King; her grandchildren Courtney King, Tara King, Mahealani King, and Evan King; and her great grandchildren Benny Gilbertson, Stevie Lee, and Kohliana Lee.

Joyce King lived a long, joyous, and fun-filled life. She was very, very loved.

If you would like to honor Joyce’s memory, please consider donating to the Senior Center of West Seattle. It is an extraordinary community resource and non-profit organization that relies on gifts to provide its extensive services. You can donate online here, and write to the Senior Center to let them know you are donating in Joyce’s name: lylee@seniorservices.org. You can also call to donate: 206-932-4044.

Family and friends will gather to remember and celebrate Joyce’s life at the Senior Center of West Seattle, 4217 SW Oregon St, on Saturday, August 5, 2 pm to 5 pm. Attendees are kindly requested to RSVP by calling the Senior Center’s main number (206) 932-4044 or visiting the front desk at the Senior Center. Or you can email Katie King at ktking@gmail.com.

(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 will gather in memory of Sheila M. Goold on July 27th and July 29th. Here’s the remembrance they are sharing with the community:

Sheila M. Goold passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, July 9, 2017. Sheila was born on December 16, 1963, in Seoul, Korea, daughter to John F. Goold and his first wife, Anne. Her father was remarried to Mary C. MacGinty in 1966.

Sheila is survived by her parents John and Mary; sister Marianne (Stephen), brother Des (Sara), nieces and nephews Marissa, Kenley, Erin, Emily, and Liam. She also leaves behind a large, extended family and many dear friends. She is predeceased by her sister Anna and biological mother Anne (1964) and her beloved canine companion, Winnie.

Sheila was a stylish, vibrant soul and a dedicated copywriter, consultant and administrator to a wide range of businesses over the years. She was an accomplished actress both in Seattle’s local arts community and in L.A, with numerous stage, film, and advertising credits. Sheila was passionate about animals, especially dogs, and both owned and contributed to businesses dedicated to the care and nurturing of them.

A Catholic mass will be held in dedication to Sheila at 9:00 am Thursday, July 27, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in West Seattle. Additionally, a less formal Celebration of Life Open House will be held Saturday, July 29, at 4730 California Ave SW from 3:30-6:30 pm. Light snacks and beverages will be provided. Please, please RSVP to (262) 352-6469 (text or call).

If anyone wishes, the family suggests a donation in Sheila’s honor to a local animal charity.

(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 Janet Had, and sharing this tribute with the community:

Janet M. Had – 1934 to 2017 – a terrific woman

Born in 1934 to Shirley and Lester Bannister, Janet was a lifelong Seattle resident. Raised primarily on Queen Anne and Capitol Hill, she was a West Seattle resident for the past 60-some years. Married in 1956 to Josef Had, until his death in 1977. Janet was one of the first women in management at the Seattle Federal Reserve Bank. When it was suggested to Janet that she might want to check out the TV series Mad Men because of the depiction of women working in a man’s world back in the day, she replied that she had lived through that time period and had no nostalgic reminiscences about the era. After Josef’s death, Janet met Richard Pelley and they enjoyed a long-term committed relationship until his death in the mid 1990s.

Janet had fond memories of spending time at Point No Point with Richard and his daughters Karen (Hull) and Tracey (Fossum) and their families. Along with time spent at Point No Point, over the years, Janet also enjoyed Toastmasters, gambling junkets to Reno, senior aerobics classes (both attending and instructing), happy hours with her friends, and of course, following progressive politics. Janet was especially dismayed by the current trend in politics to attempt the undoing of decades of progress in the realm of women’s rights, civil rights and social justice.

After a recent diagnosis with a fast-moving illness, Janet’s family and her physicians honored her wishes to forego invasive treatment and she passed peacefully in her own home on the morning of June 15, 2017. Janet is survived by her daughter Marianne and son in law, Steve, as well as cousins, nephews and good friends. No traditional services are being held per Janet’s request. A celebration of life (a Wake!) is to be scheduled for a future date here in her beloved West Seattle. If you wish to honor Janet’s memory, please consider a donation to Planned Parenthood.

Please share memories of Janet on the online guestbook at emmickfunerals.com

(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 will gather August 19th to remember Derek Grasso. Here’s the remembrance his wife Michele is sharing with the community:

Derek Grasso was a blinding light filled with unconditional compassion and knowledge. He touched many throughout Seattle and beyond in his time on this earth. He never judged, he lived without guilt, and accepted anyone in their truth. He helped many strangers with advice and acceptance. He was the person that counseled the homeless instead of turning his head. He was the stranger you met on the bus that very well may have changed your life.

Derek passed away suddenly this February from a major heart attack; he was surrounded by love while the medics tried to save him, but tragically he passed away en route to Harborview Medical Center.

Derek moved from Boston to Seattle in 1997 with his best friend Jenna. Derek and Jenna came to a new state and new beginning together like explorers. His wild and adventurous spirit was always something that could leave you in the wind if you weren’t brave enough to face the unknown. He often rode the city’s transit system, wandered and explored the city; he made many friends and acquaintances helping all of them along the way.

Derek met his wife, Michele Grasso, at West Seattle Thriftway shortly after he moved to Seattle. Though his past was much like an unbelievable story, the meeting of his future wife was much like a fairy tale filled with romance and uncertainty, eventually leading to a union of hearts and souls the world could envy.

Derek is survived by his most beloved, an elusive ghost of a lover and eventually, the greatest love of all, Michele Grasso. His most important compatriot of experience and friendship, Jenna Oliver. A wild and knowing spirit that always challenged, Louise Rutherford, a sweet little cat named Kali who was his everyday buddy, and the hundreds of souls encountered that were changed for the better simply because they met him and were able to hear his words.

A memorial gathering is scheduled for August 19th at Lincoln Park in West Seattle. Please contact Michele Grasso (kitapunk [at] hotmail.com) for additional information, including exact location and time.

(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 Gavin Keefe are gathering later this month to celebrate his life, and also having special items made in tribute. Here’s the announcement:

Gavin D. Keefe, 31, died June 23, 2017 as a result of a cardiac arrest.

He was born on August 30th, 1985, in Yakima, the son of Daniel Keefe and Wendy Wood.

He worked with the Libertarian Party of Washington State and had recently started Liberty Industries screen printing business. Gavin was an active member of his community and a loyal friend to all that knew him. He was passionate, hilarious, and a genuine person who left an unforgettable experience to everyone who met him.

We will be having a celebration of life for Gavin Keefe on Sunday, July 23rd at the Swiftwater Cellars in Suncadia from 1-4 pm. Everyone that knew Gavin is welcome to come and share their memories with other friends and family members.



We are making the items listed below for everyone that is interested. Please fill out the link so we can track the orders. Deadline for orders is Monday, July 10th at 5 pm. If you would like one of these items but cannot make the memorial, please contact Erin Zuncs (ezuncs@gmail.com) to arrange pickup or shipping. 



1. Shot glasses that say “I’m friends with this guy” with his photo
2. Shirt that says “I’m friends with this guy” with his photo (possibly in black and white)

3. Shirt with his Liberty Industries logo on a black shirt


In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Yakima Humane Society.


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

A memorial service is planned on June 24th for Susan G. Moore, whose family is sharing this remembrance with the community:

Susan Gay Moore, 60, of Seattle, passed away at home on December 19, 2016.

Susan Geary, affectionately called Sue or Susie, was born on March 7, 1956. She was the third child, and second daughter, born to Gerald and Mildred Geary.
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Susan held many jobs, from working at Skippers, to Kmart and Sears. She finally found her for-ever job, at Larson-Juhl. There, she performed many duties, including billing and picking mats, as well has working in the chops department.

Susan loved to read. When she wasn’t busy working, or spending time with family, she could often be found with a book in her hand. Most weekends were spent at the library, where she would check out at least 5 books; only to read them all in days.

Susan was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Mark Edward Moore.

She is survived by her three children: Eric (Hopper), Danielle (Ellis), and Kelsey (Moore); three grandchildren: Ynez (Hopper), Damon (Hopper) and Holly (Ellis), as well as two brothers and four sisters.

Susan was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She is greatly missed and will never be forgotten.

A celebration of life is being held for Susan on June 24th from 2-5 P.M. at the May’s Pond Clubhouse 17730 Brook Blvd. Bothell. Parking is located across the street.

She went kicking and screaming!

(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 will honor Lorraine C. Foster with a funeral mass and burial next Friday (June 2nd) and a celebration of life on June 10th. Here’s the remembrance being shared with the community:

Lorraine Cecilia Foster, 86, passed away peacefully at home on May 23, 2017, in White Center (known to her as West Seattle). She was born on June 3, 1930, in Rolla, North Dakota. Lorraine was preceded in death by her son, Michael Dale Foster, and her sisters, Muriel Pearson, Doris Gardner, Aurora Skelton, Juliette Pearson, and Neoma Jones, and brother Joseph Garceau. She is survived by her husband Harold Dale Foster; her son Jeff and daughter Sue; her grandchildren Kara, Amanda, Matthew, and Mark; her brothers, Bill Garceau, Lloyd Garceau, Jim Garceau; and numerous cousins.

Born to Willie and Anna Garceau and raised on a farm in North Dakota, she was one of ten siblings. She had the most wonderful stories of her time growing up there. She moved to Seattle with her sisters Doris and Aurora to be with their sister Mert (Muriel), who moved to Seattle in 1945. Lorraine started work at Sears & Roebuck in mail order as a Biller in 1947 and stayed at Sears until the mail-order plant closed in 1987.

She met Harold Foster through her sister Aurora in 1948. They had a double wedding with her sister Muriel and Keith (Bud) Pearson, in 1950 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in West Seattle. They had three children – Michael, Jeff, and Suzette. They purchased their home in 1961 and would go on to live there for 56 years, with many family gatherings filling the home to the brim with laughter and wonderful memories.

Harold and Lorraine, parishioners at Holy Family Church, had their children attend Holy Family School, as well as their granddaughter, Kara, and many other cousins.

They went on to purchase camping property at Lake Trask Timber Trails in 1975 with many other Sears & Boeing families. Camping was a joy and an extension of their home. They made many friends over the years and the family would go on to create many more memories there. Her sweets were notorious amongst her grandchildren and their friends; her “hockey pucks,” the most famous of all.

Her funeral mass will be held on Friday, June 2nd, at 10 am at Holy Family Catholic Church in White Center, located at 9622 20th Ave SW; her burial is to follow at noon at Greenwood Memorial Cemetery, 350 Monroe Ave NE, Renton. Her celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 10th, from 2-5 pm at the White Center Eagles, 10452 15th Ave SW.

In lieu of gifts, please make a donation to Providence Hospice or the Alzheimer’s Association.

(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 Carl H. Kroll, noting that he was “one of the oldest and longest residents of West Seattle,” and sharing this recounting of his life:

Carl H. Kroll left us peacefully on April 19, a month short of his 107th birthday.

He was born in West Seattle to German immigrants in 1910, and started school at Gatewood Elementary. In 1920, the family went to visit relatives in Ahrensburg, Germany, and ended up staying for ten years when his father became involved helping Quakers feed the children after WWI.

In 1930, Carl moved back to the US, first to Philadelphia, where he got a job at a small valve manufacturing plant. After two years, he joined his father in the business of importing lily-of-the-valley flowers, which included numerous trips between the US and Germany.

In 1934, he married his childhood friend from Ahrensburg, Erna K. Dammann, and they moved back to West Seattle along with his parents, returning to the same block he had grown up on. Together they built their two houses side by side overlooking Puget Sound, where they happily spent the rest of their lives.

From 1938 until retiring in 1970, Carl worked for the Pomerelle Wine Company, which ultimately became part of Chateau Ste. Michelle. But, wishing for a more independent employment and to expose his two sons to a more rural life, he established the family raspberry farm in the late 1940s in Kitsap County. Until the early ‘70s, he and Erna, and often their sons, Carl G. and Detlev, spent most weekends in its operation.

Right up until the very end, Carl retained a sound and capable mind, and was fascinated to discuss such things as computers, cell phones, and driverless cars. He would often say, when we were stuck for an answer, “look it up on your phone.”

Carl was a dedicated and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was a wonderful role model and was a firm believer in staying active and engaged. After retirement, he kept busy with many projects, including teaching himself to weave, building playhouses for his grandchildren and numerous pieces of furniture, researching his family tree, and writing his history. Even as a centenarian, he remained active by continuing to make Christmas wreaths for sale in the West Seattle neighborhood and the raspberry-farm-now-turned-Christmas-tree-farm near Poulsbo.

He was loved by all family and friends who knew him and will be greatly missed. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Erna in 2007, and his four siblings, Irma, Meta, Edna, and Gilbert. He is survived by their two sons: Carl G. (Linda) and Detlev (Gale); four grandchildren: Carl B. (Vicky), William, Renate and Alden (Meghan); three great-grandchildren: Xabrina, Carl E. and Ronan, and numerous nieces and nephews. A private service is planned.

(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 will gather May 20th to remember Capt. Delbert Kelly, Jr. Here is the remembrance being shared with the community:

Capt. Delbert J. Kelly Jr. peacefully went home with the Lord on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at St Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, following a courageous battle with cancer. He was 76 years of age and a resident of Tacoma.

Capt. Kelly was born on September 17, 1940 to Capt. Delbert Sr. and Hazel Kelly at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle. He was an only child. He graduated from West Seattle High School in 1958 and soon after began his career as a professional mariner, following in the footsteps of his father. He spent his early career transiting along the west coast from Alaska to California before settling down in Puget Sound where he worked for the WA State Ferries and then Crowley Maritime. Capt. Kelly became a Puget Sound Pilot in 1979 and reluctantly medically retired in 2002. He remained actively involved in the industry by transitioning into the role of an educator at Pacific Maritime Institute in Seattle, WA. He was a mentor to a great many in both his personal and professional life.

Capt. Kelly took great pride in his career and lived other areas of life to the fullest. His greatest joy was staying busy helping others; placing himself second to his family and loved ones. In his free time, he was an avid golfer and Seattle team sports fan. Attending the Mariners’ spring training in AZ was one of the highlights of his year. He also loved spending time at Emerald Downs where he had an owner partnership of several race horses. His beloved life companion, an Amazon Parrot, Meka, was the light of his home. Capt. Kelly’s relationship with the Lord was very important to him and he was an active member of Highline Christian Church for several years.

He will be remembered for his love for his family and friends, his charm, his intelligence, and his pocket full of witty phrases. He brought a smile to so many faces so often and many will dearly miss him.

Capt. Kelly is survived by his children: Capt. Patrick Kelly (Brynne), Lani Witherby (David), and Kristi Sacco (Scott). Grandsons: Tim, Ryan, Shaun Jr., Dylan, JT, and Blake. Granddaughters: Kenzie, Faith, Kali, and Moriah. He was preceded in death by his parents in 1981 and his son, Shaun Kelly, in 1997.

Memorial service will be held at Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home, 11111 Aurora Ave N, Seattle, on Saturday, May 20th, 2017, at 1 PM.

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

From Corina at Admiral Bird:

On April 30th, we lost a member of our Admiral Family, James Murphy.

On Sunday, May 21st, at 4:00 pm, we are going to meet at the Admiral Bird on the corner of California and Admiral where we will have a slideshow, food, and drinks. Here is where people will be able to share their words and hearts.

At 5:00ish, we will begin the procession from Admiral Bird to Hamilton Viewpoint Park. This way we walk the streets he walked, past his home at “the James,” and end with a view of our beautiful city. There will be live marching music and everyone is encouraged to wear bright colors, dance, and fill the walk with love and revelry.

As the date gets closer, you can check for updates here.