Family and friends will gather Saturday to remember Captain Ray Armitstead. The obituary that his daughter sent to us this morning also turns out to be a followup on an incident reported here a month ago:

On December 5, 2017, WSB published a photo sent to you of a car on the sidewalk going up Glenn Way. In that car was my dad, Captain Ray S Armitstead. He was 91, born and raised in West Seattle.The EMT were able to get a pulse and took him to Harborview, where he passed away about an hour later. My mom always said he had an angel on his shoulder. That angel was with him in his 35 years at sea and there right to the very end. The police officer, who came to our door, said no citations will be issued, no one and nothing was hit. He is survived by his wife of 73 years, InaRuth, daughter Marybeth, son Daniel, daughters Martha and Joyce.

We’d like to invite any who knew him to his Celebration of Life on Saturday, January 6, 2018, at Dakota Place Park, 2 to 4 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)

Over the holiday, we reported the passing of Dotty Hughes, known by many for her community service as well as her management of the Washington Federal branch north of The Junction. We promised an update when there’s information on services – and a family member tells us today that they are set for Holy Rosary Church in West Seattle on Saturday, January 13 – rosary at 10 am, Mass at 11 am, and a reception in the gym at noon. Ms. Hughes was 65 years old.

Family and friends will gather Thursday in memory of Janis D. Logan. Here’s the remembrance being shared with the community:

Longtime West Seattle resident Janis Darlene Logan passed away in her home on December 27, 2017, after a long illness. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri on February 23, 1940, and moved to Washington after WWII. She met and married the love of her life, Mead Logan, and they recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. She was blessed to have 3 children who all survive her: Kevin, Derek (Pam), and Erin Guffey (Mike). Additionally, she had 5 grand-children – Nicole (JR), Johanna, Aidan, Ally, and Annabel – along with 2 great-grandchildren, RJ and Logan.

Janis was a parishioner at Holy Rosary in West Seattle for many years and filled many volunteer roles, the most special one as a Eucharistic Minister. She served those parishioners who were homebound and in her last couple of years, participated in the sacrament in her own home thanks to other visiting Eucharistic Ministers.

Janis spent many years volunteering at Holy Rosary School as 4 of her grandchildren attended. She also ran “Granny’s” day care, providing day-to-day caregiving to her grandchildren. She was giving of herself in so many ways and has created many lasting memories for her family.

Janis was often the life of the party and loved to host gatherings in her home. She loved to celebrate all holidays and events with gusto, often embracing the décor of the season. She always had matching paper plates, napkins, and table décor. Most special are the family get-togethers she hosted over the years. There was lots of love and laughter shared as bets were placed on how late Janis would actually be to start the party.

Please join her family and friends at Holy Rosary Church for her funeral mass on Thursday, January 4th, at 9:00 am. A reception will follow in the parish reception room.

In lieu of flowers, her family asks that you donate to your favorite charity. They would like to thank Father Oakland and Howden-Kennedy, who have been most helpful during this 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 are mourning a beloved member of the West Seattle community. We’ve learned that Dotty Hughes died on Tuesday.

Many knew her as the longtime manager of the Washington Federal branch north of The Junction. She had been with the company for more than 20 years; her staff at the branch told us she had been planning to retire soon.

Ms. Hughes was also long active in the community, including involvement with organizations including the Rotary Club of West Seattle and the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce. And a longtime friend who contacted us about Ms. Hughes’ passing remembers her as “one of the most thoughtful, kind, and loving souls I knew.”

We hope to have more information soon, including memorial details; we are told that arrangements are being handled through Dignity Memorial.

(UPDATED JANUARY 8TH with Celebration of Life information)

A graveside service is scheduled Thursday, and Celebration of Life next month, for William (Bill) Carpenter. Here’s the remembrance his family is sharing with the community:

Bill passed away December 20, 2017 at the age of 87.

Bill was born in Emmetsburg, Iowa, to Mary and Gordan Carpenter and was one of 10 children. Bill attended Emmetsburg High School and Junior College and then proudly joined the US Navy and served in Pearl Harbor during the Korean Conflict from 1951 – 1955.

In 1952 Bill met and later married his soulmate for life, Alice Joy (Iden) Carpenter, and together they raised their family in Seattle.

Bill is survived by his three daughters, Kathleen, Colleen, and Maureen, and his two sons-in-law, Dan and Dave, as well as his two brothers Joe and Bob, and many nieces and nephews, who all loved him so much. Bill had 7 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. Bill was preceded in death by his loving wife Alice.

There will be a graveside service at Holyrood Catholic Cemetery on December 28, 2017 at 11:00 and a celebration of life later in January.

(ADDED) The celebration of life is scheduled for Saturday, January 27, 12-4 p.m. at the VFW hall (3601 SW Alaska St.).

(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 month to celebrate the life of Roberta C. “Bobbie” Healy. Here’s the remembrance being shared with her community:

Roberta (Bobbie) Carol Healy of Seattle passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 7, 2017 at Swedish Hospital, Edmonds, with her family by her side. She was born July 17, 1940, in Grants Pass, Oregon. She was the youngest daughter of Gordon and Cora Carline.

Bobbie lived her childhood years in Ellensburg until her family moved to Bellevue, where she graduated from Bellevue High School in 1958. She married Duane Healy in 1960 and soon welcomed their two sons Patrick and Michael. Duane’s work took them to California for a few years; then they returned to Washington State and later settled in their West Seattle home. The family enjoyed camping in their travel trailer and frequent trips to the ocean in the boys’ younger years.

Her favorite outings throughout her childhood years were those spent with her parents and Sister Jackie at Mutiny Bay Resort on Whidbey Island. The beach, salt air, and camaraderie of the resort were everlasting. During the boy’s school years, they purchased a place in the resort. It became a sanctuary away from the city life, a second home to her boys, and a world of lifelong friends and extended family.

Bobbie was exquisitely creative and had a love for design and craft. Over the years she enjoyed candle making, ceramics, driftwood collage, dried flower arranging, sewing, and scrapbooking, to name a few. If something was new and trending, you could bet that she was already making it! She especially loved doing projects with her boys and nieces, and loved making gifts for family and friends. The digital age opened up a completely new avenue and prompted her passion for document design and desktop publishing.

Bobbie’s career in the towing industry spanned decades. As a dispatcher for many of Seattle’s major towing companies, she was highly recognized as the best dispatcher in the city throughout her career. Her wit and charm reached thousands over the radio waves, and although some had never met her face to face, they knew her well. After leaving the towing industry, she went to work as the friendly operator at Honda of Seattle.

Bobbie was a dedicated member of the Business and Professional Women /WA, which she joined in 1988. Throughout her membership, she served in many capacities including Totem BPW President, BPW/WA State Corresponding Secretary (1993-94), and was instrumental in obtaining appointments with State Senators and Legislators for the BPW/USA Lobby Days in Washington D.C. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Washington State Business & Professional Woman’s Foundation for over 10 years. Additionally she served on many minutes approval committees, worked on the State Roster, and developed many newsletters, publications, flyers and programs for the organization. She was also involved (estimated time: 1990s to 2015) in the National Association of Parliamentarians, Washington State Association of Parliamentarians and the Point of Order Parliamentary Law Unit. She was instrumental in providing support for the 2005 National Convention held in Seattle, providing endless hours working on publications, signage, and materials for the 450+ convention attendees. While not a member of the National Ataxia Foundation, she did lend her expertise in support of the 2009 National Convention held in Seattle.

Bobbie cherished gatherings with family and friends and surrounding herself with love and laughter. She was a loving mother, sister and aunt. Her pride and joy were her sons and nieces, and she never passed a chance to hold a new baby in her arms.

She had a contagious laugh, quick wit, and a great sense of humor. Bobbie never met a stranger! Bobbie loved collecting old world Santas and displaying them at her favorite time of the year. She was a caring, compassionate person who touched many lives. Remember her laugh, her touch, her smile. Her love for family and friends will never be forgotten.

Bobbie is survived by her son Michael Healy; step sister Sandy Poolman; nieces Nancy (David) Brooks; Julie Griffin and Becky (Bob) Eilert, and their dad, Roger Griffin; her “Great nieces and nephews” R.J. Brooks (Kryss); Madison Brooks, Erin Grifka; Camis Eilert-Davis (Bill) and Todd Eilert; and “Great-great nephews and neice” Carter and Rylen Brooks; Hudson, Beckham, and Sailor Davis; her Griffin Family and giant circle of friends.

Predeceased by her parents, Duane Healy, Sister Jackie Griffin, and son Patrick Healy.

A Celebration of Bobbie’s Life is planned for January 27th, 2018 at Bahama Breeze Southcenter, 15700 Southcenter Pkwy, Tukwila, WA 98188, 1-4 pm. Share memories of Roberta on the online guestbook at www.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 next month to remember Virginia K. Metz, and this remembrance is being shared with the community now:

Virginia K. Metz (née Strasevicius), age 68, passed away in Seattle on Monday, October 2nd. She was born January 22nd, 1949, in Hechingen, Germany to Helen and Stanley, and grew up in Chicago’s Marquette Park. She is survived by her brother Stanley, sister Mary, sons Alec and Andrew, their father Russell, daughters-in-law Tuyatsetseg and Margaret, and grandchildren Thomas and Sylvia.

Virginia worked for over two decades as a dedicated social worker in numerous Seattle schools, including for many years at West Seattle High School. She was a kind, intelligent, and incredibly funny individual, and will be greatly missed.

A celebration of her life will be held in West Seattle on January 20th. If you knew Virginia and would like to attend, please email her son, Andrew, at Andrew.E.Metz@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 Saturday to remember Evelyn Coy, and are sharing this remembrance with the community:

Evelyn Louise Coy, beloved daughter of Oscar and Ester Nilson, was called home to her Lord on Saturday, November 4, 2017, at the age of 90, after a short illness.

She is preceded in death by her mom and dad, sister Gertrude Countryman (Roy), and husband Donald.

Born in Seattle in 1927, she grew up in West Seattle when there were few houses and Army Outposts along the ridge above Puget Sound. She attended West Seattle High School, graduating in 1946, and soon after, following in her Dad’s footsteps, went to work for the Sears Roebuck Company.

In 1948 she married her husband Donald, and began raising their family. They were lifelong members of the West Seattle Community. Evelyn was active in many activities including Boy and Girl Scouts, receiving the Silver Fawn award from the Boy Scouts of America honoring her tireless service to scouting; PTA at the local level, both with her own children and also with her grandchildren, receiving 2 Golden Acorn Awards for outstanding service above and beyond; and later was a King County voting assistant. Both Don and Evelyn were longtime members of First Lutheran Church of West Seattle, serving on many committees, as a Sunday school teacher, and on the church council. Evelyn was recently honored during a worship service for her 50 years of faithful of service on Altar Guild.

She is survived by her daughter Karin Van Sant (Wade), sons Stephen (Donna), Gary, Karl (Fran), Laura Coy, 7 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be Saturday, December 16, at First Lutheran Church of West Seattle at 11 am. In lieu of flowers; memorial gifts may be made to First Lutheran Church.

(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 Phyllis Chesterfield, and sharing this tribute with the community:

Phyllis Jean Chesterfield (Johnson) passed away peacefully at her home on November 16, 2017 at the age of 81. She was born February 20, 1936, in Seattle. She grew up in Seattle and graduated from West Seattle High School.

Phyllis loved her family, music, reading, history, cooking, genealogy, guitar, and so much more.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Donald R. Chesterfield, June 1, 2011.

Phyllis is survived by her six children Kris Ohanu, Kip Chesterfield, Karen Brown, Kitty Chesterfield, Karli Shanklin, Kilian Chesterfield, and their families, many grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brothers Walt, Keith, Jim, and Jerry Johnson, and their families, including many nieces and nephews.

A gathering for family and friends will be held in her honor at a later date. Please contact Kris Ohanu (krisohanu@yahoo.com) for details.

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

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)