A memorial service is planned Wednesday for 92-year-old Victor Weith, whose family shares the remembrance that he himself wrote:

Victor Paul Weith
April 12, 1920 – March 8, 2013

Several years ago, Vic wrote his own obituary:

“Born in Alva, OK, 4/12/1920. Spent next 20 years in Alma, Kansas. Graduated from Alma High School.

Two of my buddies and myself decided to go to Seattle in 1940 to look for better jobs. We worked for Boeing and Bremerton Shipyards. Met my future wife in December 1941; we married in October 1942. I went into the service in February 1943 in the 11th Airborne Division. Spent the war in New Guinea, Leyte, Luzon, Okinawa, and then Japan. Our division was the only Airborne Division that was in the Pacific. Participated in a lot of war in several years.

My wife and I moved to West Seattle in 1945 and still have our home there. I spent most of my working years in sales.

I had several exciting things happen to me. In 1981, as I was getting ready to retire I picked 18 out of 20 Monday Nite NFC football winners, earning my wife and myself a trip to the Super Bowl. Then in 1993, playing golf in La Quinta, California, I had two holes in one on the same day. The odds for that was 67 million to one.

I had a very good life and a wonderful wife. It was great! We had 4 children: Susan Blakely (husband Dick), Michael Weith (deceased), Cathy Kemper (husband Neil), John Weith (wife Patty). Five grandchildren: Brad Herriges (wife Cara), Sean Herriges (wife Miho), Abbey Weith, David Weith, and Ryan Kemper; and three great-grandchildren, Alexis, Andrew, and Nicholas Herriges.”

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday (March 13, 2013) at Holy Family Catholic Church, at 9622 20th Ave SW. Reception following.

A memorial is planned February 23rd on Bainbridge Island for Emily Williamson, known and loved by many in West Seattle, especially for her work at Many Moons Trading Company, gone too soon at age 42. Her family shares this tribute; at the end we’ve added information about an art exhibit in her memory:

Emily Jean Williamson, blithe spirit and treasured daughter, sister, and friend, died on February 13, 2013, after a long battle with cancer.

Emily was born in Seattle on April 28, 1970 to Ron and Ethelyn Williamson. She grew up on Bainbridge Island and graduated from Bainbridge High School in 1988. In 1992 she graduated from Evergreen State College.

After graduation she moved to Seattle and worked in a variety of jobs from being a bike messenger to taking care of children at a day care center in downtown Seattle. She also founded Fuzzy Caterpillar, a party-planning service for children’s events. And after she moved to West Seattle, she became a favorite with customers at Many Moons Trading Co. where she displayed a talent for matching people with just the right outfit. But most notably Emily will be remembered for creative energy and her whimsical paintings created seemingly effortlessly and featuring flowers, birds, and a variety of inscrutable owls.

Emily was preceded in death by her father Ron Williamson and is survived by her mother Ethelyn Williamson, her sister Jennifer, her brother David, nephew Grant Forster, niece Lauren Forster, her kind and caring housemates in West Seattle, and myriad friends.

There will be a Memorial Service at Islandwood on Bainbridge Island on Saturday, February 23, at 1 pm. Shuttles will be available for those on the 11:25 am ferry from Seattle. Look for the daffodils. Donations may be made to Arms Around Bainbridge at www.armsaroundbainbridge.com.

Also in Emily’s memory, Mind Unwind in West Seattle is putting together an exhibit of her art for next month at their upstairs Treehouse Lounge, and asking those who have some of Emily’s work to loan it for the show. We stopped by during West Seattle Art Walk last night to see what’s already been dropped off – including this:

You’re invited to include a story about Emily with the artwork dropped off 5-midnight Wednesday through Sunday till month’s end; 2206 California SW. The exhibit will be spotlighted there during next month’s WS Art Walk (March 14), too, and artwork will be returned to its owners in April.

This remembrance of Gene Nokes by his son Don isn’t “just” an obituary … it’s a story about a man, his life and times and memories. He’s gone but clearly will never be forgotten:

Earl Eugene “Gene” Nokes Sr. passed away peacefully at Providence Mount St. Vincent on February 2, 2013.

Gene was the last of his ten other brothers and sisters to check out of Nokesville, which at its inception was a large army tent located on the corner of 48th SW and Hanford St. He and his wife Margie both moved into the Mount facility back in 2000. Margie passed away in September of 2001 and after a brief hiatus, Gene and Margie will now reunite on the other side of life. Gene lived to be 95 years old and spent more than a decade in a very symbiotic relationship with his Mount Saint Vincent family and friends – they loved him and he loved them in return.

Gene Nokes Sr. never graduated from anything other than 8th grade, as far as I know. The story Uncle Pat told me about Dad and him and Joe and Tom and West Seattle High School went like this:

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The family of longtime educator Manvel “Schauff” Schauffler, a founding board member of Explorer West Middle School among many other achievements, shares this remembrance:

Manvel Schauffler, who taught hundreds of Seattle-area kids history, sailing, camping, cooperation, and the joys of classroom and outdoor learning for more than a decade, passed away on January 8, 2013.

Known to all simply as “Schauff”, he taught at The Bush School in Seattle and also helped found two middle-schools, The Hyla School on Bainbridge island and Explorer West in West Seattle.

He was born in New York City in 1924, and grew up in New Rochelle, New York. His pastimes there were sailing on Long Island Sound, playing ice hockey and other sports, and rooting for the New York Yankees. He once shook hands with Lou Gehrig.

He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II and met his wife, Verna, at Black Mountain College in North Carolina after the war.

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(Updated with official memorial date/time/place)

Memorial plans are not yet finalized for West Seattleite Jerry Ceis, who died last week at age 64, but family and friends are remembering him as a spirited soul. Among his many friends are two WSB’ers who wanted to make sure Mr. Ceis’s passing would be noted here. So we asked Tim Ceis, Jerry’s brother, for a remembrance:

He was born May 4, 1948 and died on January 9, 2013. He was born in West Seattle to Philip L. and Doris Ceis. His birth mother died when Jerry was 5 and his stepmother was Margaret Ceis, who passed away in May of last year.

He is survived by his brother Tim Ceis, his niece Natalie Ceis, his aunt Winifred Savery and her family, and his Uncle John Yorke and his family.

Jerry lived for the joy of life and adventure; from building his one true love – a 17-foot Ed Monk-designed wood sailboat – at the age of 18, to trying to sail it solo to Hawaii in 1975. He fished in Alaska, sailed wherever a boat, wind, and tide would take him, and lived the life of a pirate – sometimes for Seafair and, in more than a few minds, in real life. Many of us lived out our own adventures by joining him at one time or another, or just by hearing him tell the stories over the years.

Jerry has set his last course, and I believe it is toward the second star on the right and straight on till morning.

As a Seafair Pirate, Jerry Ceis was Captain Kidd in 1984, as shown on this page of the Pirates’ website. We will publish an update when memorial information is announced.

ADDED: Friends are planning at least two gatherings in his honor: 3 pm January 27th at Chelan Café; Christo’s on Alki at 6:30 pm February 5th.

UPDATE: The official memorial for Mr. Ceis is at 1:30 pm Saturday, February 2nd, at the Alki Bathhouse (60th and Alki). A gathering is planned afterward at Christo’s on Alki. (Thank you to Tim Ceis for providing the photo we have added above.)

Family and friends will gather this Saturday in West Seattle to remember Betty June Rinaldo MacWatters, gone at 82:

Betty MacWatters was called home to God on Monday, December 24, 2012 at Manor Care Residence in Tacoma.

Born on January 30, 1930 in Seattle to Dorothy (Kegler) and Del Rinaldo. Her husband Lester MacWatters, son Del MacWatters, and daughter Colleen Vineyard preceded Betty in death. She is survived by daughters Sue Rhoads, Linda (Will) Schneider, and Kathy Estabrook. She was loved and adored by her 13 grandchildren,18 great-grandchildren, six great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Betty loved to celebrate family holidays and everyday affairs. She was most at home in the kitchen, cooking her signature pasta and sharing her life through food, music, and stories. She was passionate about expressing her joie de vivre through her colorful ensembles and jewels. She also enjoyed the outdoors, particularly her garden and backyard birds, where she drew inspiration for her landscape paintings and poetry.

Betty was a lifelong resident of West Seattle and a well-known figure in the Junction community, where many knew her as Grandma Betty. She enjoyed her volunteer work at the Cancer Society’s Discovery Shop and all the children she had the privilege of caring for in her 40 years as a day-care-center owner on Southern Street.

Betty’s life and legacy will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 12, 2013 at West Seattle Christian Church, 4400 42nd Avenue SW.

Longtime West Seattle resident Alma Dines will be remembered at a service tomorrow. Her family shared this announcement today:

Alma Julia Dines, 83, born October 27, 1929, passed away on December 16, 2012. She attended Centralia High School and Centralia Junior College before moving to Seattle in 1949 to attend the University of Washington where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology.

Alma married Alec Dines in July 1954 and they settled in West Seattle. Alec passed away in 1969. After several years as a stay-at-home mom, Alma went back to work at Western and Southern Life Insurance Company. She then worked for Providence Hospital in Seattle (now Swedish Cherry Hill) as a Patient Account Representative until her retirement in December 1994.

Alma was an avid walker and could often be seen walking in the Admiral area where she lived in a condominium. She had a wide circle of friends; always close to her heart were her friends at the West Seattle Baptist Church.

Alma was predeceased by her parents, husband Alec, and sister Amy. She is survived by her brother Lee Harrah of Hutchinson, Kansas, her daughter Diana (Phil), son Alec (Jeannie) and grandchildren Kyle Hamilton (Sherry), David Hamilton (Kelsey), Melanie Hamilton Reed (Brian), Joe Dines and John Dines; and great grandson Alex Hamilton.

Memorial service Saturday, December 29th, 11 am, at West Seattle Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name to West Seattle Baptist Church, 4157 California Ave. SW, Seattle, WA 98116.

(WSB publishes 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 one week from tomorrow for Dick Fullington, a former longtime West Seattle resident and physician. His family shares this remembrance:

WARREN RICHARD (Dick) FULLINGTON, 82, of Olympia, born May 12, 1930, passed away on December 10, 2012. Son of Harold and Mildred Fullington, Dick was born in Parsons, KS, and graduated from Bremerton H.S. in 1948. After completing the U.W. School of Medicine in 1956, he married Lois Lundberg the next day. Following residency, he served in the U.S Army from 1961-64 in Honolulu. Warren practiced at South Seattle Women’s Clinic and at Riverton and Highline Hospitals until 1989.

Dick loved his savior Jesus Christ. Married to Lois for 56 years, she remained the love of his life. Their love shone as a beautiful example to his four sons and many others. Gentle and kind, Dick’s passions included reading, learning, football and salmon fishing with Lois and son John at Sekiu. An avid Husky fan, he rooted for the Cougars when his grandson John joined the team. Preferring to get to know people individually, apart from large gatherings, he always made you feel special and important.

Survived by his wife Lois, sons Rand (Laurel), John (Sue), Mark (Maciana) and Craig (Andrea) and 12 grandchildren, he is greatly missed. A memorial will be held at Hope Community Church Friday January 4, 2013, in Olympia. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hope Community Church Building Fund.

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

Longtime West Seattleite Josephine “Jo” Bodourian will be remembered tomorrow, and her family wanted to make sure her many local friends get the word in time:

Josephine M. Bodourian was born January 12, 1935 in Pittsburgh, PA, to Leonard A. Pepper and Josephine Pepper. Jo lived and worked in the Seattle area for more than 50 years. She was a cancer survivor and her recent passing on Friday, December 7, was unexpected.

Jo volunteered for Meals on Wheels, delivering food through the Senior Center. She worked for many years at the V.A. Hospital as a nurse. She was a member of the YWCA and was a swimmer and enjoyed various fitness activities. She also enjoyed traveling.

Jo was preceded in death by her brothers Anton and Leonard A. Pepper, Jr.

She is survived by her sister Rose Kholos (Henry) and her brother Joseph A. Pepper (Carole). She is also survived by her son Greg Bodourian.

Josephine was an exceptionally kind and giving woman and will be missed by all who knew her.

A viewing will be held at Acacia Funeral Home in Seattle on Friday, December 14, from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. There will be a brief prayer service beginning at 4:00 pm.

Acacia is at 14951 Bothell Way NE (map).

The life of longtime West Seattleite Phyllis Evangeline High will be celebrated this Saturday, and tonight, her family shares this remembrance:

Phyllis was born on August 2, 1923 in Taunton, Minnesota, to Casper & Lily Ningen. After she graduated from high school in 1941, her older brother drove Phyllis and her sister to Seattle to give them the opportunities available in a big city. She found employment at Associated Shipbuilders and there met the love of her life, Jack High, Jr. They married on April 22, 1944, and a few short months later Jack shipped out to serve in WWII, returning in 1946.

For the next thirty years, Phyllis kept busy as a stay-at-home mom to her three children, Jacki, Meredith and Jeffery. In 1977 she joined the workforce again and worked her way up to being a License Enforcement Inspector for the City of Seattle, retiring in 1989. She was a member of Teamsters Local #763, Washington State Investigators Association, and carried Badge #327, Special Police Officer.

Phyllis was a member of Hope Lutheran Church and loved singing in the choir there.

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Memorial and burial were scheduled today at Forest Lawn (WSB sponsor) for Mary Louise Killeen Richardson. Here’s how she is remembered:

Age 99 and one month, Mary Lou died peacefully in her sleep in her apartment at The Kenney. She was born on Yancy Street in West Seattle on November 2, 1913 to Walter Killeen and Gertrude Barnecut Killeen. She was proud of her Barnecut family pioneer heritage. The Killeen Family spent two years homesteading in the Priest Rapids area of eastern Washington from 1916-1918. When they returned to West Seattle, the family bought a home on SW Mills Street. Mary Lou attended Gatewood School and later graduated from West Seattle High School in 1931. She stayed on at West Seattle High for two more years of post-graduate secretarial study. Then she went to work for Peoples National Bank in West Seattle, where she met her husband, Wayne Harding Richardson.

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A memorial is planned tomorrow (Thursday, December 6) at Our Lady of Guadalupe for Peggy Munsen, who died in a fire at her home near 26th and Roxbury a week and a half ago. Here’s a remembrance from her family:

Peggy E. Munsen, 6/16/1941 ~ 11/24/2012

The world will miss Peggy, but she is in God’s hands now. She died unexpectedly from a fire in her home, caused by a spark from a heater.

Her sister, Kay Trepanier, is devastated, as they were as close as close could be. Peggy leaves behind 2 sisters, Kay Trepanier of Bremerton and Mary Munsen of Houston. While Peggy had no children, she was the loving aunt of 8 children, 6 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren, with 3 more on the way.

A memorial fund (Peggy Munsen Memorial Fund) has been set up at Kitsap Credit Union, 360-662-2000 in Bremerton, to help her sister with all the expenses. With this economy, neither Kay nor Peggy had any discretionary funds, and Kay needs help with the overwhelming expenses.

The memorial service will be held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in West Seattle this Thursday, December 6th, at 1 pm, followed by a memorial reception in the church hall at 2 pm.

A side note: A friend of Ms. Munsen’s learned a lesson that night about making sure authorities will be able to notify your loved ones in case something catastrophic like this happens. She wants to share it with you, and we will publish her open letter later today.

Summer Preston Diehm, former owner of West Seattle’s Next to Nature pet store in The Junction, will be remembered in the Central Washington town of Entiat this Saturday. Former store employee Liz e-mailed to say that Ms. Diehm, 37, died in a car crash in the Wenatchee area on Monday and they wanted to get word to the people here who knew her. The memorial is planned for noon Saturday (December 1st) at the Entiat Grange, 14108 Kinzel Street (map). Her family invites anyone who can get there to come share memories and stories. She had lived in the town of Ardenvoir, according to her obituary, from The Wenatchee World; the Next to Nature website says she owned the store 1998-2001.

A memorial is planned tomorrow afternoon for longtime North Delridge resident Dan “Danny” Murphy. His family shares this remembrance:

Dan (“Danny”) Murphy, a.k.a. W. C. A. Keeler Wacet, longtime resident of North Delridge in West Seattle, passed away unexpectedly in his home on November 14.

Danny was born in Seattle on December 9, 1947. He graduated from Nathan Hale High School, where he excelled in mathematics and journalism, and was co-editor of the school newspaper. While attending high school he created his own newspaper, a satirical publication titled “The Swamp Fly.” During high school Danny worked and volunteered in the broadcasting rooms of KOL and KJR radio stations. He attended the University of Washington, studying advanced mathematics and Russian. At night he attended Broadcasting School. He became active in the “alternative” movement in the late ’60s and early ’70s, and spent time in San Francisco. He was a founding member and writer for the ’60s Seattle underground paper “The Helix.”

A traumatic life event in his early 20s triggered a schizophrenic break and he withdrew, surrounding himself with an eclectic world of his own making. His brilliant, creative mind never rested. He continued to write prolifically, creating an estimate of over 10,000 hand-written pages. He pursued photography in-depth, with a particular focus on chronicling evolving gentrification. He enjoyed being an early innovator of electronic music.

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Next Saturday (November 24th) at Alki UCC, family and friends will gather to celebrate the life of Tyler Michael Vance, who died recently at just 30 years old. Here’s the remembrance shared by his family:

Our beautiful Son, Grandson, Brother, Daddy, Boyfriend, Nephew, Cousin, and Friend, Tyler Michael Vance, born March 27th, 1982, passed away on November 3rd, 2012, in his sleep.

Voted as most “Undeniably Unique” in his class of 2000 West Seattle High School Yearbook, Tyler lived his life as exactly that. Afraid of seemingly nothing, Tyler stood out with a style that could put a smile on your face, a zest for thrill seeking, an indisputable passion for his interests, and a love inside of him that was non discriminatory, earning him at times even the most unlikely of friends.

Tyler also attended Lafayette Elementary School, Madison Middle School and spent some time pursuing an Associate’s Degree at South Seattle Community College. Most recently he worked for the City of Seattle roads crew and has been father to his two beautiful girls whom he loved deeply.

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A memorial is planned at Forest Lawn next Tuesday (November 20th) for Frank Lunetti, who died this past Monday. Here’s the remembrance shared by his family:

A birth, a death, eternal life with God. Frank R. Lunetti passed away from pancreatic cancer on November 12, 2012 to be with our Lord. He was born July 1st, 1939 to Roy and Elizabeth Lunetti in Tacoma, Washington.

Frank met the love of his life and partner Bob Schultz in 1964. The relationship of 36 years ended when Bob died in 2000. Together he and Bob had business ventures that spanned manufacturing statuary, dog grooming, a laundromat, and a bookkeeping service.

Frank spent 17 years with ITT Continental Baking Company. Frank continued his career as a private bookkeeper until his retirement.

Frank enjoyed traveling, especially to Mazatlan, Egypt, and China. He also was an avid gardener. Frank is survived by his sister-in-law Doris Lunetti and three nieces, Marie Eubanks, Ede Readel and Sandy Owens. Frank’s extended family included many friends and business associates.

It is Frank’s wish that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his memory to “Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection Research Fund,” c/o Dean Jerry Baldasty, UW Graduate School, Box 353770, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. 98195-3770.

Funeral services and internment will be held at Forest Lawn Cemetery in West Seattle on Tuesday, November 20 at 11:00 a.m.

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

A memorial is planned tomorrow in Newcastle for former West Seattleite Jim Baugher, who died last weekend. Here’s a remembrance shared by those who knew him well.

Jim L. Baugher, former West Seattle resident, passed away suddenly from a pulmonary embolism at the age of 47 on October 21, 2012.

Jim lived life to the fullest and was an inspiration to many. He was vibrant, smart, and loved to laugh. While he never claimed to be perfect, he continually strived to learn, to grow, and to inspire others. We are so grateful for the short time we had with Jim, and his accomplishments and approach to life are worth sharing so you can get to know the Jim we knew.

As a father of four, he cherished each child for who they were as an individual. Through his oldest son Tim, he was given the gift of two beautiful twin granddaughters, Madeline and Ava, and witnessing Tim (27) blossom from a son into an invaluable friend. He was so proud of Zach (25), who recently graduated from Evergreen College, and who shared his love of skiing and adventure. His son Skyler (13) wowed him with his artistic talents, kind nature, and exceptional smarts. His only daughter, Analise (5, with him in photo above), had daddy wrapped around her finger from the day he laid eyes on her in China, where he served as her anchor as she transitioned from orphan to daughter. Analise is a kindergartener at Lafayette Elementary.

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Next Saturday morning, family and friends will gather at The Kenney (WSB sponsor) to remember Bob Minckler. His family shares this remembrance:

Robert (Bob) Minckler passed away on September 25, 2012 at the age of 90. He was a lifelong resident of West Seattle, a 1940 graduate of West Seattle High School. While in high school, he fell in love with and later married the girl across the street – Audrey (Gessner) Minckler. Bob served his country as a Merchant Marine during WWII. After being honorably discharged from the military he went to work for Reliable Transfer & Storage Company where he worked until his retirement. Bob loved playing golf, spending time with his friends and family, and setting up shop to create works of art. After retirement Bob enjoyed spending winters in Hawaii and keeping an eye on the grandkids.

Bob was thankful to have had the good fortune of surrounding himself with wonderful friends with whom he and Audrey were able to join on their many travels. These past few years, Bob felt most passionate about undertaking a project to grant his fellow Merchant Marines full veteran status.

He is survived by Audrey, his wife of 70 years, daughter Barbara (Richard) Wagner, son Mark (Leslie) Minckler and daughter Betty Lee Minckler. Grandchildren: Amy Guilizen, Gaile (Jason) Brandenburg, Christopher Kintz, Michael & Lauren Minckler, Jacob & Max Zimmerman. Great grandchildren: Audrey & Liam Brandenburg.

A memorial service will be held on October 20, 2012 – 10:00 AM at The Kenney, 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW. Donations may be sent to The Kenney Foundation.

(WSB publishes 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 at West Seattle’s Forest Lawn tomorrow afternoon for Darrell Locklin, who died a week ago at age 78. His family shares this remembrance:

West Seattle native Darrell Locklin was born February 21, 1934, and graduated from West Seattle High School in 1952. He entered the army in 1956, and was stationed at Killeen Base in Texas, where he earned commendations for scholastic achievement and finishing first in his class in special weapons training (despite a life-long dislike of guns). And he met Katherine Kelly.

They married in 1958, returned to Seattle, bought a house in 1964, and settled in to raise a family, and where they lived until his death. He put many hours and even years into improving the house. Even in the past year, when it looked and felt like it was finally done, he said he still had some things he wanted to do.

In 1970 he graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in social work and went to work for the Department of Social and Health Services. He transferred to the Department of Corrections and became a probation and parole officer. In 1984 he moved to Reynolds Work Release (a transition facility for offenders re-entering the community), and retired in 1995, completing a 20+-year career in social and public service.

His interests in life were varied. He played and coached softball, and coached both his children in little league baseball. He passed on (or tried to) his interest in baseball, cars, and hydroplane racing.

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Tomorrow at the Feedback Lounge, friends and family will gather to celebrate the life of “Stumbletown” Steve Adams. Feedback co-proprietor Jeff Gilbert sends this remembrance:

It is with profound sadness that we announce the loss of West Seattle resident and fixture “Stumbletown” Steven E. Adams, 56, who unexpectedly passed away on October 8, 2012.

A lifelong West Seattle resident, Steve was extremely passionate about his neighborhood, family, friends, sports, his beloved cat Scully. He was also a prolific songwriter and collaborated on several community charity music projects and even recorded three albums of original material.

Steve attended West Seattle schools and graduated from Western Washington University. He went on to work for the Boeing Co. for the last 26 years.

In 2006, Steve was named King County Big Brother of the Year. An endlessly enthusiastic and positive personality, he said recently, “I like a little about everything. I need to have good books, good music, good food and great friends. I’ve been lucky enough to have all fall into my world.”

Steve is preceded in death by his parents; Bill and JoAnn Adams, and is survived by his wife Mary Anne Spada, sons Matt Adams and Eric Adams, brothers Kevin Adams (wife Terry) and Tim Adams, plus, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews and in laws, along with a community of friends who will miss him.

Steve was a wonderfully free spirit. In keeping with his character, his celebration will be held at the Feedback Lounge (6451 California Ave SW, West Seattle) at 1:00 PM, Saturday, October 13.

A memorial service is planned at West Side Presbyterian Church this Saturday for Jacqueline (Jackie) Joan Luther Benefiel, whose family shares this remembrance:

Aug 26, 1925- Aug 26, 2012, born in Seattle, passed away on her 87th birthday surrounded by her loving family at Providence Hospital in Everett, of kidney failure. Preceded in death by her brothers, Jerry & Richard Luther.

Jackie Joan Luther grew up in West Seattle and went to West Seattle High School and graduated with the Class of 1943. She was involved in Rainbow, she was a violinist, and played in the Jr. Symphony. She was married at Westside Presbyterian Church to her high school sweetheart, Ralph (Bud) Benefiel.

Jackie and Bud were very active in the West Seattle area and had many friends that she kept in touch with over the years.

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When the family of 94-year-old Faye Franks announced this summer that she had passed away on July 10th, the date for her memorial wasn’t set – but now it is, and they are inviting those who knew her to come to the “memorial service to celebrate her long life” this Saturday (September 29) at 2 pm at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor), 3940 41st SW. Her family adds that “memorials may be sent to Tibbetts UMC or to Seabeck Conference Center, 15395 Seabeck Highway NW, Seabeck, WA 98380.”

A memorial is planned on September 23rd for Joe Miller, who died a week ago, just a few weeks short of what would be his 57th birthday. We received this tribute to share with you:

Joseph Brian Miller
September 24, 1955~September 5, 2012

Joe was born September 24, 1955 at the West Seattle Hospital to August “Gus” and Kathleen Miller. He was the 4th of 6 children and easily the most charming from birth. He was considered by some to be a local celebrity, everyone knew and loved Joe Miller. Words fall short to describe the good feelings everyone had for Joe Miller.

He was a graduate of Chief Sealth High School. He worked in sales and marketing for more than 30 years and lived many places, but his heart always remained in West Seattle where he was raised. Joe spent the last 20 with Trendwest Resorts, now Wyndham Resorts, frequently earning awards for his top performance. It was a natural fit for a man who truly loved people.

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