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Elizabeth Burton
March 16, 1926 - October 1, 2008
Elizabeth Ann Burton passed away October 1st at the University of Washington Medical Center. She was 82 years old. Born March 16, 1926 to Inez Worman and Paul D. Burton in Bowen, Illinois, she was 6 years old when the family moved to Pontiac, Ilinois. She participated in music activities early in grade school and continued throughout her life. She attended North Park College in Chicago, majoring in voice, and graduated from the American Conservatory of Music. She completed her graduate work at the University of Wisconsin and Northwestern University. She was on the faculty of Hull House Music School.
Elizabeth sang professionally as a member of the Chicago Symphony Chorus and for 15 years served as the Administrative Assistant to Margaret Hillis, founder and director of the Chorus. She traveled throughout the United States with the Symphony and appeared often at Carnegie Hall.
In 1979 Elizabeth moved from Chicago to Friday Harbor, Washington. The following year she founded the San Juan Singers, a choral group whose repertoire ranged from oratorio and opera to jazz and gospel. She directed the Singers for twenty years, presenting two major concerts each year, and under her leadership the chorus became a beloved and valued part of San Juan Island's music culture. She retired as Director of the San Juan Singers in 2000, but continued to teach private voice and piano students.
Elizabeth had a remarkable zest for life: music, her friends and pupils, island life, family, and her cats made her life very full. She enjoyed spirited discussions about politics or religion. She was a staunch supporter of animal rights, and every day lived her belief that one should harm no living thing.
She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Paula and Art Ormond, her niece Bethanne (Steve) Niemi, her nephews Paul (Jo), John, and Dan (Maria) Laubhan, and two great-nieces, two great-nephews, and a host of dear friends. She will be greatly missed.
A celebration of her life will be announced at a later date.
John E. Vejvoda
May 1, 1929-August 17, 2008
Longtime resident, "Big John" Vejvoda passed away on August 17th, 2008 in Friday Harbor, WA with his family by his side.
John was born in Chicago, Illinois. He spent his childhood in Chicago and after graduating from high school in 1948, moved to Tacoma, WA. in 1948. He was employed as a commercial fisherman and during that time spent time in the San Juan Islands which he dearly loved.
On October 22, 1949, he married his childhood sweetheart, Shirley Brdar. They raised two daughters, Susie and Nancy and son, John. He loved his family which was always the priority in his life and they enjoyed picnics, camping, hiking backpacking, fishing and boating together. Besides his children, John's greatest joy were his grandchildren, Peter and Katie Kulseth who spent every Sunday with their Poppie.
He was engaged in various occupations before being hired by the Tacoma Police Department in February 1954. He worked as a patrolman, on the vice squad and juvenile division before earning the rank of detective. He retired with the rank of detective sergeant in 1977. After retirement, he worked as a private investigator and in 1979, started Big John's Charter Service which he ran with his wife, Shirley and son, John. He sold the business in 1985 and retired again.
In 1989, he moved to Friday Harbor . He became active in the Lions Club, American Legion and Senior Services. He was a lifelong member of the Tacoma Elks Lodge and the Slavonian American Benevolent Society.
He was bigger than life with a sense of humor and zest for life. He always had a story to tell. He will be missed.
John would like to be remembered through donations in his name to EMS, PO Box 1518, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
A celebration of his life will be held at the American Legion Club on September 13, 2008 at 4:00 PM.
Beverly Graham
October 23, l926.- August 23, 2008
Beverly B. Graham, a pioneer in the field of aeronautical engineering and a long time resident of Shaw Island, died August 23, 2008, at R House Adult Family Home is Friday Harbor. She was 82 years old.
She was born in Worcester, MA, on October 23, l926. She and another child, her beloved adoptive brother Robert, were adopted and raised together by Herman and Eldora Bean of Fitchburg, MA.
Beverly excelled at mathematics and after graduation from Fitchburg High School in 1943 she went on to receive Batchelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In 1952, after a period of employment at United Aircraft Corp., she joined Douglas Aircraft in Santa Monica, CA. There Beverly was twice awarded the Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship for further study, and in 1960 she became the first woman ever to earn a Ph.D. in Aeronautical Engineering from MIT.
While at Douglas Aircraft she also met her future husband, Ernest W. Graham. They married in 1965 and from then on lived and worked together in their home overlooking Indian Cove on Shaw Island.
As Graham Associates they consulted for Boeing and other aircraft companies on problems of theoretical fluid mechanics, turbulance and jet noise. Their work was well known and highly respected by their peers.
Beverly and Ernest enjoyed a loving partnership based on their work and on a shared appreciation of community and the natural world. Together, they donated land for the Shaw Community Building. A devout Christian, Beverly was a mainstay of the non-denominational Shaw Fellowship, and out of her love for books and learning, she gave countless hours in support of the Shaw Island Library and served for many years on the Shaw Islannd School Board.
Her beautiful roses and garden delighted passersby, and she was a champion of animal welfare. Her kindness, modesty and devotion inspired many true and lasting friendships.
After Ernest’s death in 2002, Beverly came to live on San Juan Island. By then her brilliant mind was dimmed by Alzheimer’s Disease, but her extraordinary sweetness of spirit remained to the end.
She is survived by sisters-in-law Martha Graham Smithmeyer of Seattle, and Marjorie Bean of Arlington, MA. Memorial contributions my go to the Shaw Island Library and Historical Society, P.O. Box 844, Shaw Island, WA, 98286.
Shawn “Curly” McCarthy
Shawn “Curly” McCarthy unexpectedly passed away at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle from complications of a Motorcycle Accident.
Shawn has lived and worked in Friday Harbor over the past 15 years and is/was known by many as one of those great guys with a mellow temper.
Shawn did many things related to construction, from building houses to concrete and working for Mike Carlson.
A few years back he bought a house at the Tulalip Indian Reservation, but still came up to the island on a regular basis.
The accident happened last Thursday (08/14) on Chuckanut Drive, and his injuries at that time were not deemed life threatening,
He will be greatly missed by all who knew him
A Memorial (Potluck) will be held on 08/24/2008 at 1:00PM at the Tulalip Tribes Gymnasium
6700 Totem Beach Rd Tulalip, WA 98271
James Leon Desermeaux
September 3, 1932 to June 18, 2008
Jim was born in Seattle on September 3rd 1932. He died at home on June 18th 2008. Jim started his life on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle and lived there until he joined the Air Force at the age of 17. He was stationed in the Bahamas during the Korean War, taking photos of guided missile. After he left the Air Force he raced his MG at Daytona Beach in mini stock races. He attended the University of Arizona for engineering. He returned to Seattle in 1960 to work at Boeing and continue work on his degree at the University of Washington.
In 1961 he met Mary Jane Fleming from Friday Harbor, who was in school with Jim at UW and also worked at Boeing. They married in 1963 then they moved to Friday Harbor in 1966 to raise their three children. Jim was a contractor and a pilot. He loved his Stinson. He later remarried to Raelyn Blake from Lopez.
Jim was concerned for the future of the San Juan Islands, so he ran for County Assessor. Jim won the election and was a public servant for four years. He also ran for State Representative and County Commissioner.
He had many different occupations over his lifetime. He raised cattle. He had a cabinet shop, the Corner Store. He grew fields of daffodils and gave them to people at the nursing home. He raised sheep and worked his dogs. His dog Matty was his best friend. Many people may have known him as Santa Claus. He helped the Food Bank, the Historical Museum, and other local organizations.
Jim had three children, Shawn, Jim, and Christy, and five grandchildren, Angela, Tasha, Kayla, Rocky, and Julia.
Memorials may be sent to Skagit Hospice. Huston Taylor and Ingrid Bower from Skagit Hospice and a caregiver team helped Jim immensely in the last days of his life, so he could stay at home:
Skagit Hospice Foundation P.O. Box 1376 Mount Vernon, WA. 98273
Graveside Services will be held Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at the Valley Cemetery
on San Juan Island.
Betty Jane Miner
October 19, 1922 - May 12, 2008
Betty Jane (BJ) Miner was born October 19, 1922 in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. She died peacefully May 12, 2008 at home surrounded by family and friends. She was the youngest of six sisters who have all preceded her in death. BJ graduated from St Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing in 1943 and joined the Navy Nurse Corps in 1945 serving at the Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, CA.
It was there that she met the love of her life, Ross Miner, they married soon after in February 1947 in San Diego and started a family together. They spent 24 years moving around the country and the world until Ross' retirement in 1971.
She managed the home front raising her active family while Ross served his country in the Korean and Viet Nam wars. During those years she continued to work on and off in nursing, but always found time to do volunteer work at the numerous bases and stations where they were assigned.
Beloved FHHS Art Teacher Patricia Speer Passes
Date of Birth: Wednesday September 25, 1946
Date of Death: Monday October 27, 2008
Confirmed this morning was the passing of Pat Speer who died quietly in her sleep Sunday night at her brother’s home in Plattsmouth, Nebraska. Pat retired from teaching in June 2008 after a 35 year career in the San Juan Island School District, beginning in September 1973. Patricia was 62 years old.
Superintendent Michael Soltman met with high school faculty and staff this morning. “We are all saddened to hear of her passing on. Patricia was loved by so many students and families for her teaching, kindness, and ability to connect so well with students. Our faculty and staff have lost a dear friend and member of our school family”, Soltman said.
Plans for celebrating Patricia’s life will be made over the next few days.
Robert Ramirez
August 8th, 1920 - March 4th, 2009
Robert Ramirez died peacefully at his home, Wednesday March 4th, 2009. His wife Ruthe and step-daughter Katie Dillery were with him.
Bob Ramirez was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania on August 8th, 1920. He moved to Spokane, Washington where he and his two sisters and brother lived with their grandmother. When he was twenty one, he moved to Seattle and worked in the shipyards. He joined the Merchant Marine in 1948 and working as a purser, sailed to the Philippines, India and China before returning to Seattle and opening a record store. He later worked for Boeing and the University of Washington as a computer programmer.
Bob and Ruthe were married at her home on Mercer Island in 1971. They moved to Friday Harbor in the fall of 1986 after Bob retired from the University of Washington. He worked for Mark Anderson’s company, Island Technologies, before finally settling down to real retirement and enjoying his many grandchildren.
Bob leaves his beloved wife Ruthe Lewis Lyons Ramirez, step-daughter Katie Dillery, her husband Ted Dillery and their 3 children: Ben, Sophia and Madison Dillery. He is survived by his sisters; Adele Drew of Ohji, California and Lucille Ford of Tyler, Texas. He will be greatly missed by Ruthe’s children and their families; Kim, Dorthy, Hillary and Drew Lyons of Olympia, Washington, Becky, Peter, Madeline and Adrian Kilpatrick of Friday Harbor, Shelle, Ellis, Isla and Sky Cropper also of Friday Harbor, Washington and Ruthe’s daughter in law, Rhonda Wilson Lyons of Friday Harbor.
There will be a rosary at St Francis Catholic Church, Friday March 13th @ 7pm. The funeral Mass will be Saturday, March 14th @ 12:30pm followed by a celebration of Bob’s life at the church hall.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be donated to the San Juan Animal Shelter or St Francis Alter Society.
Jim Crain
November 24, 1942 - February 7, 2009
James “Jim" Peter Crain passed away at home surrounded by family and dear friends on Saturday, February 7, 2009, after a sudden and brief battle with cancer. Jim is survived by his wife and best friend Kathy and his mother, Ruth Butler Veno of Rochester, NH, along with many, many relatives and special friends.
Jim will be remembered for his passion and love for flying, skiing and sailing. He has left his signature with his construction of beautiful homes where he gathered many lifelong friends along the way.
You are invited to a Celebration of Jim’s life to be held at the Roche Harbor Pavilion, San Juan Island, WA on Sunday, February 15 at 1 p.m. with a potluck lunch.
For travel/information please contact Marie DiCristina 360-378-7595 or Diana Pratt 360-378-5039. We can help with correct timing for flights, shuttle buses, ferry timing to Friday Harbor, lodging, and transportation to Roche Harbor (north side of island.) The BW Friday Harbor Suites and Roche Harbor Condos and Roche Historic Hotel has accommodations and other lodging is also available.
You can email any photos for the slideshow to Marie ( pixergal@centurytel.net ) with a minimum resolution of 200 dpi and sized no more than 3 mb. Please do not send too many image files at once to overload the inbox. There will be a display board also for snapshots and memorabilia.
You can visit Jim’s New Hampshire hometown paper online to leave a message in the Guest Book. Visit www.fosters.com and go to Obits and then click Guest Book. The site will be active on Tuesday morning after 10am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jim Crain Memorial Fund at Islanders Bank, Post Office Box 909, Friday Harbor, WA 98250.
Genoa Kayte London
March 29, 1985 - January 20, 2009
Genoa Kayte London, 23 years old, passed away on January 20, 2009, at her home in Eminence, Kentucky.
Genoa spent four years in Friday Harbor where she attended Friday Harbor Middle School and High School while living with her two grandmothers, Janna Gingras and Liz Illg.
Genoa was a poet, writer, farrier, equestrian, and lover of all animals. She will be remembered in Friday Harbor as the high school softball pitcher who threw a no-hitter and nearly perfect game on her 17th birthday. She leaves a two-year-old son, Cristian Alejandro Gramajo London.
The community is invited to a memorial for Genoa at the 4-H Building at San Juan County Fairgrounds on Saturday, January 24th, from 1 to 3 in the afternoon. Remembrances can be made to the San Juan Island Prevention Coalition, PO Box 562, Friday Harbor, Washington.
Betty Campbell Scott
October 21, 1923 - December 12, 2008
Betty Campbell Scott, a resident of the San Juan Islands since 1980, passed away at the Islands Convalescent Center on December 12, 2008, following a brief illness.
Betty was born and raised in the state of Utah. She obtained her Batchelor's degree in ' Home Economics from the University of Utah, and her Master's degree from the University of Washington, and became a Professor in the Family Life Department of Washington State University in Pullman.
Lola D. Risbell
August 16, 1927 - May 23, 2009
Our beloved Mother, Grandmother, Lola D. Risbell, fought a brave and courageous battle against cancer. She fought it with dignity and grace and is at peace now. She leaves behind 4 children, Becki Day, Riley Risbell (Cherie Maxwell-Risbell). David Risbell, Kelly Risbell (Kathy Risbell), 3 grandchildren, Rachael, Casey and Cameron Risbell, and many nieces and nephews.
Lola was born in Seattle. She was adopted by the Dale family, now deceased, her parents, Dr. David H. and Lola Dale, brothers Dr. David W. Dale and Dwyer Dale. She graduated from Garfield High School (1945) and Seattle University (1950), where she received her BA in History. In 1950 she married the love of her life, the late Albert C. Risbell. They moved to Bellevue in 1955, became parishioners of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and settled down to raise their family. Lola became a widow at age 30, and devoted the rest of her life to her children and grandchildren and helping others. She was lover of cats. She always had a feline companion by her side. As the family expanded over the years she devoted her life to helping her children raise their families, whether it was the children or the cats and dogs.
After being a widow for 6 years the late Father Gerald T. Moore hired Lola to be the secretary for Sacred Heart Catholic Church and School, where she worked for the next 8 years. Lola then went on to work for the phone company, then Pacific Northwest Bell, until retirement in 1992. In between working full time, volunteering for the St. Joan’s Guild, raising 4 children and running a household, she sewed all her own clothes, knit all of the family’s sweaters, mittens and hats and took care of all household repairs. Upon retirement in 1992 from PNB, Lola joined the Pioneers, where she served on the Board of Directors as the recording secretary. While taking up exercise classes, she grew restless with all of her spare time in retirement, and started working at Bellevue Square as one of the information ladies. She worked there until 2000, when she moved to Friday Harbor to begin a new journey in her life until her passing. She began her final decade by volunteering at the San Juan Island Library, for Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor (where she became an honorary member) and the Mullis Community Senior Center. For 2 summers she worked at Roche Harbor Resort as the day hostess for McMillan’s Dining Room. She continued to enjoy her exercise classes, running errands, volunteering, and still found time to devote herself to her children and grandchildren.
She touched the lives of many and will always be remembered for her sense of humor, her grace and dignity, her devotion to her family, the sparkle in her eyes when she talked of all of them, their pets, their accomplishments. A celebration of her life will be held on June 7, 2009 at 1:00 pm at the Roche Harbor Resort Pavillion, 248 Reuben Memorial Drive, Friday Harbor, WA. A memorial fund in Lola Risbell’s name has been set up at Islander’s Bank, PO Box 909, Friday Harbor, WA, 98250.
David Lee Spurgeon
July 22. 1945 - May 17. 2009
David Lee, as he called himself, was born October 15, 1934 in Hoquiam, Washington. He died peacefully at home in the loving care of his wife Mary Ann May 13, 2009.
David's early years were spent in Ballard, Washington and later the family lived in Ballard. Subsequently, the family moved to Fremont in northern California. As a senior in high school, he was elected student body president. David was a born entrepreneur and always fascinated with automobiles, a lifetime love.
In order to purchase his first car, for three years he made money from his newspaper route and pushing an ice cream cart. All this labor of love occurred before he was old enough to get a driver's license. Upon entering the working world, he joined with a General Motors distributorship and sold automobiles.
A natural and the top salesman, he sold so many cars that he was eligible to merit his own franchise but, was turned down by General Motors because "he was too young ... only 23 years old." Undaunted, he terminated that job and became a successful land developer in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
In his next career, he founded and became president of CanAm Corporation, an engineering firm which successfully developed products by extracting raw materials from copper slag. These products were sold nation-wide to 3M Corporation, roofing companies and others.
David moved to San Juan Island in the early 1990's settling on Neil Bay where he began, in earnest, to gather his rather significant collection of automobiles and "toys."
He married Mary Ann Duddleson in 2001 and during the last ten years of his life, he remained his effervescent self with a remarkable zest for life. His generous philanthropy was legend and one of his favorite quotes was, "I love to touch someone's life" ... and he did in so many ways. The aid he gave to Guide Dogs for the Blind was above the mark. We will miss David, his lust for life and marvelous sense of humor.
A celebration of his life is planned for sometime in the summer. In lieu of flowers, donations for his remembrance may be made to: Guide Dogs For The Blind, P.O. Box 151200 San Rafael, CA 94915.
