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Hansen, Lyle D. Thursday, 25 Jan 2007
Lyle Hansen of Burton, Vashon Island, died at home on January 25, 2007, surrounded by his family. Born on June 6, 1922 in Brayton, Iowa to Albert Hans Hansen and Adelia Anderson Hansen, Lyle and his family moved to Seattle in 1933, where he attended Lincoln High School and the University of Washington. He eloped with Marie Bjelland in March 1942.
Enlisting in the Navy in 1944, Lyle served as a combat photographer for CINCPAC in the Pacific Theater on several ships and aircraft at Guam, Okinawa, and Iwo Jima. He photographed the initial Marine landing at Yokusaka, Japan and the conditions of the Japanese on the island of Truk after surrender. After the war, Lyle returned to his job at Boeing where he was an industrial photographer and manager for 38 years.
Lyle and Marie built two homes in north Seattle and another on Vashon, settling in Burton in 1959, where boating became a major focus. He was a Commodore and life member of Quartermaster Yacht Club, and a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. In 1981, after working for 13 ½ years to build his last boat, he launched the 40-foot ferro-cement ketch, Starfire, which he sailed in the San Juans for 5 years as a charter captain.
Lyle and Marie wintered 11 years in San Diego near Marie’s sister and brother-in-law, Myrtis and Roland Hurd. During this time, Lyle discovered Photoshop and began assembling computers. For the next 12 years, he joined a number of camera clubs where he proudly exhibited works that used this new technology.
Lyle is survived by his wife, Marie; sons Steve and wife Ellen (Seattle); Perry and wife Barbara (Vashon); David and partner Norman (Victoria); Brian and wife Wendy (Bellingham); his brother Don (Bothell); sister and brother-in-law Pat and Howard Schjelland (Kenmore); five grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 17 at 1:00 pm at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit at 15420 Vashon Highway SW. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Vashon Fire and Rescue PO Box 1150, Vashon, WA 98070 or to Providence Hospice of Seattle Foundation, 425 Pontius Ave. N., Ste.300, Seattle 98109 or online at hospiceofseattle.org.
Kipp, Dwight (Pinky) Tuesday, 02 Jan 2007
Dwight (Pinky) Kipp of Tacoma died Jan. 2, 2007, at the age of 87. Born April 12, 1919, in Spokane to Carl T. and Ellen Kipp, Pinky (affectionately nicknamed by his early childhood peers) was a graduate of the University of Washington. He lettered and excelled in track, and was an avid Husky football fan. In WWII Pinky proudly served as a staff sergeant in the Air Force ground troops in Africa and Italy. His career with William Volker & Co. as a top sales representative spanned over 30 years. He was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and Rotary Club #8 as well as a member of the session of Immanuel Presbyterian Church and friend of First Congregational Church of Tacoma. Pinky and his family enjoyed many summers on Vashon Island and were full-time residents between 1973 and 1995. At one time Pinky was honored with the title “Mayor of Tahlequah.” He and his wife Grace also enjoyed many years of travel to Hawaii and Great Britain along with exotic cruises to Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia and Scandinavia.
Pinky is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Grace Blangy Kipp, and three children: Jeff (Nancy) of Seattle; Kay (John) Carbery of Yakima; and Charles (Terrie) of Vashon Island. At Pinky’s request, private family graveside services will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests remembrances be made to the Arthur Wickens Foundation of Tacoma Rotary (#8), Immanuel Presbyterian Church, or a charity of people’s choice. The family extends a heartfelt thank you to Franciscan Hospice Care and University Place Care Center for their compassionate care of Pinky.
Elmore, Gladys Monday, 01 Jan 2007
Gladys M. Elmore died at her home on Jan. 1, 2007, surrounded by her family. She was 93 years old. Gladys was born to Manly and Martha (Pierce) Ewing on Sept. 12, 1913, in Hillyard, Wash. She was the oldest of five children and grew up in Spokane where she met and married
her husband William (Bill) Elmore in 1931.
Bill and Gladys moved to Vashon Island in 1944 where they made their home and raised their four children.
Gladys’s husband Bill, her son Robert and her daughter Gloria Fuller died earlier. Survivors include her daughters Carol Cummings and Billie Coomer, her son-in-law Bill Coomer and her sister OraBelle Stolz of Spokane. Additional survivors include 13 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. Gladys had many very good friends and enjoyed playing pinochle, traveling and participating in her Christian Science Church. According to her family, she will be missed dearly by all those who knew her.
A memorial will be held for her at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007, at Island Funeral Service, 18005 Vashon Highway S.W. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Vashon Senior Center.
Spencer, Gerald (Jerry) Lee Sunday, 24 Dec 2006
Jerry Spencer, former Island resident and businessman, died at his home in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, early on Christmas Eve.
Mr. Spencer, a fifth-generation Island pioneer, was born to Al and Harriett (Fuller) Spencer on Jan. 6, at the family home in Vashon Town during the blizzard of 1943. He attended Vashon Elementary School and graduated in Vashon Island High School’s Class of 1961. After graduation, he attended Washington State College in Pullman and went on to serve in the Washington National Guard.
Mr. Spencer worked for several years in his father’s automotive business, Al’s Service and Parts on Vashon. Later, he built and managed G.L. Spencer and Company, the Arco Service Station and Garage across from the K2 plant. With the closing of the business, Mr. Spencer and his family pursued other business interests in Federal Way, Denver and, finally, Coeur d’Alene.
Mr. Spencer had been in poor health, battling congestive heart failure for the past 10 years. Survivors include his wife Joyce (Epply) Spencer; daughter Shelley Hines, her husband Terry and their two children Brenna and Jacob of Coeur d’Alene and son Alec Spencer of Stanwood. Additional survivors include his sister Arlene Alexander of Federal Way, brother Wilbur Spencer of Vashon Island, aunt, Kathryn (Fuller) Nelson of Puyallup and many nieces, nephews and cousins throughout the Northwest. His brother Robert Lane Spencer and his parents died earlier.
At Mr. Spencer’s request, there will be no services. Remembrances or memorials may be made to favored charities.
Garrison, Clark Rees Saturday, 25 Nov 2006
Clark Rees Garrison, 52, of Burton, died of a heart attack on Nov. 25, 2006, on Vashon Island.
Mr. Garrison was born April 26, 1954, in Seattle. He grew up living at Vashon Heights and spending summers at a beach cabin on Ober Beach. He graduated from Vashon High School in 1974.
He followed his spirit of adventure to Alaska after briefly attending The Evergreen State College. There he became a commercial salmon fisherman and fished for 20 years out of his home in Ninilchik on his gillnetter, Greylight.
After the downturn in salmon fishing that followed the Exxon Valdez oil spill, Mr. Garrison developed home sites along the Ninilchik River on the Kenai Peninsula. In the process he became a skilled excavator operator.
In 1981 he married
Marte Sue Chapman. They divorced, but remained close friends over the years. In 1989, Mr. Garrison married
Lori Forrest. They raised two children. They spent summers in Alaska and winters traveling in their motor home to Mexico.
Mr. Garrison and family moved to Vashon Island, living in rentals until they built a house in Burton. He enjoyed creating a park-like setting on his property. He shared his land with others raising bees, greenhouse flowers, vegetables and bamboo.
Mr. Garrison and Lori separated, with the children returning to Alaska for the school year and spending vacations on Vashon. Three months before his death, Mr. Garrison was inspired to take a long-dreamed-of family vacation to the canals of Wales “before it’s too late.” He, Lori and the children spent three weeks in Europe this fall, making memories they will all treasure.
Mr. Garrison is survived by by his children Gwen, 17, Forrest, 15 and their mother Lori, all residents of Ninilchik, Alaska, as well as his former wife and friend, Marte Sue. Additional survivors include his father Gerry and stepmother Karin of Vashon, and his older siblings Ann of Anacortes and Ralph of Vermont. His mother, Gwen Rees Garrison, died earlier.
Friends and family say Mr. Garrison will be remembered for his ready laugh, quick wit and talent for figuring out complex systems, be they backhoes or board games. They also say he possessed a cheerful presence that never failed to light up a room.
Cremation will be handled by Island Funeral Service. A celebration of his life will be at Camp Burton at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3. A potluck gathering will follow at Mr. Garrison’s house in Burton. For details call 463-4363.
Donations made be made in Mr. Garrison’s memory to The Unitarian Scholarship Fund or to Vashon Youth and Family Services.
Plancich, Marcie Lee Wednesday, 22 Nov 2006
Marcie Plancich died in a Seattle hospital on Nov. 22, 2006, after a short but courageous battle with cancer.
Marcie was born in Seattle on Aug. 25, 1958, to Betty and Jerry Plancich. She attended Vashon High and Bates Vocational School. Growing up, Marcie was involved with the 4-H horse group, the handicapped and the Muscular Dystrophy organization.
She started her work career at K2 Ski Corporation as a teenager. She then went to work at Henry Bacon Lumber in Seattle and salmon fished in Alaska. For 10 years she worked as a butcher and grocery store owner in Dockton. She was the owner of a fishing boat and worked for five years at Message Check Corp. She went back to K2 and for the last five years worked in customer service as a special service coordinator.
Her family says Marcie was known by everyone as good natured, hardworking and dependable and that up until the end of her life, she kept her wonderful sense of humor and infectious smile.
Her brother Mark and her father Jerry died earlier. Survivors include her mother Betty, her brother Greg and his daughter Carlie, brother Gerald and wife Debra, nephew Brian and wife Aida Plancich and nephew Nicholas Plancich, as well as great nieces Sophia and Joey Plancich. Donations can be made to:
Vashon Maury Island Heritage Association P.O. Box 723 Vashon, Wash. 98070, or Vashon Island Fire and Rescue, Aid Fund, P.O. Box 1150 Vashon, Wash. 98070.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Island Funeral Home. A reception will follow at the VFW Hall.
Gordon, Frances Ann McKay Saturday, 18 Nov 2006
Fran Gordon was born July 18, 1953, and died Nov. 18, 2006, surrounded by family.
Her family says she was a great lady, loved by all who knew her.
Mrs. Gordon worked for many years as a theater technician and light designer for Seattle Center and local productions. She was heavily involved in church activities, PTSA, local elections, local theater and many other activities. She left her mark on Vashon, and many people will miss her.
Survivors include her husband Richard Gordon and son David Gordon, sisters Rebecca Sykes of Utah and Kathleen Lewis of Minnesota, father-in-law Bob Gordon of Vashon and four nieces and three nephews.
A memorial service was Nov. 24, 2006, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Vashon. Memorials in her name may be made to the Vashon Community Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 1413, Vashon, Wash. 98070.
Oakley, Kate Bronwyn Sunday, 12 May 2002
Kate Bronwyn Oakley died unexpectedly May 12, 2002. She was 24 years old.
She was born July 16, 1977, in Bellingham.
Ms. Oakley graduated from Olympia High School in 1995 and was a student at South Seattle Community College when she died. She loved books, music and film, and was a active member of the Seattle Unitarian Universalist Young Adult Group.
Ms. Oakley spent summers on Vashon with relatives.
Survivors include her father Glen “Hogie” Oakley, and sister Erica West and brother Daniel West, all of Vashon; mother Drew Lenore Betz, stepfather Michael Betz, and brother Ben Betz, all of Bellingham; a sister Tiffany Oakley, of Point Roberts; numerous cousins, aunts and uncles. Her surviving grandparents are Donna and Jim Daulph of Bellingham and Madelon Oakley of White Center.
A memorial service was last Saturday.
Remembrances may be made to Kate Bronwyn Oakley Memorial Account, Whatcom Educational Credit Union, P.O. Box 9750, Bellingham, Wash. 98227 or White Center Library Guild, c/o Pauline M. Warden, Manager, White Center Library, 11220 16th Ave. S.W., Seattle, Wash. 98146.
Van House, John Elwood Friday, 19 Apr 2002
John Elwood Van House died April 19, 2002. He was 75 years old.
A celebration of his life will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, at Memorial Gardens Funeral Chapel. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Kalser Hospice or the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children.
White, Thomas Patrick Thursday, 18 Apr 2002
Thomas Patrick White died April 18, 2002, on Vashon Island of a heart attack. He was 55 years old.
Mr. White attended St. Paul’s Riverside Elementary School and was selected the most valuable player in the 1962 Catholic grade school league basketball tournament. He obtained Eagle Scout rank at his school troop, as well.
He then attended Gordon Military Academy in Barnesville, Ga., and Bishop Kenny High School before graduating from Robert E. Lee High School in 1966.
After graduation, he moved to Marina Del Rey, Calif., where he worked making and testing surfboards.
In the early 1970s he moved to New York City and managed the famous Cheetah nightclub before returning to the area and taking a position as a bartender at the Ponte Vedra Surf Club where he rose to general manager within three months. He then served as general manager of Le Chateau Restaurant from 1978 to 1980.
In 1980, he took a position as a restaurant supply sales representative for Edward Don & Company and was the company’s number one salesman in the state of Florida after his second year in a new territory.
In 1984, he left Edward Don to found St. Johns Restaurant Supply with two other salesmen; the business was acquired by Kingston Restaurant Supply of Long Island, New York, in 1990.
He then founded Barsco Restaurant Supply, which he operated in Jacksonville Beach until closing it in 1999 due to ill health.
Mr. White moved to Vashon Island in 2000 where he used his culinary skills to triple the revenues at the Saint John Vianney parish’s annual scholarship fund-raiser with his gumbos and other Southern fare. He also cooked as a volunteer at The Nativity House, a homeless shelter for men in Tacoma.
In his three decades as a restaurant equipment dealer, he was as much a consultant as a salesman and was instrumental in developing the themes and menus of many of the most successful restaurants in Jacksonville Beach. He will be long remembered for his intense wit, open generosity, lively personality and noble spirit.
Survivors include four children: Nora Michelle White of Brooklyn, New York, James Marlow White of Jacksonville Beach, Fla., Darlie Elise White and T. Patrick White of Saint Augustine. Fla, and two brothers, James M. White of Vero Beach, Fla., and Marlow V. White of Tallahassee, and three sisters, Lillian W. Shagrin of Seattle, Maureen W. Enderlin of Warren, N.Y, and Sheila W. Moore of Vashon Island, numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and many devoted friends who loved him dearly.
A Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, April 26, at St. John Vianney. His ashes will be interred in a family plot in Pensacola, Florida.
Murray Wrig Bradburn, Dorce A'Lee Myron Saturday, 13 Apr 2002
Dorce A’Lee Myron Bradburn died April 13, 2002, on Vashon. She was 76 years old.
She was born June 25, 1925, to Eli Myron and Pauline Emes.
She married
Bob Bradburn and they had four children.
She was fond of saying it took her 10 years and three children to finish her degree. She always admonished her children to finish college before marrying.
Her children remember her as a teacher who could play any instrument.
While a missionary to Thailand, she taught band, orchestra, piano, violin, and cello. She also led Bible studies, taught English as a second language, used her majorette experience to establish a flag twirling corps in the Christian girls’ school, led vacation Bible schools in countless tiny villages, and represented Christianity in an overwhelmingly Buddhist land.
In the U.S., she established outstanding string programs in elementary and middle schools. She said being assigned to teach music to a class of 7th grade boys was her biggest challenge. She reached her students by using music of the Beatles and other contemporary bands to demonstrate musical principles.
She enjoyed Caribbean cruises, trips to Victoria, touring the Grand Canyon, visiting Fort Worth to stay with her grandson.
As her physical abilities lessened, she gave up favorite activities and found new ones within her capabilities.
Survivors include her children Pamela Ochs and her husband John of Seattle, Paul Bradburn and his wife Paulette of Fort Worth, and Robbin Bradburn and his wife Doris of Seattle, and grandchildren Monica and her husband Ed of Fort Worth.
A son David Bradburn died in Thailand. Her husband, Bob, also died earlier as did her brothers Bill and Hugh Myron.
The family acknowledges the help of Dr. Stephen Ginsberg and her many friends and family and hospice caregivers.
A celebration of her life was held previously.
Arrangements were entrusted to Island Funeral Service.
Wright, Murray Saturday, 06 Apr 2002
Murray Wright, formerly of Vashon, died April 6, 2002, at home in Yuma, Ariz. He was 78 years old.
Mr. Wright was born Nov. 27, 1923, the 10th of 13 children born to Arthur and Nora Macdonald Wright.
The family migrated to the United States in 1925. He lived his early years in Seattle.
During World War II, he served in Germany and in the Battle of the Bulge effort.
A son, Gordon “Corky” Wright, died in 1975.
Mr. Wright lived 35 years on Vashon Island before moving to Quilcene and Yuma in 1994. He was a High Priest in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
His greatest pleasure was his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Over the years, he was active in the Vashon Saddle Club, the Vashon High School Booster Club, the Boy Scouts and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Survivors include his wife Frances of Yuma, three brothers, George, Erick and Reg Wright, all of the Seattle area, and one sister, Myrtle, of Vancouver, British Columbia; two sons, Larry of Federal Way and Richard of Tacoma; three stepchildren, Sandra Hood and her husband Steve of Elmer City, Wash., Brian George and his wife Carrie of Quilcene, Wash. and Kirk George of Seattle. He left three grandchildren, Michael and Reno Wright and Rainy Six; seven step-grandchildren, Reagan and Blues Wright, Reno and Lauren Wright, Alix Little and Madeline and Emma Jean Six.
His ashes will be interred in Riverton Crest cemetery with his son Corky at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 11.
