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Gladys Pearl Grogan
Gladys Pearl Grogan, 87, of Friday Harbor, died Feb. 8, 2001, in Islands Convalescent Center in Friday Harbor.
She was born in Palmyra, Mo., and grew up in Oregon and Idaho, the fourth of five children of George H. and May L. Garner.
She was married
for 47 years to William Joseph Grogan, of Chicago, Ill., who died in 1982.
Gladys and Bill lived in Vancouver, Wash., from the early 1940s until they moved to Kirkland, Wash., in 1965.
Gladys was dedicated to her family and her home. She loved gardening and was a masterful seamstress.
Bill owned and operated a dance studio for many years and she spent countless hours making costumes for the student's recitals.
Gladys was her husband's dance partner, teaching ballroom dancing at the Elks Club and at the monthly gathering of the Groganeers Dance Club in Vancouver, Wash.
She was the beloved mother of Patricia Linn of Marshall, Wash., Vincent Grogan of Oregon, Stephen Grogan of Eagle River, Alaska, John Grogan of Redmond, Wash., and Cynthia D'Errico of Friday Harbor, Wash.
Gladys was dearly loved by her children's spouses: Richard Linn, Gayle Grogan, Leslie Grogan and Gordon Elliott; her 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Gladys moved to Friday Harbor following her daughter's move to the island in 1992.
Gladys lived in Dorothy's Adult Family Home until 1995, then with her daughter and grandsons for several years until she moved to Islands Convalescent Center, where she lived until her passing.
Her gentle kindness, her immense humor and thoughtfulness and her loving touch will never be forgotten.
Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel.
Erika Lynn Sundstrom
March 18, 1977 — Jan. 17, 2013
Erika passed away at home on Jan. 17 and we believe she is now in a peaceful place.
She was born March 18, 1977 in Mount Vernon to Debbie Lawson Browne and Dan Sundstrom, and comes from a long line of island pioneer families. She attended school in Friday Harbor from kindergarten to her graduation in 1995.
She was an artist and writer, although she found her true professional calling in caring for the elderly.
She is survived by her daughter, Danielle Elizabeth Crossen; parents Debbie Lawson Browne and Dan (Mary) Sundstrom; brother Shaun Armstrong; aunts Sondra deBeauclair, Linda Sundstrom, Arlene Rhine, Patsy (Jim) Scribner, Kathie (Stan) Reitan, and Darby Lawson; Josh Crossen, father of Danielle; and numerous cousins.
She will be greatly missed by her family and many loving friends.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be sent to the Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor. A private family service is planned.
— Family of Erika Sundstrom
Jean Dee Hutchins
June 26, 1932 — Dec. 26, 2012
Jean Dee Hutchins went home to be with the Lord peacefully on Dec. 26, 2012.
He was born June 26, 1932 to Dovie Mae Cash Hutchins and Elam Roferlson Hutchins in Port Aransas, Texas. He went to high school in Port Aransas until he had to drop out to help support his family.
He shipped out to sea on his first tanker as a wiper in 1948. He joined the Army in 1950 and served 18 months until a bomb exploded close to him and blew out his ear drums.
He went back to the sea and worked his way up, license by license, on the engineering side of merchant marine ships, until he was chief engineer.
He married
his wife, Dolores, in 1955 in New Orleans, La., and their daughter, Pamela, was born there in 1956. He sailed around the world many times and served on 50 ships until he retired on Oct. 21, 1998.
Along the way, he has called home; Aransas Pass, Texas, Rockport, Texas, Seattle, Wash., and Federal Way, Wash. He and Dolores moved to Friday Harbor on June 2, 2009.
He enjoyed church activities with the men at Islands Community Church, helping others, and doing island things with his daughter, Pamela.
He is preceded in death by brothers E. R. Hutchins, Jr., Roy Wayne Hutchins, and Thomas Charles Hutchins. He is also preceded in death by his sister, Dovie Mae Aldridge, his niece, Dorothy Daze, and his nephew, Donald Bright.
He is survived by his wife, Dolores Hutchins, his daughter, Pamela Hutchins, his nieces, Angela Hutchins and America Chavez, and his nephews, Thom Hutchins and Charlie Rose.
Graveside services will be held Jan. 5, at noon, at the San Juan Valley cemetery, followed by a memorial service, at 2 p.m., at Islands Community Church.
— Family of Jean Dee Hutchins
Martin Halvorsen
May 11, 1949 — Dec. 20, 2012
Martin Halvorsen, 63, of Friday Harbor, passed away in Bellingham on Dec. 20, 2012.
He was born in Friday Harbor, Wash. on May 11, 1949, the son of Eldon and Carol (Grenier) Halvorsen. He grew up on San Juan Island and attended Friday Harbor schools, but moved with his family to the mainland when he was 16. He graduated from Sedro-Woolley High School in 1967.
Throughout his entire life he worked as a diesel mechanic and was known as the guy who could fix anything. He lived for many years in the Stanwood/Everett area and spent several summers working in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. He returned to Friday Harbor in 2002.
Marty enjoyed assembling model train sets and making scenery, etc., for them. He married
twice, but had no children. He is survived by one sister, Gerine Voegtlin of Mount Vernon; one nephew, Scott DeRosier of Concrete; and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and a nephew, Todd DeRosier.
The family would like to express deep appreciation to Tom Lawson and Dave De La Zerda for the friendship, care and support given to Marty the last few years of his life. Per Marty’s wishes, there will be no services. Memorials or donations may be given to your favorite charity. You may share your memories of Marty and sign his online guest register at www.kernfuneralhome.com Arrangements are under the care of Kern Funeral Home.
— Family of Martin Halvorsen
Peter W. Sturdivant
April 15, 1928 — Dec. 19, 2012
Peter W. Sturdivant, 84, of Anacortes, passed peacefully on Dec. 19, 2012 in Bellevue, Wash.
Peter was born on April 15, 1928, in Klamath Falls, Ore., to Virginia Greene and Tallentyre Basil Sturdivant. Peter and his siblings, Tal and Mary Helene, grew up in southern California and Mexico.
Peter attended Deerfield Academy before serving in the U.S. Army, in Germany. After his return from service, Peter earned a degree in finance and worked for a time in Mexico and South America.
He went on to raise his own family and survived his wife Eila Sturdivant’s passing in 1984.
Following Eila’s death, family brought Peter to the Pacific Northwest, where he became involved with the American Legion Club and started his own business in Friday Harbor.
He later married
Friday Harbor resident Moselle Bourne and enjoyed the island lifestyle with friends and family for over a decade until they moved to Anacortes. Peter survived Moselle’s passing last year.
Peter was interested in aviation, computer technology, politics, finance, music, and sailing. He has also been involved with stage performance and choir.
Peter also enjoyed traveling and camping, and was happiest when surrounded by family, friends, wine, and song.
He famously excelled at telling bad puns — dearly appreciated by all who loved him.
Peter is survived by his brother, Tal, in Friday Harbor, his sister Mary Helene Halsey, in Illinois, and his son and family in Bellevue.
A celebration of Peter’s life with close friends and family will take place on Jan. 12, 2013 at noon.
If you would like more information please reach us at: suzanne_sturdivant@msn.com
— Family of Peter Sturdivant
Rees 'Skip' Kimble
June 4, 1939 — Dec. 11, 2012
Rees Hawkins Kimble, better known as “Skip”, died peacefully in his home on Dec. 11, 2012, after a 17-year journey with cancer.
He was born in Annapolis, Md., on June 4, 1939, and spent his youth living in many areas of the U.S. where his father’s military duties took the family. He joined the Army in 1959 and became a Russian linguist, having spent a year at the Army Language School in Monterey.
After his discharge from the army, he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from Clemson University, and in 1965 started work at Boeing in Seattle, designing air-to-ground missiles.
After tiring of military work at Boeing, he obtained a master’s degree in business administration from Seattle University. This allowed him to transfer to the commercial airplane side of Boeing in 1974, as an engineering analyst, where he stayed until retirement in 1995.
He met and married
Patricia Dyre in 1967. They lived and worked in the Seattle area until retirement in 1995, and came to live full-time in the San Juans, first on Brown Island and then San Juan.
Together they enjoyed music, sailing, skiing, hiking, wine-touring, puttering around the property, and volunteering in the community. They had quite a ride and were married
45 years.
Skip is survived by his wife, Patricia Dyre Kimble, and two sisters, Cornelia Kimble Rozmajzl and Roberta Sue Kimble. He was preceded in death by both parents; by his brother, Robert Carlisle Kimble, Jr.; and by two sisters, Joan Kimble Diederich and Madelyn Kimble Foley.
Memorials may be made to the charity of choice.
A private gathering to celebrate Skip's life will take place in early summer.
— Family of Skip Kimble
Christopher Schutza
Sept. 2, 1971 — Dec. 10, 2012
In the early morning hours of Dec. 10, when the tide was low, Chris slipped his moorings and sailed away... over the unknown shore greeted by friends and family who sailed away before.
Chris was born on Sept. 2, 1971 in Dallas, Texas, to Norman and Patricia Schutza. He grew up in Dallas, and attended school.
At the age of 21, he set sail on a new journey and landed in Friday Harbor, where he met his wife Holly Mason Schutza of 17 years, and raised a family.
Chris was a man of many talents. He worked in the grocery business for years, then moved on to construction; he was an artist, tattooist, musician, and writer, but what he cherished most was his quiet, private family life.
Chris was blessed with five beautiful, talented, unique children, and he was always so proud.
Chris was well known for his fun, crazy humor, gentle spirit, kind heart; he was a true gentleman. He will be greatly missed by all those that he touched.
Chris is survived by his wife, Holly Mason Schutza, of Friday Harbor; sons Jonathon Schutza of Seattle, Kristopher Mason of Friday Harbor, London Schutza of Friday Harbor, daughters Chloe and Phoebe Schutza of Friday Harbor, brother J.J. and Heather of Mount Vernon, mother Patricia Schutza and father Norman Schutza of Dallas, Texas.
His "Celebration of Life" will be held at Paideia School, on Jan. 6, 2013, at 2 p.m. with reception to follow.
— Family of Christopher Schutza
Else Martha Franke Gabriel
April 18, 1913 — Dec. 8, 2012
Else Gabriel was born in the Charlottenburg District of Berlin, Germany in 1913, the second of two daughters to Elise and Herman Franke.
While not from a wealthy family, she won a scholarship to a prestigious private girls’ academy early on in her schooling.
Her education, which included studying at the University of Berlin, gave Else a life-long love of learning and knowledge.
Born just before World War I, the politics and social chaos in Germany shaped her life dramatically, and Else and her young family were, essentially, refugees from 1938 until 1955.
Fleeing the war in Europe, she went on to live in Kenya, Uganda, Palestine, Cyprus, returned to Germany in 1955, immigrated to Canada and then moved to Michigan and Texas.
After almost 30 years in Texas, and at 88 years old, Else stated that she wanted to have one more adventure and moved to Orcas Island, sight unseen.
Among the Orcas islanders, she found a home, church and community that she adored and often said that the happiest time of her life was here in the San Juan Islands.
Else is on her last journey now, but her friends at Emmanuel Episcopal Parish and at the Orcas Senior Center are likely to remember the vivid stories of her travels for years to come.
She is survived by: her daughter, Dagmar Szabados of North Hollywood, Calif; daughter, Ingrid Gabriel of Friday Harbor; granddaughter, Isabel Gabriel of Friday Harbor; son, Harald Wermel of Rutherford, N.J.; and beloved niece, Christiane Vermel of Red Rock, Ariz.
She is preceded in passing by her son, Ivar Wermel and her grandson, Spencer Wermel.
A memorial service and interment at Emmanuel Episcopal Parish in Eastsound will take place in the spring. Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Anacortes, and the San Juan Islands.
— Family of Else Gabriel
