Seattle Obituaries
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NEIL TAYLOR WILLIS
NEIL TAYLOR WILLIS
Born: November 21, 1931
Died: January 22, 2009
Celebration of Life: February 21, 2009, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Neil is survived by his wife Marsha; his children, Emily Willis, of Lake Stevens, WA, and Orlo Willis (Trish); and his two grandchildren Jacoy and Garrett Willis of Kenmore, WA. He is also survived by his sisters Margie, Doral and Lora Lea and numerous nieces and nephews.
Neil grew up in a family of musicians and loved good music. He served his country in the Korean War in the 1950’s. He was a carpenter for over 45 years. He loved hunting, fishing and any activity that would take him outdoors. He loved poetry and this particular poem was special to him:
“To Those I Love” by Isla Paschal Richardson:
If I should ever leave you
whom I love
To go along the Silent Way,
grieve not,
Nor speak of me with tears,
but laugh and talk
Of me as if I were
beside you there.
(I’d come—I’d come,
could I but find a way!
But would not tears and grief
be barriers?)
And when you hear a song
or see a bird
I loved, please do not let
the thought of me
Be sad…For I am
loving you just as
I always have…
You were always so good to me!
There are so many things
I wanted still
To do—so many things
to say to you…
Remember that I
did not fear…It was
Just leaving you
that was so hard to face…
We cannot see Beyond…
But this I know:
I love you so—‘twas heaven
here with you!
I will always remember my dad as John Wayne. He had the look. He had the walk. He had the voice. My dad was the toughest man I’ve ever met. He endured pain and hardship his whole life and did his best not to let it show. I never saw my dad cry. I always knew I could count on him. There was never anything he wouldn’t give me or do for me. My dad was a strong disciplinarian and he kept me out of trouble in a time when it was easy to cross the line. He taught me the meaning of honor and duty and that a man’s word is his bond. He taught me how to survive in the wilderness and to love and appreciate the outdoors. My dad was a master carpenter and he taught me how to build things, but more importantly, he taught me to figure out and appreciate how things are built. My dad taught me how to fix most things mechanical or structural and he showed me how to improvise when things didn’t go just right. I will forever remember what my dad smelled like; sawdust, leather and gasoline. Thanks for everything, Dad. I love you. Orlo.
He loved nature, spending time watching birds, and the changing of the seasons. However, his greatest enjoyment was spending time with his family. Many thought of him as gruff, but those of us who knew him best knew him to be generous, and loving. He taught me how to work hard and how to look at a thing, and be able to understand how it works. He bestowed a love of horses to me at a young age. He could tell you anything you wanted to know about a horse, its lineage, its breed, color, etc. He also imparted a love of the outdoors to me. The experience of hunting with him every year turned into a love of hiking and hunting out that perfect “shot” (photo). We didn’t always do things the same way, but everything he taught me extended or expanded to a skill or love of my own. Rest in peace Daddy… love you, Emily
The family deeply appreciates the love and care given to Neil by his doctors, Dr. King and Dr. Kraemer; their staff and Evergreen Hospice.
Robert “Bob” Wraith
Robert “Bob” A. WRAITH
Born on January 27, 1933, Bob passed away at home in the arms of his family on January 26, 2009 following a courageous 15 year battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Bob was a beloved and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He was a long time teacher and football and basketball coach at Renton High School.
Bob attended South Kitsap High School and graduated from Valley City (ND) State University. He served in the Air Force in the Korean War and later in the Army Reserve. He was a Drill Sergeant and was especially proud of his service in the 12th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Bob spent most of his 30 year teaching career at Renton High School before retiring in 1989. He coached football at Renton from 1964 to 1986 and was an assistant coach on Renton’s back-to-back State championship basketball teams in 1966 and 1967. Bob later coached football at Mercer Island High School from 2003-2007 and Juanita High School in 2008.
Bob leaves behind his loving wife of 55 years, Signe; his three children Steve (Jane) Wraith, Shannon (Peter) Van Oppen, and Michelle (Larry) Greene; his grandchildren Stephanie and Ben Wraith, Ross Dillingham, John, Dorothy, Lizzy and Mark Van Oppen, and Tiffany, Patrick and Rosie Griffus; and his great grandchildren Donavin, Haley, Alex, and Alissa.
A service in Celebration of Bob’s Life will be held at 3:00 on Friday, February 20, 2009 at St. Andrews Lutheran Church, 2650 148th Ave. SE, Bellevue, with a gathering to follow. Interment at Tahoma National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Dr. Henry Kaplan Research Fund (Swedish Cancer Institute), 1221 Madison St., Suite 200, Seattle.
Dexter Alan Burlingame
Dexter Alan Burlingame
Dexter Alan Burlingame passed away Tuesday January 6th, 2009 after a hard fought battle with cancer. The younger of two children, “Dex” was born January 27, 1933 in West Boylston, MA. After his engineering education in Maine, and a brief military career in Alaska, he settled in the Pacific Northwest to raise a family (2 boys) in the crisp Northwest air that he loved so much.
He went right to work for the Boeing Co. where he had a direct role in the development of defense systems and space exploration programs that are household names today. An avid outdoorsman, Dex spent years exploring his new world in Washington with friends and family. After 25 years he retired, for only 5 days, before undertaking his final chapter at a dairy farm where, for over 20 years, he fed and cared for over 750 cows right up until the point he couldn’t climb into the tractor anymore.
In his spare time, when he learned that his remote lake community was running out of water, he developed and helped build a complex sand filtration plant so that his neighbors would have potable water. He became a water czar, of sorts, and soon was consulting on projects up and down the Cascade Mountain range well into 2008. A man of sharp contrasts, standing there in his muddy boots & Boston Red Sox cap, he could hold a conversation about how his team designed the lunar rover to work on the moon, the best acidity for soil when growing dahlias, or why the Hubble Telescope failed the first time – all while simultaneously pulling a kitty out of his pocket, which he was taking home from the farm, because “it looked hungry”.
Dex lit up the lives of everyone he encountered. His craft was engineering. His passions were animals, sports and gardening. His love was his wife Judy, his family and his friends. His heart and soul were dedicated to helping those around him and in helping make the world a better place. While personally reluctant to acknowledge that he was ever doing anything special, he forever changed the lives of many with his humanness, work ethic, wisdom, generosity, humor and goodwill. True to his character, he quietly went about his life’s work right up until the day he died. He will be profoundly missed by those whose lives he touched, but he leaves us all with extraordinary inspiration to draw upon for the rest of our lives.
Dex was preceded in death by his parents Albert and Lila, his sister Joyce and his son Derek. Dex is survived by his wife Judy and his son Dale. A private family service was held following his passing and a celebration of Dex’s life will follow at a later date – TBA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to www.feralcatproject.org Please visit obits@bartonfuneral.com to share photos, stories, condolences and contact information to the friends and family of Dex.
Dudley L. Phibbs – November 24, 2008
Dudley L. Phibbs
Born 1/18/1934
Died 11/24/2008
Dudley was born in Bemidji Minnesota where he was raised on a family farm a few miles outside of town. He attended a one room school house, and was proud of the fact he completed the four mile walk to school rain/snow or shine. At the age of 12, the Phibbs moved to Everett, Washington where he lived until graduating from Everett High School. Dudley remained in Washington and attended Washington State University when his family moved back to the farm. He earned a degree in Pharmacy graduating with honors as a part of Rho Chi. He met his future wife, Andra Brand his senior year at Washington State. They were married August 10th, 1958. The Phibbs resided in Everett until 1964, when they relocated to their current home in Bellevue.
Dudley is survived by his wife of 50 years, and two sons, Mark and Scott. Dudley worked as a pharmacist for 24 years, prior to opening his own pharmacy in 1978. He owned and operated his businness for 20 years, until retirement in 1998.
Dudley was an avid reader, and loved trivia. He often had a quip or story to brighten your day, and his sense of humor will always be remembered. Before arthritis slowed down his physical abilities, he was a golfer, tennis player, and participated in many boy scout hikes and campouts with his sons. Dudley was never afraid to try new things. He took painting lessons, wood carving and piano lessons later in life and, always kept his mind very active.
We hope that you can join us at his memorial service on Sunday 1/11/09 at 2:00 p.m.. It will be held at:
Saint Andrew’s Lutheran Church
2650 148th Ave S.E.
Bellevue, Washington 98007.
The family also hopes that you all have a memory of Dudley to carry with you, as they will always have a part of Dudley with them.
Julia Lindgren
Lindgren, Julia 08/18/1940-11/14/2008
Julia Lindgren (Reagle) passed away surrounded by family, at her home in Seattle, WA at the young age of 68 after losing her battle with ovarian cancer. She was very happy in her newly remodeled home and blessed to be surrounded by loved ones.
She spent her life doing what she loved best, being around children and teaching them to read and write. She was an avid reader. She loved mystery and non-fiction the best. She was a school bus driver for many, many years until her battle with cancer forced her to leave the job she loved. She is survived by her father; Benjamin Reagle and her children; Debbie (Tom) Swanson, Bill Lindgren, Shane (Teresa) Hokanson, Larry (Judi) Lindgren, Annie Idom, Phyllis Reich and her three sisters; Sharron (John) Prokschl, Annette Neil, Susie (Mario) Ferrante; and her grandchildren; Tiffany Hokanson, Tara (Lenny) Castle, Tasha Hokanson, Darold Swanson, Sarah Swanson, Amber Swanson, Larry Lindgren III, Steven Lindgren, Stacy Lindgren, Katrina Lindgren, Billy Lindgren II, Crystal Lindgren, Julie Pinson, Zackary O’Connor, Nichole Reich, Jeremy Reich, Angela Baker, and great-grandchildren; Monika Jackson, Damien Castle and yet another one on the way. She was preceded in death by her daughters Melody Lindgren and Peggy Baker, and her favorite son-in-law, Faron Idom as well as her Beloved Mother; Phyllis Reagle. She was a wonderful strong woman and mother who taught us to be loving, honest and independent. She loved being a grandmother and was very excited to become a great-grandmother. We will miss her every day. We love you mom, grandma, great-grandma!!
A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 pm, on Saturday, December 13, 2008, at the Community of Christ Highland Park Congregation Church located at
8611 11th Ave SW Seattle WA 98106.
