Wells, Bonnie Lee - Sunday, 13 Jun 2004
Funeral services for Bonnie Lee Wells will be held Thursday, June 17, at 10 a.m. at the Coupeville Foursquare Church with Pastor Garrett Arnold officiating. Graveside services will follow at Sunnyside Cemetery.
Bonnie Lee Alexander Wells, 79, died June 13, 2004 at her home in Coupeville following an extended illness. She was born Oct. 15, 1924, in Santee, Neb., to Harold and Frances (Lamm) Alexander. Bonnie moved to Golden Valley, Minn., as a small child, then in the mid 1930’s moved to Matanuska Valley, Alaska, as a part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal colonization project of low-income farm families of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
In 1939, Bonnie moved to South Whidbey and in 1941, to Coupeville which became her permanent home. In 1942, she married David B. Wells, a soldier at Fort Casey, and they started their family of five children.
While raising her family, Bonnie worked for the Whidbey News-Times as the local gossip columnist with a weekly column titled “Bonnie Notes.” She was also the babysitter for many of the Coupeville children, worked for a time as a rural mail carrier for the Postal Service and owned and operated the Sweet Shoppe of Coupeville for several years.
Bonnie is survived by five children and their spouses: David Wells and Jean Wells of Coupeville; Boyd Wells and fiance‚Vicki Crichton of Oak Harbor; Sandra Wells of Coupeville; Joanette and Keith Joiner of Valley and Wendy and Rick Witt of Brewster. Two brothers and their spouses, Don “Babe” Alexander and Jeanette and Bill and Mabel Alexander of Clinton, and 16 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren also survive. She was preceded in death by her husband David Wells in 1976 and one brother Bob Alexander and her parents. Her great passions were gardening, especially flowers and vegetables and her family and friends.
Memorials may be made to breast cancer research. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.
Hightower, Justin - Saturday, 12 Jun 2004
Celebration of life services for Justin E. Hightower will be held Thursday, June 17, 2004, at 4 p.m., at Living Word Fellowship Church, Oak Harbor, with Pastor Dave Veach officiating. Cremation was held with private family inurnment to follow at a later date.
Justin Hightower, 23, died near Albany, Ore.,June 12, from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. He was born Feb. 25, 1981, at Langley Air Force Base, Hampton, Virginia to Donald Paul and Betty Sue (Green) Hightower.
Justin moved with his family from Hampton to Anchorage, Alaska, at the age of one. The family spent 10 years in Alaska and in 1991 moved to Mountain Home, Idaho. July 1, 1994, Oak Harbor became home for the Hightower family. Justin attended school in Oak Harbor and also operated his own lawn mowing business.
Justin graduated from Oak Harbor High School with the Class of 1999. He went on to college at Washington State University, working toward his degree in construction management. P & L Construction and the Coachman Inn, both of Oak Harbor, employed him during the summers. Justin decided to complete his degree at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Ore. He was working as the night auditor at the Holiday Inn Express in Corvallis, awaiting entrance to OSU.
Justin loved the out-of-doors. He enjoyed fishing, crabbing, hiking, camping, backpacking, dirt biking, jet skiing, snowboarding, scuba diving and playing softball with the Holiday Inn Express team. He also enjoyed country-western music, traveling and was a man of many dreams. His greatest dream was to learn to fly.
Justin Hightower is survived by his parents, Don and Betty Hightower and his brother Christopher Paul Hightower and his adopted family, Jack and Patty Christian and their son Joshua, all of Oak Harbor. His grandfather, Everett Hightower of Grants Pass, Ore., and his grandmother Margie Green of Culpeper, Va., also survive him.
Memorials may be made to the Justin Hightower fund at any branch of Whidbey Island Bank. Arrangements are under the direction of Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor, Washington.
Sher, Marilyn F. - Friday, 11 Jun 2004
Marilyn F. Sher, 76, passed away June 11, 2004, at Whidbey General Hospital in Coupeville. She is survived by her husband Lee, after 58 years of marriage; her brother, Col. Stuard Levy and wife Monika of Stockton, Calif.; children Steven and wife Sonja of Fresno, Calif., daughter Sandra of Oakland, Calif., and David and his wife Barbara of Maple Valley. Also surviving are grandchildren Daniel, Allen, Brian, Jeremy and Stacy, and great-grandchild Lance Fiss of San Jose, Calif.
Marilyn attended the University of Arizona in Tucson in 1943. she met her future husband, Lee, then an aviation cadet in the U.S. Army Air Corps, at a USO dance in Phoenix where her family resided. Marilyn was married in June 1946. Lee left the Air Force in 1952 and the family lived in the San Francisco Bay area until 1959 when they moved to Citrus Heights, Calif.
Marilyn, after raising her family, began her charitable efforts which included hospital volunteering at Valley Children’s Hospital in Fresno and as a vision screener for children in a Lion’s program. She also served as president of the local chapter. Later, in Citrus Heights, Calif., she served as a volunteer in a local senior center and at Roseville Community Hospital. In 1989, Marily and Lee moved to Oak Harbor and had made it their home for the past 15 years. Marilyn volunteered for Oak Harbor Meals on Wheels and assisted Elaine and Debbie Bott.
Marilyn was a patient and strong mother who gave her all to her family in spite of suffering the rigors of primary lateral sclerosis, a neurological disease for the past 40 years which made her a quadraplegic. But her strong will and determination made her a model for all people, handicapped or not. She will be missed.
A memorial celebration for the life of Marilyn Sher will be held at Oak Harbor Senior Center Saturday, July 24, from 1 to 4 p.m. All her friends and acquaintances are urged to attend. Food, refreshments and music will be provided. Dress is informal. Please no gifts or flowers.
Petcoff, Jean Westlund Tuesday, 08 Jun 2004
Jean Westlund Petcoff, daughter of Chaplain Wes Westlund, USN (Ret.), of Oak Harbor, died of cancer May 28, 2004, at Burdett Tomen Memorial Hospital in Cape May, N.J. She was born in 1958 in South Bend, Ind. She started school in Oak Harbor. She was a 1976 graduate of Lower Cape May Regional High School. Mrs. Petcoff was an administrative assistant to the chief of police in Cape May for 20 years. She was a member of the Hobie Fleet No. 443 of Town Bank, N.J. Surviving are her husband Joseph Petcoff; her father, Orville Westlund of Whidbey Island, and a brother, Mark Westlund of Port Townsend.
A memorial service for Jean was held June 1 in North Cape May, N.J., at Envoy Funeral Home. She was honored by the past and present chiefs of police and staff of Cape May Police Department. The entrance to Cape May’s City Hall was draped in her honor.
Chaney, William - Tuesday, 08 Jun 2004
William R. “Bill” Chaney, 80, passed away peacefully June 8, 2004, at Life Care Center of Mount Vernon after a long illness. Bill was born October 9, 1923, in Alameda, Calif., to Ira and Louise (Ray) Chaney.
Bill graduated from high school in Hollywood, Calif., in 1941 and attended college in Fort Collins, Colo. Bill met his future bride Eileen Byfield in Phoenix, Ariz., soon after enlisting in the Army Air Corps pilot training program. Bill and Eileen were married in 1944. After graduating from flight school, Bill flew the B-17 and B-29 bomber aircraft until his discharge in 1945.
Bill returned to civilian life and became a disk jockey at a radio station in Bakersfield, Calif. In 1952, he returned to active duty with the U. S. Air Force at Biggs Air Force Base. He flew B-47 bomber aircraft. In 1957, he was transferred to Anderson AFB, Guam, where he flew weather reconnaissance missions in WB-50 aircraft, making numerous penetrations of typhoons in the Pacific storm tracking systems.
Bill returned to Biggs AFB, where he flew KB-50 air refueling tanker aircraft. In 1963, he was transferred to Yokota Air Base, Japan, where he was the base operations officer. From there he went on to Charleston, AFB, S.C., where he flew the C-141 cargo aircraft on numerous missions to Europe and the Pacific area during the Vietnam War. Bill retired in 1970 with the rank of lieutenant colonel, having served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
Bill and Eileen settled in Auburn, Calif., following retirement. They enjoyed touring the country in their GMC motor home, including trips to Whidbey Island. In 1989, they made Oak Harbor their permanent residence. Bill was a member of the Oak Harbor First United Methodist Church.
Bill is survived by his wife Eileen of Oak Harbor and by his cousin Ron Chaney and wife Carol, also of Oak Harbor.
Private burial was held at Maple Leaf Cemetery, Oak Harbor. Memorial services will be held Thursday, June 17, at Oak Harbor Retirement Community, Memory Care facility, with Pastor David Lura officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.
Roth, Mary Gaylord Tuesday, 08 Jun 2004
Mary Gaylord Roth, 90, of Everett, formerly of Coupeville, died June 8, 2004 at Lynnwood Manor Health Care Center.
Mrs. Roth was born Aug. 21, 1913, in Sweet Home, Ore., to Wallace Gaylord and Grace (Van Atta) Gaylord. She finished high school at Wa-Hi, Ore., in 1930. Mary was married to Harold (Kye) Roth in 1931 in Wenatchee, where they lived until 1946. He was a baker and she worked as a retail clerk. In 1946, they moved to Yakima and lived in that area until 1960. They retired to Hemet, Calif., for several years. Their retirement turned to resort management at Whistling Jack for four years and caretaking on Whidbey Island during the 1970’s. In 1983 they moved to South Everett to assume care of Mary’s mother.
Mary is survived by her husband Kye, who still lives in good health and enjoys regular Lion’s Club activities. Also surviving is one son, Don Roth and wife Janet of Coupeville; four grandchildren, Barbara Roth of Lynnwood, David Roth and wife Sandy of Escondido, Calif., Kathy Nelson and husband Jeff of American Falls, Idaho, and Steven Roth of Sumner; five great-grandchildren, Jason and Amy Nelson, Donald, Sarah and Stefanie Roth.
A memorial graveside service was held June 10, at Sunnyside Cemetery, the Rev. Mary Boyd officiating. Arrangements and cremation under direction of Burley Funeral Chapel.
Heberlein Bryan, Bertha - Thursday, 03 Jun 2004
Bertha “Bea” Heberlein Bryan, 89, died June 3, 2004, at Victorian Cottage Adult Family Home, Coupeville. Bea was born Nov. 22, 1914, in Streeter, Kidder County, N.D., the daughter of Gottlieb and Christina (Job) Mueller.
She was educated in North Dakota and in Sheridan, Wyo., where she graduated as a registered nurse. Following graduation, she took post-graduate courses in psychiatry, pediatrics, intensive care and coronary care in Wyoming and later in Colorado and Seattle. She worked in white uniform for 43 years in all fields of nursing including six years during World War II in the VA hospital in Lexington, Ky. At the conclusion of the war she returned to Seattle and public health duty.
Bea married Frederick ‘Freddy’ Heberlein in 1961 in Seattle. A happy, although childless marriage resulted in extensive travels throughout the U.S., Japan, Mexico and Canada. Mutual retirements brought them to Whidbey Island in 1978, where they settled in Greenbank at Lagoon Point. Together, they enjoyed both island living and civic volunteering until Freddy’s death in November of 1994.
In June of 1996, Bea married William T. “Bill” Bryan, who was serving as pastor of the Coupeville Community Bible Church.
Bea is survived by her husband, Bill Bryan of Coupeville; two sisters, Emma Milford of Montgomery Village, Md., and Esther L. McWilliams of Sheridan, Wyo., and one brother, Andy Mueller of Redway, Calif. Fifteen nieces and eight nephews plus some very special grandnieces and grandnephews as well as numerous friends, whom she considered to be her extended family, also survive.
A memorial service will be held at San de Fuca Chapel Thursday, June 10, at 2 p.m., with Pastor Cliff Horr officiating. Cremation was held with private family inurnment to follow at a later date. Memorials may be made in Bea’s name to your favorite charity. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.
Wolfe, June (Williams) - Monday, 31 May 2004
June L. (Williams) Wolfe, 81, lifetime resident of Oak Harbor, died Monday, May 31, 2004, at Home Place.
Mrs. Wolfe was born in Marysville June 28, 1922, the daughter of Robert "Mac" and Ida "Mimi" Williams. She was raised in San de Fuca, where she attended the old one-room school house. June 28, 1941, she married Ben Faber. They had three children, Linda, Ron and the late Bob Faber. June was a homemaker, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. In 1962, she married George Wolfe of Oak Harbor. George preceded her in death in 1974.
Over the years, June taught Sunday school and was active in the church. Her children and grandchildren were her life. Her greatest desire was that her family live for the Lord. Her favorite Scripture was Psalms 103 and 139. Her favorite song was "The Love of God."
June was preceded in death by George Wolfe, Ben Faber, Bob Faber and her brother, Bill Williams. She is survived by her son, Ron Faber, daughter and son-in-law Linda and Mike Earnhart, all of Oak Harbor; and daughter and son-in-law Sharon and Steven Keith of Anacortes; sister Beverly Jaeger of Coupeville; 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; also, numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Wednesday, June 2, from 3 to 8 p.m. at Burley Funeral Chapel. A funeral service will be Thursday, June 3, 10 a.m. at Burley Funeral Chapel. A graveside committal service will take place at 3 p.m. at Marysville Cemetery.
Mason, J r., Stuart James - Monday, 31 May 2004
Lt. Cmdr. Stuart James Mason, Jr., USN, Retired, chose Memorial Day, May 31, 2004, to leave this planet. He died surrounded by his family in his Anacortes home. While his passing ends his time here on Earth, his impact on the lives of his family and friends will never fade.
Stu was born in Portland, Ore., Sept. 8, 1921. As a child he endured poverty and abuse that served to strengthen his resolve to rise above his situation. He joined the U.S. Navy March 9, 1939, at the age of 17, and he often said that after his first Navy meal of steak and eggs, “I knew I’d found a home.” His Navy career spanned 28 years and three wars. In World War II he served on the USS Enterprise and earned a Purple Heart as a combat air crewman in the Battle of Midway. He went on to fly in 40 combat missions in Korea, and while serving as the officer in charge of the Navy RBS site at Geiger AFB in Spokane, he was honored as the first Navy non-pilot to be designated combat-ready by the Air Force in F-89s.
His retirement in 1967 as a lieutenant commander marked the beginning of a new tour of duty. His experiences in the Navy and his love of boats often took Stu and the whole family to the many docks, shipyards, and marinas that proliferate in the Pacific Northwest. This love led him to commercial fishing. He and another retiree, Cmdr. James Keating, together with their wives founded Island Trollers, Inc., in April, 1966. They bought a commercial trolling vessel, the Oslo, and fished for salmon and albacore the first summer following their retirement from the Navy. Stu continued to fish commercially for the next 28 years. But his focus shifted.
Stu always dreamed of building a fishing sailboat. So after a few seasons of fishing, the Oslo was sold, the Keatings went on to other interests, and Island Trollers became a family-owned corporation. This enabled the purchase of a 65-foot Ferro cement hull in the early 1970s. Stu spent his summers fishing on other boats and the rest of his time building his sailboat, the Aura, from the hull up. It was a labor of love driven by his passion and vision. From the maiden voyage in 1985 with three generations on board, until he finally retired from fishing in 1996, his dedication to his dream served to inspire all who knew him.
After his second retirement, he dedicated much of his time to correspondence with others who served on the Enterprise with him during World War II. He was inducted in the Enlisted Combat Aircrew Roll of Honor aboard the Yorktown on Nov. 11, 1997, and was known and respected as an historical resource for the battles in the Pacific Area in World War II. Stu enjoyed renewing old friendships, and became a popular speaker, sharing his many close calls during the Battle of Midway and the other missions he flew in his career.
Stu is survived by Betty, his bride of 53 years; brother Ralph and Claire Mason of Reading, Pa.; son Larry and Cynthia Mason, son Stuart Mason and Kim Kemp, all of Oak Harbor; daughter April and Ernie Felguth, grandchildren Chris Felguth and Jessamy Felguth Steele, and great grandson Maximillian Steele, all of Salem, Ore.; and daughter Charlotte and Dick Armstrong of Scottsdale, Ariz. The family will honor Stu’s request that no service be held. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: Skagit Hospice Foundation, PO Box 1376, Mount Vernon, WA 98273.
Although his soul has departed and we miss his presence, his spirit lives on in our hearts, our actions, and our thoughts. He is indelibly etched in each of our lives. We wish him smooth sailing and good fishing for his next tour of duty.
So long for now, Dad.
Schlamm, Norbert A. “Bert” - Saturday, 29 May 2004
Norbert A. “Bert” Schlamm, 79, died May 29, 2004, at Whidbey General Hospital, Coupeville. Mr. Schlamm was born Dec. 18, 1924, in San Francisco.
He was educated in San Francisco schools and graduated from the University of California at Berkeley. In 1949, he married Nancy A. Noble who died in 1985. In 1987 he married Kathryn R. Noble.
During World War II, Mr. Schlamm served with the 526th Armored Infantry Battalion, landing at Omaha Beach. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and in the liberation of Germany. His battalion was awarded the Bronze Star as a result of their actions.
During the Korean War, Mr. Schlamm was called to active duty and commissioned in the U. S. Navy. Virtually his entire career was spent in Navy medical research units. The Navy maintained research laboratories all over the world at that time, several in the United States, and also in Cairo, Jakarta, Taipei, and for a few years, in Ethiopia.
Mr. Schlamm was stationed in a NAMRU lab in Oakland, Calif., served three years on a laboratory ship based in Hawaii and also served at other labs in Dugway, Utah, and Bethesda, Md. The last three years of his career was with the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery at a desk assignment. He was tasked with searching for officers and civilians with academic degrees in medical fields and with research experience and interest, which could be used for staffing the various labs in the Navy system. Capt. Schlamm retired from the Navy in 1977. Subsequently, he and his wife Nancy moved to Oak Harbor.
Mr. Schlamm is a member of First Reformed Church of Oak Harbor and a member of the Gideons organization.
Bert is lovingly remembered by his wife Kathryn (Kay) of Oak Harbor, daughter Heidi and husband Manfred Franke and five grandchildren of Prague, Czechoslavakia; daughter Lisa and husband Brian Brogden, two granddaughters, and two great-grandchildren of Arlington and Everett; son Eric of Spokane; son William and wife Joyce Noble and two grandchildren of Gaithersburg, Md.; daughter Patricia and husband Brian Whittaker and two grandsons of Ferndale; and daughter Nancy and husband Michael Urban of Long Island, Maine.
Memorial services for Norbert Schlamm will be held Thursday, June 3, at 11 a.m at the First Reformed Church of Oak Harbor with Rev. Jon Brown officiating. Cremation was held with private family inurnment to follow. Memorials may be given to First Reformed Church or the Gideons.
