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Wyatt James Stephens
Wyatt James Stephens, the infant son of Jeffrey and Rhonda Stephens of Wauna died May 20, 2002. He was almost five months old.
In addition to his parents, Wyatt is survived by his brother, Jeremy James Geer; and his grandparents, Tom and Suzanne Neeley of Camino, Calif., Darcie and Gary Cousins of Gig Harbor and Youin and Barbara Stephens of Willows, Calif.
A reception gathering was held at the family home. Arrangements were under the direction of Haven of Rest in Gig Harbor.
Remembrances in Wyatt's name may be made to Make-A-Wish Foundation of Washington, 400 E Pine St., Suite 220, Seattle, WA 98122.
Richard Mann
Richard E. Mann, 89, of Silverdale died May 27, 2002, at Martha & Mary Health Care Center in Poulsbo.
He was born Oct. 3, 1912, in Medford, Ore. He graduated from Medford High School in 1929 and served an apprenticeship in the sheetmetal trade there.
He married
June L. Hall in Medford on Feb. 2, 1935.
Mr. Mann went to work at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in 1940, residing in Bremerton. He retired from PSNS in 1977 as a planner/estimator.
He was a past secretary of the sheetmetal workers' union; a lifetime member of Masonic Lodge 117 in Bremerton; and a member of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Bremerton.
He had been a Cub Scout master. He enjoyed coin collecting and gardening.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Richard Mann Jr. and his wife, Genny; a daughter, Carol Walker; a grandson, John Walker; and a granddaughter, Theresa Baisler and her husband, Scott. He was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Lou Johnson of Jacksonville, Ore.
Visitation will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home, followed by a 3 p.m. funeral service.
Gail Francis
Gail Dorsene (Rice) Francis, 64, of Port Orchard died May 6, 2002, at her home.
She was born Sept. 18, 1937, in Long Beach, Calif., to Montrose M. and May Marie (Bering) Rice. She graduated from South Kitsap High School in 1955 and from the University of Washington.
She married
Ronald Hall in 1955 in Port Orchard. They divorced in 1960.
She married
Merton E. Francis in 1962. They divorced in 1977, and he preceded her in death.
Mrs. Francis retired in the mid-1980s from a 40-year career as an executive secretary. Her career included positions with The Boeing Co., the mayor's office in Lynnwood, Magic Mountain (now Six Flags) in California, and, her last job, with Kitsap County Fairgrounds.
In her youth, she developed a love of horses, later becoming a champion barrel racer and participating in rodeos throughout the West Coast. She had been a member of the Kitsap County Sheriff's Posse and the Trailerettes, riding in many parades.
Other interests were fishing, camping, gardening, leathercraft, painting, drawing, crochet, reading and watching old movies.
Survivors include two sons, Donnie A. Francis of Port Orchard and Merton E. Francis of Irrigon, Ore.; a daughter, Debbie M. Rader of Port Orchard; a brother, Ron Rice of Port Orchard; 12 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; five nephews and one niece, all of Port Orchard; an aunt and an uncle, both of Texas; and numerous cousins in Washington and Texas.
A celebration of life will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at 10219 Glenwood Road in Port Orchard. Arrangements are under the direction of Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home.
Memorial donations may be made to the Kitsap Humane Society or to the Kitsap County Fair.
David Libby
David Allen Libby, 66, of Port Orchard died after a battle with lung cancer May 25, 2002, at Harrison Hospital.
He was born Dec. 8, 1935, in Bangor, Maine, to Levi and Bertha (Vintinner) Livengood. He graduated from high school in Bangor in 1952.
He married
Beverly Rhodes. They had been married
for 40 years.
Mr. Libby had worked with the city of Port Orchard for 23 years, retiring in 2001 as supervisor of maintenance. He was also an ordained Episcopal pastor, minister-ing in a nondenominational capacity.
He was a Matchbox car collector. He also enjoyed anything having to do with lighthouses.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, David Allen Libby Jr. of Waterboro, Maine, and Dana Sean Libby of Biddeford, Maine; three daughters, Stephanie Livengood and Martha Childress, both of Port Orchard, and Carol Lee Libby of St. Jude, Mo.; three brothers, Robert Libby of Norridgewock, Maine, Edward Libby of Pownal, Maine, and Raymond Libby of Augusta, Maine; two sisters, Edith Wood of Winthrop, Maine, and Patricia Sweeney of Liver-more, Maine; and 10 grand-children. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and one sister.
A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. today at Pendleton-Gilchrist Funeral Home at Rill Chapel. Inurnment will be at Sunset Lane cemetery in Port Orchard at a later date.
Memorial donations may be made to the 4 West Cancer Ward at Harrison Hospital.
Gene Gurske
Gene Gurske, 77, of Bremerton died May 28, 2002, of viral pneumonia at Harrison Hospital.
He was born Dec. 31, 1924, in Yakima to Fred and Mary Gurske. He moved to Bremerton in 1940 with his parents, attending Bremerton High School and working at the Black Ball Ferry Dock until his enlistment in the Navy in 1943 as a high school senior.
In 1946, Mr. Gurske returned to Bremerton where he worked for Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Co. He married
Thelma Fuller of Bremerton in 1947 in Bremerton.
He was recalled to active Navy duty during the Korean War. He later worked with U.S. West Telephone Co. for 37 years, retiring in 1983.
Following his retirement, Mr. Gurske swam regularly at the Glenn Jarstad Aquatic Center in Bremerton. Other interests were bicycling, working with lumber, his Lionel O-gauge model train layout and traveling with his wife.
He donated much time to the installation and maintenance of Lifeline units at Harrison Hospital and installed the vintage working switchboard at the Kitsap County Historical Museum.
Mr. Gurske had attended all 13 reunions with his Navy LST 912 shipmates. This year, the Elizabeth Ellington Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution honored him for community service.
He is survived by his wife; a son, Greg Gurske and his wife, Barbara, of Olympia and their children, Kristen and Jeffrey; a son, Stan Gurske of Friday Harbor and his daughter, Megan; and a daughter, Denise Siegel and her husband, Jerry, of Bend, Ore., and their children, Ryan and Deanne.
At his request, no formal services will be held. A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home, followed by a celebration of life at the Gurske home in Bremerton.
Memorial donations may be made to the Kitsap County Historical Society, 280 Fourth St., Bremerton, WA 98337.
James Murrell
James Wilfrid Murrell, 95, of Bremerton died May 22, 2002, at Clearbrook Inn in Silverdale.
He was born April 22, 1907, in Horden Colliery, England, to James and Susanah (Moss) Murrell.
He married
Ruth Rister on March 15, 1931, in Trinidad, Colo. She preceded him in death in November 2001. The Murrells had been married
more than 70 years.
Mr. Murrell served in the Navy Reserves during World War II. He later was an electrician at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for 27 years, retiring as a supervisor in 1968.
Following his retirement, Mr. and Mrs. Murrell traveled. They spent winters in Arizona for 18 years.
Mr. Murrell also enjoyed homebuilding, having constructed their home on Hood Canal. He was affiliated with the Lutheran faith.
Survivors include a son, James Allan Murrell and his wife, Lori, of Merced, Calif.; seven grandchildren, Linda, Ruthie, Kathy, Greg, Todd, Bart and Troy; 14 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. He also was preceded in death by a daughter, Joyce Maas Warren; a sister, Pam; and a brother, Red.
Visitation will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, followed by a 2 p.m. funeral service, both at Haven of Rest in Gig Harbor.
Entombment will be at Haven of Rest.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Kitsap County, P.O. Box 3416, Silverdale, WA 98383-3416.
Carlos Hecht
Former Bremerton resident Carlos Hect, 67, of Raymond died May 26, 2002, at the Georgian House in Tacoma.
He was born Dec. 9, 1934, in New York City. He was a Korean War veteran, having served in the Air Force for six years.
Mr. Hecht had lived in Bremerton for 19 years. He was an electrician at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, retiring in 1993.
He moved to Raymond in 1995 and enjoyed living in the country. Other interests were animals and gardening.
Survivors include his special friend and caregiver, Donna Buckendorf of Frances; two daughters, Cindy Hecht of Port Orchard and Wendy Bohner of Boston; a son, Charles Hecht of Monroe; a sister, Hilda Valez of Miami; a brother, Martin Hecht of Riverside, Calif.; and a granddaughter.
A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Menlo cemetery in Raymond with full military honors by Pacific Post 968 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Arrangements are under the direction of Stoller's Mortuary in Raymond.
Anitia Benn
Former Bremerton resident Anitia M. Benn, 78, of Port Ludlow died of congestive heart failure
May 24, 2002, at Northwoods Lodge in Silverdale.
She was born Jan. 28, 1924, on Vashon Island to Raymond and Lettie (Brown) Minor. She graduated from Bremerton High School in 1941.
She married
Edmund B. Benn on Dec. 17, 1967, in the chapel at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
Mrs. Benn worked in retail and as a buyer for Parker Lumber for 25 years. She retired in 1978.
She enjoyed gardening and church volunteer work. She was a member of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Chimacum.
Survivors include her husband; two sons, Greg Tyree of Bremerton and Donald Tyree of Gig Harbor; a daughter, Aloha Pierce of Bremerton; a brother, Frank Minor of Friday Harbor; a sister, Aloha Streutker of Gorst; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be at 2:30 p.m. today at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer.
Arrangements are under the direction of Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home.
Memorial donations may be made to Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, P.O. Box 70, Chimacum, WA 98325.
Mike Leeper
Michael Denver "Mike" Leeper, 57, of Bremerton died May 22, 2002, at Forest Ridge Health and Rehabilitation Center in Bremerton.
He was born May 3, 1945, in Highland Park, Mich., to Denver and Elizabeth (McCollum) Leeper. He graduated from Williamsburg High School in Williamsburg, Iowa, in 1963 and attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.
He married
Lynne Stoelting on Sept. 30, 1967, in Mundelein, Ill.
Mr. Leeper served in the Navy from 1966 to 1987, retiring as a chief petty officer. He later was a logistics analyst with the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics on the Naval Submarine Base at Bangor, retiring because of a disability in 1991.
He enjoyed reading and watching movies.
Survivors include his wife; his mother, now of Marengo, Iowa; a son, James Leeper of Kirkland; a daughter, Susanne (Leeper) McGill of Silverdale; a brother, John Leeper of Blairstown, Iowa; a sister, Mary (Leeper) Cronbaugh of Marengo; and two grandchildren, Alyssa and Haille McGill, both of Silverdale. He was preceded in death by his father and a son, Steven Leeper.
A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 4215 Pine Road NE in East Bremerton.
Arrangements are under the direction of Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home.
Memorial donations may be made to Washington PAVE (Parents Are Vital in Education), 6316 S. 12th St., Suite B, Tacoma, WA 98465. PAVE is a nonprofit agency for families of children with disabilities.
Bernie Caughey
Bernard J. "Bernie" Caughey, 92, of Port Orchard died May 15, 2002, at the Washington Veterans Home in Retsil.
He was born Aug. 1, 1909, in Muskegon, Mich., to Benjamin and Helen (LeTart) Caughey. He graduated from Muskegon Area High School, attended the University of Michigan-Lansing and graduated from the University of Santa Clara in Santa Clara, Calif.
He married
Elaine M. Sagaser. She preceded him in death in 1972 in Cupertino, Calif.
Mr. Caughey served in the Navy as a boatswain's mate first class with the Seabees - attached to the First Special Naval Construction Battalion.
He later was a hospital administrator for more than 20 years, retiring in 1960.
Mr. Caughey enjoyed horseback riding and boating. He was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
He is survived by a son, Gregory Caughey of Bremerton; and a grand-daughter, Jennifer Caughey of Pleasanton, Calif.
A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Los Gatos Memorial Park in Los Gatos, Calif.
Arrangements are under the direction of Pendleton-Gilchrist Funeral Home at Rill Chapel.
