Craig Roberts shares his mom’s photo and obituary, hoping to get the word out to as many of those who knew her as possible, before her service this Sunday. It tells quite a story of a woman deeply and joyfully involved in her community – a great West Seattle story even if you didn’t know her:

Evelyn Jean ROBERTS
6/26/25 – 11/16/10

While we have lost our mother, America has lost a Patriot. Evelyn “Jean” Roberts, 85, of West Seattle passed away November 16, 2010 after a brief illness. A celebration of her life will be held December 19 (see below).

Jean was born June 26, 1925 in Kalo, Iowa, the last of seven children from parents Francis John Craig & Janetta Mae (Alvord) Craig, who preceded her in death, as did six brothers and sisters: Eva Leona Craig, Laurence Alvord Craig, Aileen Janetta Wynn, Charles Francis Craig, Olive Rosena Schultz & Lois Mae Finkle. Four siblings served during WWII: Laurence, Francis, Olive & Lois. Growing up as a teenager during WWII brought to her a level of patriotism and love for her country that continued throughout her life. After the 1971 death of husband, Wilfred R. (Tiny) Roberts, who also died of service-connected causes, Jean devoted her life over the last 40 years to Veterans’ organizations including countless volunteer hours at The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the USO and the Red Cross.

Just like a scene from “The Grapes of Wrath,” in October 1936 when Jean was just 11 years old, the family packed up their Plymouth, leaving Iowa headed for Seattle, making the 1,700-mile trip in four days, three nights. Following scarce employment, the family moved to Fairbanks, Alaska from 1936-1942. Jean, 15, returned to Seattle to study voice, living with her sister Olive. When WWII broke out, the entire family returned to Seattle for good. Graduating from Garfield HS in the spring of 1942 at 17, Jean loved to sing and entertain, and her career was just beginning.

During the war, Jean, 18, married John Abner Robbins in November 1942 in Coeur d’Alene Idaho, divorcing shortly thereafter. After the war, Mom auditioned for and got a singing job with band leader Wilfred R. (Tiny) Roberts, our dad. After three weeks of working together in nightclubs, our Dad was so jealous of all the attention Mom got singing, he proposed and they married June 27, 1946, the day after her 21st birthday. They traveled throughout the Western States, Montana, Washington and Idaho, performing and entertaining with their band, “Three Satan’s and an Angel.” After five years touring, they settled in the Admiral District of West Seattle, her home for the last 60 years.

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Twenty people have left comments of condolence and memory since word of West Seattle Realtor and Washington State Real Estate Commissioner Dan Murphy‘s death was published here last week. Today, more information: The Seattle-King County Association of Realtors has shared the photo at right along with an obituary noting more details of Mr. Murphy’s life and accomplishments, plus news that a memorial service is not expected to be scheduled until next spring, though letters are being collected now for a memory book. Read on:Read More

From Sacha, news of a memorial service this Saturday for West Seattle resident Aidan Bigliardi, and his obituary:

Aidan Christopher Bigliardi passed away October 2, 2010 peacefully at home after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born in Seattle, Washington on January 17, 1955. He spent his childhood on Mercer Island, where his father was the priest of Mercer Island Episcopal Church.

Aidan received his degree in nursing and worked as an RN in the operating room his entire career. He served the patients, surgeons and staff at Highline Medical Center for 30 years.

Aidan loved fishing, hiking, hunting, gardening, reading, the Seattle Times Sunday crossword puzzle and entertaining family and friends at “the trailer” in Eastern Washington.

He was preceded in death by his father Matthew Paul Bigliardi, Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Oregon. He is survived by his mother Jeanne Bigliardi, Rachel Bigliardi, his children Nicole White, Mia, Matthewm Lucas and Ali and granddaughter Julie White.

Aidan, you are loved dearly and will forever live in our hearts.

Aidan Bigliardi’s Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 9, 2010 at 1:00 pm at Hope Lutheran Church (4456 42nd SW). All are welcome to attend.

(If you have an obituary to share, we are glad to publish these types of tributes, free of charge.)

Daryl and Donna e-mailed to ask that we publish news of Helen Finnell‘s passing, explaining, “Helen was a resident of West Seattle from approximately 1948-2003 and volunteered for a number of years at both the West Seattle Senior Center and Food Bank.” Her memorial and burial are set for this Tuesday. Read ahead for the full announcement:Read More

(WSB photo from December 2009)
That’s the family-suggested heading for the obituary that will appear in the Seattle Times this weekend and was shared with us for publication today by Dave Townsend, nephew of Ken Wise, the longtime entrepreneur, Rotarian, and totem-pole sleuth – the only photo in our files is the one above, with Mr. Wise at left, the day he and fellow Rotarian Duane Ruud (right) went out to Lake Sawyer to try to track down the then-missing pole, later recovered, and then reinstalled four days before his death (as Rotary past president Amy Lee Derenthal noted at last night’s rededication). Hours before that sleuthing expedition (which WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand tagged along for, taking the above photo), Mr. Wise had joined in the annual Rotary Shopping Spree at SODO Sears – an event he founded, according to his obituary. His service is one week from tomorrow, as you’ll read, ahead:

Born and raised in West Seattle, Kenny Wise was a local institution:

From leading the West Seattle Rotary Kiddies Parade at Hi-Yu, to being Santa for years at the Rotary Christmas shopping day at Sears for needy children, which he initiated in 1974, and most recently leading the hunt for the stolen Rotary Totem Pole, he was everywhere in West Seattle.

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Thanks to Leslie for sharing this link via Facebook: Our partners at the Seattle Times published an obituary today for 86-year-old Neal Saffer, who ran Quesnel’s Restaurant in West Seattle for more than 20 years. According to the obituary, Mr. Saffer is to be buried at Dignity/Forest Lawn in West Seattle at noon tomorrow, with the burial service there to be followed by a reception at Holy Rosary; he died of heart failure, and is survived by family members including wife Margaret Saffer, with whom he had moved to Port Orchard in 2004. (If you are not a long-long-time West Seattleite – some WSB’ers who are, have discussed Quesnel’s over the years, and remember it as being along Beach Drive.)

Tonight before the High Point Neighborhood Association meets (6 pm, High Point Library), members of its Pedestrian Safety Committee plan a walking tour with City Council President Nick Licata. One of the recent tragedies that concern this group and other West Seattle residents is the accident at 35th/Othello on October 27th that killed longtime area resident and educator/engineer/inventor Oswald Clement. His memorial is now set for next Wednesday (11/14) at St. James Cathedral, according to friend and former student Sharon Stone, who has written an obituary to tell us all more about Mr. Clement and his life, which ended just two days short of his 86th birthday:Read More