Family and friends will gather June 10th to celebrate the life of Betty Spadoni. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing with the community:

Elizabeth “Betty” Spadoni
December 3rd, 1955-January 31st, 2023

On Monday, January 31st, we lost Betty to the battle she has had with her health in recent years. In true Betty form, she fought fiercely and never lost the spark we love so much.

Betty’s personality was one of a kind. Her quick wit and “always something to say” humor was what she was known for by friends and family. Born into the infamous Spadoni family to Dorothy and Henry in 1955, she was one of ten siblings that were raised in West Seattle. She joins her family including five of her brothers and sisters in paradise and leaves behind her children Jason Holmes, Sarah Holmes, and Mariah Lillie, as well as grandchildren Bella, Sicily, Jason Jr., Hudson, and Marquis. This is in addition to her four living siblings, Don (Judy), Marianne (Dan), Irene (Doug), and Steve (Debbie) as well as many nieces, nephews, and loved ones.

Always gaining energy from interacting with others, Betty spent her career working around people. This included being a lunch lady at Our Lady of Guadalupe school and working at her family-owned and operated restaurant Whizburger/ Huckleberry Square in Burien.

A celebration of life for Betty will be held at St. Bernadette Hall at 11 am on June 10th at St. Bernadette Parish School, 1028 SW 128th, Burien.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)

Family and friends are remembering Jon Paul Tharp; here’s what they’re sharing with the community:

Born in Hammond, Indiana, on February 25, 1938, Jon passed away in Auburn, WA, on April 21, 2023. Son of the late Daniel F. Tharp & Mary Gehring Tharp; brothers Daniel F. Tharp II of Florida & Charles W. Tharp, deceased.

After attending Hammond Tech High School, he moved with his parents to West Seattle and graduated in 1957 from WSHS. He was employed at Boeing for forty-three years as a machinist, retiring in 2000.

Jon met his wife Audrey Lowdon at West Seattle Christian Church, and they were married there in August of 1962. He lived in West Seattle from 1962 to 2005, then moved to Lakeland Hills in Auburn, WA. He enjoyed working in his “garage” and as a “handyman” at church in West Seattle and in his retirement community in Auburn.

Children: Bryan (Lori) Tharp of Kennewick, WA, and daughter Karyn Tharp Eklund (Terry) of Covington, WA.

Five grandchildren: Tyler, Curtis, and Payton Eklund & Brady and Evan Tharp; sister-in-law Judy Lowdon Russell (Alan) of Spokane, WA; three special nieces, Cari Sheppard of Tigard, OR, Lindy Mihata of Anchorage, AK, and Shelly Krasselt of Spokane, WA.

A private family graveside service is planned.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)

Family and friends are remembering Shirley J. Roe and sharing this with the community:

Shirley J. Roe passed away at Angel Wings Adult Family Home in Des Moines, Washington early Wednesday morning, March 29, 2023. Shirley was born in Seattle to Agnes and Peter Bullock on October 16, 1928. She was a lifelong Seattle resident.

Shirley met the love of her life, Charles (Chuck) Roe, while he was in the Navy, stationed in Bremerton. They married on June 9, 1948. Shirley and Chuck remained happily married and living in West Seattle for the next 68 years, until Chuck passed away in 2016.

In her mid-40s Shirley attended the University of Washington and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree and Teaching Certificate in 1974. She worked for many years in the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Washington, where she retired in 1991.

Even at 94 years young, Shirley was a passionate lifetime supporter of women’s rights, equal civil rights for all, and giving back to the community. Chuck and Shirley traveled throughout the world into their 80s. They enjoyed working as volunteers for NARAL, the Millionair Club, and caring for many foster children over the years. Both of them played a huge role in their children’s and grandchildren’s lives. Shirley was uncompromising when it came to correcting grammar and the war of “I love you, more.” But, most of all, she loved her family fiercely. We feel fortunate to have had both Shirley and Chuck as parents and grandparents. They inspired everyone around them to always give back more than they take and to work toward the greater good for all. We couldn’t have asked for better role models.

Shirley is survived by her sons Patrick (Sherri) and Mick (Vickie), her grandchildren Mike, Josh, and Amanda, and her great-grandchildren Tyler, Emma, Delila, and Zachary. She was preceded in death by her husband Chuck, grandson Derek, parents Agnes and Peter, and sisters Patricia and Sally.

If you would like to share memories of Shirley, please do so at funerals.coop/obituaries/shirley-j-roe.html. A private celebration of Shirley’s life will be held this summer. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association or your favorite nonprofit organization in Shirley’s name.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)

Family and friends will gather May 13 to celebrate the life of Helen Sardarov. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing with the community:

Helen Sardarov, June 16, 1921-March 4, 2023

Born to immigrants Hilda (Hakala) and Milo Jonovich from the edges of Europe in the rural community of Teanaway, Washington, Helen lived a century full of life that her parents from Finland and Montenegro could not have imagined. When Helen, her brother and parents moved to Seattle in 1936, they added 4 new residents to city’s 366,000. Her parents ran boarding houses, filled with fellow immigrants seeking community and companionship. She anglicized her name from Jelena to Helen and embraced what was then a small city. Family lore says she met her husband Frank after sneaking out with her friend Mil to a “Slavic Youth” dance. They were married 62 years, until Frank’s death on December 21, 2004. They built a house in West Seattle in the late 1940s where she lived until 2022.

Helen graduated with a secretarial degree from Edison Vocational Technical Institute. “Not much choice,” she said, “being a woman.” Nevertheless, she excelled at every position: her smarts, promise, and dependability did not go unnoticed. By the end of her career, she was a “Secretary 3” at the UW Library. She had immense pride that her daughters (Linda Clevering and Barbara Sardarov) and granddaughters (Sara, Karen, and Marie Clevering, and Kate LaSpina) had their choice of professions and graduated from college.

Helen rarely slowed down. Her garden was a magical delight for grandchildren; her raspberry jam was hoarded — relished. And she traveled, from the “Old Country” to Hong Kong and Oklahoma, where Linda and her family lived. Her daily schedule revolved around reading, educating herself, exercising, and volunteering. Never a fan of driving, she confidently rode the bus or walked for her regular errands and exercise.

Helen was stubborn, fiercely loyal, quiet, humble, and much loved.

A Celebration of Life will be held on May 13 from 11-2 at the Alki Beach Bathhouse, 2701 Alki Ave SW.

You may share memories at westfordfuneralhome.com.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)

Family and friends are remembering Keith Holsman and sharing this with his community:

Keith Holsman passed away April 12, 2023, at age 81.

Keith was born in Bigfork, Minnesota, September 24, 1941, to Marie and Spencer Holsman. Spencer was an officer in the Boilermakers union and was deployed to Kennewick, Washington, then to Seattle, where the family settled near Schmitz Park. Keith met his lifelong partner, Donna Huntley, at Madison Junior High School. The pair started their courtship and held hands as they crossed the street to West Seattle High School, where they graduated in 1960. Keith and Donna married in 1962 and had their first child, daughter Kelley, in 1964, then son Jeff in 1967. The family of four settled in Fauntlee Hills and have remained in West Seattle.

Keith started his career as a Boilermaker at Todd Shipyard, then changed trades to Sheetmetal Local 66, where he worked as Journeyman. In the 1970s, Keith had several stints in Prudhoe Bay Alaska working on the oil pipeline which he termed as the “wild west.” Keith retired from Local 66 in the mid-1980s and began to purchase apartment buildings with Donna. Keith was a jack of all trades and could do all tasks involved with managing the apartment buildings. He loved his tools and bought the best, the biggest, and the most powerful. “Tim the Toolman” from the TV show Home Improvement would have been envious.

Keith was loved by his three grandchildren, who were lucky enough to have him in their lives into their adulthood. Sadly, on April 5, 2023 Keith had a heart attack and passed away a week later with his family at his side. Keith is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Donna, their two children Kelley Porter (Mike) and Jeff Holsman (Marianne), and their three grandchildren Amanda Dray (Matthew), Chris Porter and River Porter (Schantell).

The family wishes to thank the staff at Cherry Hill Swedish Hospital for their care and support.

We will miss his great one-liners that will live on in our family and keep us chuckling for years to come. Life is not the same without him.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)

Family and friends will gather May 24th to remember Kenneth Hesselbalch, and are sharing this remembrance with the community:

Kenneth “Kenny” Hasselbalch was born on June 29, 1968, in Huntington Beach, CA. He was one of five children of Anna and Knud Hasselbalch, immigrants from Denmark. The family first moved to Canada and then to the US in 1961. Kenny and his younger brother Frank were both born in CA. They moved to Seattle in 1974, where their brother Ely Delos Santos was adopted.

Growing up in West Seattle, Kenny spent his life near Puget Sound. An excellent mariner, fisherman, and storyteller, Kenny – AKA Kelp Cod – enjoyed his time on the water. His boat the “Ms. Dori” could be seen launching at Don Armeni at Alki Point where he would converse with the fish checker to see where the best catch was. Known for his smoked salmon, which he often gave away along with the pots full of Dungeness he was always pulling.

Kenny worked in the world of finance, first at Merrill Lynch with his Father-in-law Jack Blondin, and later at Morgan Stanley, where he earned the title of First Vice president. He was a long-time member of the Seattle Bond Club and a past president. He was Chairman of the Father Mallahan Endowment Board at Holy Rosary Church.

He was a member of the Seattle Yacht Club and part of the Sports Fishing Committee. He spent over 30 summers at the SYC cabins on Cortez Island, where he dropped shrimp pots, caught salmon, and gathered oysters.

Kenny was a talented cook who put on many gourmet fundraising dinners and was known for his crab boils benefiting charities dear to his heart such as the Experimental Education Unit-Haring Center and Holy Rosary School. He learned the love of cooking from his mother; the two of them prepared magical meals together.

Kenny had a passion for music with a beautiful singing voice. He played guitar and found solace in music. He was a lover of symphony and the theater. He was an avid sports fan, always supporting the Mariners and Seahawks. He enjoyed golfing and organized many tournaments.

The love of Kenny’s life was and forever will be his daughter Doriana, now a Junior at Chapman University in Orange, CA. He and her mother, Christina, raised Dori in West Seattle, where she attended Holy Rosary School and later Bishop Blanchet High School.

He will be remembered for his generosity, willingness to help those in need, quick wit, and contagious smile. He will be missed.

Kenny passed away on January 20 surrounded by his family and close friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his brothers Frank and Ely. He is survived by his daughter Doriana, her mother Christina, and his sisters Conny (Randy) and Susan (Mike) and his brother Kim (Lori) and his many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held in his honor at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, May 24th, at Holy Rosary Church in West Seattle (4210 SW Genesee) with a reception to follow at the school hall across the street. We look forward to seeing you.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mary’s Place: marysplaceseattle.org

To share your condolence and memories of Kenny, please visit his online memorial at: emmickfunerals.com/obituary/Kenneth-Hasselbalch

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)

Family and friends will gather May 10th in memory of Leon Ferrari. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing with his community:

Leon Chester Ferrari was born on June 5, 1927, to Chester and Germaine Ferrari in Seattle.

He went to be with our Lord on November 14, 2022. Leon was a gentle spirit who will be remembered for his kindness, quiet demeanor, great sense of humor and generous spirit. He was preceded in passing by his mother and father and sister, Suzanne Mayfield.

Leon grew up in South Seattle and later moved to West Seattle. His heritage was of French / Italian. He was a long-time member of the Sons of Italy Italian Club Fedele Lodge, where he attended regularly and developed many lifelong friends.

Leon served his country in the Korean War from 1950 – 1952, where he obtained the rank of Corporal in the US Navy. He also worked for a short time at Boeing as a riveter and then for the US Post Office for many years.

Leon loved to walk in his West Seattle neighborhood, where he developed many lifelong friends. Leon never married or had children; however, he was close to his family of cousins in West Seattle and Spokane.

We are all better off having known Leon.

A service will be held at Tahoma National Cemetery on Wednesday, May 10th, 2023, at 2:30 pm. 18600 SE 240th Street, Kent, WA 98042-4868.

Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to any of his many charities: Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western Washington; Make-A-Wish Foundation of Washington; American Heart Association NW WA; Northwest Harvest; International Fund for Animal Welfare; or Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)

Family and friends are remembering Jon Jameson and sharing this remembrance with the community:

Jon Jameson, a West Seattle son, passed away on January 8, 2023. Jon was born October 9, 1966 to Helen and Paul Jameson. Jon grew up in Fauntlee hills, not far from the Fauntleroy YMCA and the deep woods around Fauntleroy Creek, where he had many adventures as a youngster. He first attended Fauntleroy Elementary School and later Our Lady of Guadalupe and John F. Kennedy High School (now Kennedy Catholic). Jon played youth sports and was a stellar catcher for Ebberts Aerialist baseball and tackle for West Seattle youth football. He graduated from Kennedy in 1984, earning a Merit Scholarship.

Jon attended Seattle University, ultimately receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. While attending Seattle U., Jon worked in Loss Prevention at the Sears and Roebucks on 1st and Lander (now Starbucks headquarters), where he made many friends. Jon always knew he wanted to help the less fortunate and started out volunteering at residential shelters and transitional housing for the unhoused community and those with substance abuse and mental-health challenges. He was later hired on by Community Psychiatric Clinic and Catholic Community Services, where he met, fell in love and married his co-worker, Mary McDonough. Jon and Mary welcomed their daughter Emily in 2000. The family moved to Ireland in 2002 to be closer to Mary’s extended family.

Jon continued his work with the homeless in Dublin and later in Sligo. Jon was a voracious reader, and loved politics and current world events. He loved playing guitar, listening to the Rolling Stones, fishing for trout and salmon, and was a wonderful cook. He had many dear and loyal friends who shared in the adventures and hilarious stories of his younger years. Jon put up a courageous, 18-month fight against cancer and died peacefully surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by loving wife Mary, adoring daughter Emily and several half brothers and sisters in other parts of the U.S. He leaves a legacy of kindness and caring for the many people he touched and was able to help during his nearly 30-year career. Jon will be missed greatly by all, leaving us heartbroken without him and yet grateful that he was a part of our lives and giggling when we recall those stories. Godspeed, Jon. You live on in our hearts.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)

Family and friends are remembering John-Carl Davis, and sharing this with the community where he taught for many years:

John-Carl Davis transitioned to eternal life on February 18, 2023 in West Bend, Wisconsin. He was born in Frontenac, Kansas on December 22, 1937 to John C. Davis and Grace Maybelle Davis (nee Stoddard). He was the middle child of three sons (Harry, Norman).

John-Carl attended school and graduated from Frontenac High School in 1955. Shortly after he began his studies at Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg, the Davis family sold their farm and moved to Washington State. John-Carl joined them and completed his degree at the University of Washington. After graduation, he set down roots in West Seattle, bought a house, and started a family.

He taught English at Chief Sealth High School and later, West Seattle High School. In 1982, he was appointed Vice-President of the Seattle Teachers Association, a position held for several years. He went on to serve as the STA President. This passion for service to his fellow educators eventually brought him to West Bend, Wisconsin in 1990, where he worked as a director for Kettle Moraine Uniserv Council and Cedar Lakes United Educators until his retirement.

In later years, he resided in West Bend’s Cedar Community, where he made cherished friends, curated Heritage House Museum, led Readers Theater, and delighted in the beauty of the woods and wildlife just outside his window.

He is preceded in death by his mother and father, brothers, and cousin Bill (Terry) Titmus, and his beloved partner of 27 years, Larry B. Christopher. He is survived by his children: Kevin A. Davis of Gig Harbor; Heather I. Davis of Seattle; Brenna M. (Haakon Latvala) Davis of Portland; Sara E. Davis of Seattle. Five grandchildren also survive: Olivia and CJ Lewis-Davis of Manitowoc, WI; Elizabeth, Victoria, and Avery Davis of Hot Springs, SD. Additional survivors include sister-in-law Mary J. Davis of Bremerton, WA, and many nieces and nephews and their children, who brought “Uncle John” so much joy. His close friends Ellen MacFarlane and K.C. Laycock, along with many other lifetime friends and wonderful neighbors, are among the survivors.

John-Carl enjoyed entertaining, collecting antiques, genealogy, volunteering at Lac Lawrann Conservancy, gardening, reading, and watching wrestling and cooking shows. Endlessly creative, he was a gourmet cook and baker, a published Haiku poet, an aspiring novelist, and an artist who painted, crafted cards, sculpted, and stitched needlework masterpieces.

He was exceedingly proud of each of his children and taught them to love, forgive, and persevere. He was witty and kind and touched the lives of everyone who had the pleasure to meet him. Now his journey is complete; he will be sorely missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations suggested to Lac Lawrann Conservancy or National Public Radio UWM 89.7. A Celebration of Life was held April 15. The Schmidt Funeral Home in West Bend is serving the family. If you would like to leave a message of comfort and condolence, please visit schmidtfuneralhome.com.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)

A Celebration of Life is planned May 12th for Dick Warren and Vanetta Warren, who died five days apart after almost 60 years together. Their family is sharing their remembrances together, too. Here is Dick’s:

Richard (Dick) Eddy Warren passed away surrounded by family on Alki Beach the evening of October 29, 2022.

Dick was born in Seattle on 1/2/1932 to parents (Hetty) Margaret Warren (Richards) from Vashon and Eddy Arnold Warren, originally from Manitoba, Canada.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Vanetta Rae Warren (House), just 5 days before.

He is survived by children: Michael, Mark, John, Helen, and Bob; grandchildren: Brian, Michael, Bart, Sarah, Barbara, Erika, Patrick, and Paula; great-grandchildren: Coralie, Oakley, Freya, Tucker, Alessa; and first cousins who were very much like siblings: Fran, Charles (Buzz), Billy Anne, Charlotte, and Emma.

Dick grew up on Vashon Island, frequently visiting his maternal grandparents in Dockton, on Maury Island. Dick bought his first car at age 13 and with it delivered groceries from the Dockton General Store. He also piloted the passenger ferry, Yankee Boy, from Vashon to Tacoma. He became both the LifeGuard and swimming instructor at the Dockton State Park plus starting quarterback for Vashon High School’s football team and graduated in the class of 1949. He was accepted into medical school at the University of Oregon in Eugene but lacked the funds to attend. However, the University of Idaho in Moscow awarded him a 4 year swim team scholarship and together with his ROTC support he completed University there majoring in Civil Engineering. Dick served in the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, stationed first at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, then later in France dismantling World War II bombs during the Korean War. He met and married his first wife, Maureen and settled in Idaho. In 1955 his eldest son, Mark was born, soon followed by John, Hellen and Bob. Sadly, his marriage did not last and Dick moved back to Seattle in 1963.

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A Celebration of Life is planned May 12th for Vanetta Warren and Dick Warren, who died five days apart after almost 60 years together. Their family is sharing their remembrances together, too. Here is Vanetta’s:

Vanetta Rae Warren (House) passed away surrounded by family at her home on Alki Beach the evening of October 24, 2022.

Vanetta was born in Bozeman, Montana 3/24/1934 to parents Edgar (Ed) J. House and Lucile M. House (Johnson). Her parents, older brother Wayne House, and younger brother Bruce (Pinky) House, preceded her in death. She is survived by her son, Michael; her grandchildren: Ben, Brian, Michael, Bart, Sarah, Barbara, Erika, Paula, and Patrick; great-grandchildren: Coralie, Oakley, Freya, Tucker, and Alessa.

Vanetta left Bozeman with her family at age four and moved to Vashon Island. She grew up on the Island and graduated from Vashon High School. In 1952 she married fellow Vashon native Mitchell (Mike) Plancich. They had one child, Michael (Little Mike). Sadly, their marriage did not last and Vanetta moved to Seattle to secure employment. She worked at a variety of secretarial jobs and studied at night school to become a dental hygienist, a career she followed for the next decade.

In 1964 she met an old high school boyfriend, Richard (Dick) Warren, who was recently divorced and had moved from Idaho back to Seattle. They married in 1965, then moved to central Alaska where they both worked at a Ballistic Missile Early Warning System (BMEWS) base in Clear, Alaska. Vanetta worked as the executive secretary for the base director and Dick as an engineer. Vanetta was a good sport and frequently collected both husband and son from their many outdoor adventures in a weatherized four-wheel drive pickup truck. After three-years of careful saving, they moved back to Seattle and bought a small beach cabin on Alki Beach in West Seattle. With Michael’s help they remodeled the beach cabin, building a large back deck with a privacy fence. Vanetta hosted many happy parties with out of town guests sleeping outside on the deck on the waterbed from May through September.

Vanetta continued working and became bookkeeper then later vice president of Air Club International. She followed that career with one as a real estate agent specializing in area condominiums.

Although sad to see the little cabin go, they replaced it with a beautiful new home on the beach, designed by Dick but with features she specifically requested. Vanetta lived in that same location for nearly 54 years, cooking (especially French and Mediterranean cooking with Dick), and entertaining family and their many, many friends. She loved dancing and dining out, the Arcadians’ Dance Club, the West Seattle Book Club (she always enjoyed a good mystery), and playing Bridge with friends. Vanetta and Dick loved to travel and visit friends. Besides spending most Thanksgivings with friends in Hawaii, they traveled to French Polynesia, sailed to Fiji, made multiple trips to the East Coast and Europe (Vanetta especially enjoyed Denmark, France, Italy, and Greece). But, they always returned to their home, where she co-hosted an annual family gathering, ‘Camp Alki.’ She especially enjoyed having her home filled with the laughter of her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and their dogs, beach fires, salmon bakes, children roasting hot dogs or marshmallows, and just playing on the beach.

Vanetta will be sadly missed by everyone who knew her and especially by her entire family. A Celebration of Life for both Vanetta and her husband, Dick, who sadly passed away just 5 days later, will be held at Salty’s on Alki on May 12, 2023. Please click on this link to RSVP to the Celebration of Life.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)

Family and friends are planning a party to celebrate Noreen Wilde‘s life on May 20th. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing with the community now:

Noreen Eliza Wilde 3/13/1964 – 3/18/2023

“I’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints…” -Billy Joel

Noreen grew up the second youngest in an LDS family in West Seattle and graduated from Chief Sealth High School. She was a voracious reader of books throughout her life, and she was a champion speller and grammar queen. Noreen enjoyed walking in the woods, growing flowers, the Methow River, candles, making jewelry, attending the symphony and other concerts, brewing kombucha, and baking delicious treats, among many other things. Noreen was irreverent and hilarious and generous, passionately liberal, and a fierce defender of reproductive freedoms. She was a devoted Aunt and Great Aunt to family and friends alike and always had a gift for connecting with and uplifting young people. The three great loves of her life were Reggie, Viggo, and Brodie. Noreen was among the minute percentage of folks who survive with pancreatic cancer for over five years. She will be remembered as an expansive, resilient, and wonderfully unique individual by all who knew and loved her.

Gifts in her memory can be made to Abortion Care Network: abortioncarenetwork.org/donate

There will be a memorial party and BBQ celebrating Noreen’s life with stories, games, and food on May 20, 2023, in Tukwila. If you would like to attend and want more information, please text or call her niece Jessica at 206 9one5 9five5five.

Your comments with memories of Noreen are heartily encouraged and welcomed.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)

Family and friends will gather next month to celebrate the life of Keith Grayson. Here’s the remembrance they are sharing with the community now:

Keith Grayson, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on March 30, 2023.

He is survived by his wife Helen, his two children Matthew and Heather, and four grandchildren – as well as three brothers and their families.

Keith was well known in the West Seattle community as a football and baseball coach, owner of the Classic Barber Shop for over three decades, and as a lifetime resident. He loved fishing and watching the Washington Huskies play football, in addition to spending time with his family.

His Celebration of Life will be held on May 6th at noon at the Junction Church in West Seattle, followed by a reception at the West Seattle Eagles from 1:30 – 4:30 pm. Donations may be made to the Junction Church in lieu of flowers. He will be greatly missed.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)

Family and friends are remembering David Zuckerman, and sharing this remembrance with the community:

David Zuckerman passed away peacefully at home on April 8, 2023 after a long and brutal battle with Posterior Cortical Atrophy, a rare form of early-onset Alzheimer’s. David’s last four days were spent at home, in his beloved music room, surrounded by family and friends and listening to his favorites — Mozart, the Beatles, and Bob Dylan.

David was born in 1960 in Brooklyn, New York to June and Israel Zuckerman. There was no mistaking his Brooklyn roots in his straightforward manner of speaking, his love of a good bagel, and his ability to parallel park in impossibly tight spaces. David attended Great Neck South high school in Long Island, where he made lifelong friends and was, of course, on the math team. He went on to Brown University, where he was a math major but seemed to be equally focused on playing music. His friends from Brown remained close to him throughout his life. Following college, David put that math degree to good use … by becoming a recording engineer at the Splice of Life studio in Boston. For reasons that still remain unclear, David then left the recording business and entered law school at Northeastern University in 1985. On the first day of law-school orientation, David met his life partner, Maureen Devlin. After the longest courtship in recorded history, they married in 1998. David’s extraordinary legal mind was revealed at Northeastern. Classmates, including Maureen, relied on David’s notes and class outlines to survive. Purportedly, some of those outlines remained in circulation for years. David was selected by his classmates to give the graduation speech, in which he noted that our class attitude was not that we could play this game as well as anyone, but was instead, “This is a dumb game everyone is playing. Maybe we should change the rules.” Following law school, David moved to Seattle to work for The Public Defender Association. He then clerked for Federal Judge William Dwyer before opening his own practice.

David was a rare breed, a true Renaissance man. He was a brilliant criminal defense lawyer who managed to fight for his clients with tenacity, courage and decency. He was not only highly respected by clients and colleagues, receiving in 2017 the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ highest honor, the William O. Douglas award, but was equally respected by his adversaries and the judiciary as well. David had many clients facing a death sentence and would say that his greatest professional accomplishment was that not one of those clients lost the battle on his watch. David was endlessly giving of his expertise, often volunteering his time to provide advice or to speak at continuing education events. He also was passionate about protecting civil liberties and devoted countless hours in service to the American Civil Liberties Union.

There was so much more to David than his remarkable legal career. David was a talented musician, having played piano in several rock bands including his aptly-named college band, The Geeks. He was also always athletic, an avid skier, a swimmer, a former competitive diver, a runner, and a triathlete. He loved to hike and backpack and traveled far and wide to do so. He had a wry sense of humor, specializing in eye-rolling Dad jokes, never lost his cool, and always made time to care for friends and family.

David’s pride and joy were his twin daughters, Anna and Leah Zuckerman. He was endlessly devoted to them. They adored him and the feeling was mutual. Nothing mattered more to David than the happiness of his girls. He never missed an opportunity to be with them, or to brag about them, as they flourished into the beautiful, brilliant, amazing young women they are today. No doubt that David’s influence and love will carry them through forever.

In addition to Maureen, Anna, and Leah, David is survived by his brother, Daniel Zuckerman, and by too many friends to count. While his light was extinguished too soon, he packed more into those 63 years than most of us can dream of doing. May he be at peace now and free. A celebration of a life well lived will be held at a later date. For more information and updates, visit: EmmickFunerals.com/obituary/David-Zuckerman

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)

Family and friends are remembering Jim Huntley and sharing this remembrance with the community:

James C. Huntley
February 29, 1948 – March 29, 2023

Jim was born in Seattle on February 29, leap year day, in 1948. He was the second-born child of Charles and Virginia Huntley. Jim was raised in West Seattle and attended Alki Elementary, James Madison Junior High School, and graduated from West Seattle High School in 1966. After graduation, he went to work with his father at Huntley Machine and Tool. Jim worked at the family machine and fabrication business until it closed in the late 1990s.

Jim loved to be on the water and over the years enjoyed all kinds of boating. He belonged to the Roche Harbor Yacht club and spent many days exploring Puget Sound in his boat “Jambo.” Jim was also a motorcycle enthusiast and was part of a club called the Jolly Rogers Motorcycle Club. Jim made many friends throughout his lifetime and treasured all of those friendships.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, his best friend and loving wife Michele, and his daughter Kimberly A Ferkingstad. He is survived by his son, Kameron Huntley, his granddaughters Anna and Sonja Ferkingstad, and his sister Donna Holsman.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)

Family and friends are remembering Edward Eckberg and sharing this with the community:

Ed Eckberg was taken home on February 26, 2023. He was born May 12, 1936, the only son of Gerald and Gladys Eckberg, in Seattle. He grew up in West Seattle and attended Lafayette Elementary and James Madison Junior High. He graduated from West Seattle High School in 1954.

He met his future wife, Layne Miller, while working as a lifeguard at Colman Pool. Ed and Layne married in 1959 and went on to have three daughters: Kari, Sheryl, and Erika. Ed graduated from the University of Washington with a Business Administration degree. He worked his way up at Seattle First National Bank to eventually become Vice President. In 1974, he and a long-time friend purchased an apple orchard in the Chelan/Manson area. Ed and Layne moved to Manson permanently in 1989 and spent many years lovingly improving their property on Greens Landing Road. Ed loved swimming, boating, skiing, hiking, and snowmobiling. He enjoyed many active trips doing the things he loved to do.

Ed’s faith was an important part of his life. He spent years attending Bible Study Fellowship and attended Living Stone Church in Chelan for many years. Ed was kind and generous with family and friends. He will be greatly missed by his wife and family. Ed loved Jesus and his family are confident that Ed is resting in His presence now.

Ed leaves his wife Layne and daughters Kari (Steve), Sheryl (Brian), and Erika (Coley). He had seven grandchildren: Matthew, Aaron, Tizita, Jacob, William, Molly, and Weston.

Precht Rose Chapel is assisting the family with services. A private family graveside service was held.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)

Family and friends are remembering John F. Watson and sharing this remembrance with the community:

John was the first-born child of Frank and Helen Watson in West Seattle in 1947. He passed away 3/22/23 in Gig Harbor.
 
John attended Holy Rosary Grade School and graduated from West Seattle High School in 1965.  He then attended Highline CC and University of Washington before starting an illustrious career at Boeing. He spent over 30 years at Boeing, making many life-long friends. John always loved being on the water and owned 2 beautiful yachts, the Scorpio and the White Cap.  He loved taking friends and family out on Lake Washington, Elliott Bay, Puget Sound, and the San Juans. He was kind beyond words and generous to a fault.  He was an avid bridge player and art collector.  Loved dogs, Cadillacs, Thunderbirds, and cookies!  His health deteriorated over the last year, making life difficult. 

We are thankful to his many friends who helped care for him, including, but not limited to, Rosalie, Mike, and Janis. He is survived by his two brothers Ric and Andy Watson, sister Debbie Coghill, their spouses, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins who all adored him.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)

When Dan DeSantis died in July 2020 at age 75, it was just a few months into the pandemic, and impossible to gather for memorials. Now that a few years have passed, his family is ready to invite friends and relatives to a gathering this summer. We were asked to share this announcement:

Save the Date

Celebration of Life for
Dan DeSantis
July 13th, 2023
4 pm-8 pm

(updated) This will be held at Dakota Place Park (California/Dakota).

Family and friends are remembering Tyler Tomaselli, and sharing this remembrance with his community:

Tyler Sinclair Tomaselli
July 24, 1985 – February 12, 2023

Tyler was born and raised in West Seattle, the “Westside Bestside,” and he loved life with a passion. He loved baseball, football, and basketball and was an All Star athlete. He loved animals, was always kind and loving to everyone and was a very humble person. He is survived by his father Paul, mother Cathy, brother Jake, his turtle Melissa, many Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins, as well as many good friends from the West Seattle community. He is now resting at peace with his heavenly family, friends, his dog Jasmine, and the lord. We love you Tywu, we will miss you but will also see you again soon.

Please share memories, photos & condolences with Tyler’s family on the Tribute Wall at emmickfunerals.com/obituary/Tyler-Tomaselli.

A celebration of Tyler’s life will be held at a future date in West Seattle, please check the obituary page for details.

Arrangements entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home of West Seattle

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)

Family and friends will gather April 1st to remember Mike Wallace, and are sharing this remembrance with his community:

Michael “Mike” John Wallace was a true and proud West Seattleite until his final day on February 26, 2023. He passed unexpectedly at the age of 65 in West Seattle.

Mike was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather who is survived by his bride, Shari Lynn who he cherished as “the luckiest girl in the world.” He was a proud father of Christopher (Taryn) Wallace and Michelle (Alden) McCormick. He was the most vibrant Grandpa to his five grandchildren: Scarlett, Junior, Aidan, Evelynn, Sloane, and excited for Michelle & Alden’s newest addition due this October. They will forever remember making noise and trouble with Grandpa Mike.

Mike is preceded in death by his sister, Kathi Norberg, and his parents, Hugh & Betty Wallace who raised him and his seven brothers and sisters in a loving home along 35th Avenue full of childhood memories. Mike is also survived by his siblings; Pat (Sheri) Wallace, Barbara Roumonada, Patty Valentine, Linda Byrne, Sue Ericson, and Terry Wallace.

Mike made a notable and memorable impact during his 45 years at Avis where he built a career that he treasured. He never started a day without a cup of Starbucks coffee. He was always donned in his Avis swag, cruising the lots in his red Nike Air Forces. Mike was a magnet who brought people together through music and laughter. On the weekends, he took to the stage drumming with his band, The VanHolt’s. When he didn’t have a gig, he and Shari would spend their time at their property and “happy place” in Desert Aire. If you knew Mike, you fell victim to his famous pop-bys, random calls and saw a brief appearance at every event, but he made sure it never lasted too long as he would leave with a classic Irish Goodbye.

Michael John Wallace’s contagious smile, drum solos, and unforgettable charismatic spirit will be missed and remembered by all.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, April 1st, 2023 from 2-5 pm at the Seattle Lutheran High School Gymnasium. All who want to share in Mike’s memory are welcome to attend.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to a local Hope School students fundraiser that benefits Music4Life, a non profit dedicated to getting musical instruments into the hands of kids. Follow this link to donate to Dominic’s GoFundMe page.

To share your condolences and memories of Mike, visit:
emmickfunerals.com/obituary/Michael-Wallace

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)

“

When the family of longtime West Seattle Junction gift-shop owner Gregor Terjung announced his death in January, the date wasn’t yet set for his celebration of life. Now it is, and they want the community to know that the memorial is planned for Saturday, April 1st, 11 am at West Seattle Christian Church (4400 42nd SW). Online tributes are also still welcome at emmickfunerals.com/obituary/Gregor-Terjung. Mr. Terjung owned and operated Terjung’s Studio of Gifts for half a century until closing the shop and retiring at age 89.

Family and friends are remembering Malik N. Davis and sharing this with the community:

Malik Nkrumah Davis was larger than life in all possible ways. He was often heard before he was seen, with his booming voice calling out a greeting or his laughter echoing around the room and, standing tall in both height and character, he made those around him feel cared for and protected. But he was most known for his passion and outsized love which encompassed all of those he cared about, fueled his pursuit of social justice and drove his well-known fervor for his beloved University of Washington Huskies. Nothing was greater than his endless love for “his girls” – his beautiful wife, Colleen, and his adored daughters, Waverly (15) and Quincy (13), who were the center of his world.

The profound impact of his life is matched only by the pain of his passing, since he died Feb. 21, suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart attack at home.

Malik was born to Alice Davis and Waverly Davis on Dec. 2, 1970 in Seattle. He graduated from Garfield High School (‘88) and then earned a degree in Political Science from the University of Washington (’94). He went on to earn a master’s degree in Public Administration from the New School, located in New York City.

His mother, Alice, inspired his passion for social activism starting when he was a boy. He grew into a gentle giant with humility and compassion. He spent his life committed to helping others and actively working for positive change, whether that was through his work in politics, at non-profits, or marching for justice.

At the time of his passing, he was a Legislative Aide for Seattle Councilmember Alex Pedersen and previously worked at Mary’s Place as the Associate Director; at the University of Washington as Director of Constituent Relations, UW Alumni Association, and later as a Major Gifts Officer at the College of Arts and Science. He also previously was a Client Relationship Specialist for Charter Construction and held several roles for the City of Seattle.

Malik was a proud and active member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity as well as The Breakfast Group, a Seattle-based non-profit focused on addressing the challenges of at-risk youth of color. He was a frequent mentor to high school and college students, in addition to being an active volunteer in his community and at his children’s schools.

Malik will be remembered for his gregarious personality and fierce advocacy for people and the causes he held dear. He had a consummate ability to make every person around him feel as though they were the most important in the room. He was always up for whatever his family wanted to do, whether it was dressing up in their tradition of themed Halloween costumes, sharing a passion for all things Marvel with his daughter Quincy, being his daughter Waverly’s biggest fan at her sports events, or going on myriad trips, including a pandemic vacation in an RV, a visit to New York, Hawaii, and a recent trip to Disneyland. For his 50th birthday, he and Colleen took a cross-country train trip, in honor of his passion for trains. Malik adored Luther, their chocolate Labrador, and the newest addition to the Davis family, Otis, their French Bulldog.

Malik was loved beyond words and returned that love so powerfully that it will wrap around his family for the rest of their lives and will ripple across time for generations to come.

In addition to his wife, daughters, and mother, he is survived by his brother Kalauu Davis, of Seattle; brother Karim Davis, niece Kaleilah Davis and stepmother Sheila Davis, all of Tigard, Oregon; a large and loving extended family and enough friends to fill a stadium. Malik was preceded in death by his father.

The Davis Family is proud to share that leaders from the City of Seattle will be proclaiming this December 2nd, Malik’s birthday, as “Malik Davis Day.”

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to a scholarship being set up in Malik’s name to benefit Kappa Alpha Psi. For more information, visit www.MalikDavisMemorial.com.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)

Family and friends will gather March 19 to celebrate the life of Curtis Fairbanks. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing:

Curtis Benjamin Fairbanks, 58, passed away on February 11, 2023 at his home in Wenatchee, Washington.

Curtis was born and raised in West Seattle and spent many summers at Snow Creek resort in Neah Bay with his grandparents, Bob and Ruth Marts, developing a love for the outdoors. He played hockey for most of his life and later developed a passion for stunt kite flying at the beaches in Washington. Later Curtis moved to South Carolina to spend time by the beach, returning to Washington State in 2018. He truly loved his dogs Kamali and Emma – his best friend and Service Dog of 9 years. Curtis was an amazing designer and creator, spending many hours working in his shop – always constructing, creating, troubleshooting, and fixing things.

He is survived by his mother Susan Baker of Wenatchee and wife Andrea Shane of Charleston, SC (son Jeffrey); he leaves behind his son Andrew (Haley) Fairbanks and daughter Chelsea Fairbanks; siblings Christopher (Tracy) Fairbanks, Elizabeth Fairbanks, Hoang Min Thai, Heather Baker, Helen Baker, Sherry Rogers; Marcela Gonzalez-Reyes; grandchildren Henry and Benjamin Fairbanks; nephew Brandon Fairbanks; niece Amber Fairbanks; nephew Ryley Fairbanks; and stepmother Mary Fuller. He is preceded in death by his father William Fairbanks and stepfather Donald Baker.

Family and friends are welcome to a celebration of his life on March 19, from 1-4 pm:

Dakota Place
4304 SW Dakota Street

Donations can be made to Bravos Kindred Canines, bravoskindredcanines.org. This will help others receive Life-saving diabetic alert dogs like Curt’s lifesaver, Emma.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)