Sept 25, 1915 – Nov. 26, 2006

 

Bill was born in Seattle. His parents were Edward Lee and Lucy Brant, early Northwest pioneers.

Bill attended Lincoln High School and the University of Washington School of Architecture. He married Beverley Dorr in Tacoma in 1938. 

With World War II approaching, he did tool design work at Boeing, later moving to Santa Monica where he became involved in the first atomic bomb project. 

After the war, he did store design work while studying photography. In 1949, Bill and Beverley opened the Brant Photographers, Inc., in Bellevue Square. 

They operated their studio for more than 30 years until retiring to San Juan Island. 

His photographic work consisted of portrait, commercial, aerial, magazine, textbook and more than 2,000 wedding assignments. 

In the early 1950s, Bill became fascinated with British sports cars and raced his MGTD and later a Jaguar XK 120 when not busy photographing races for Road and Track magazine. 

Time permitting, many happy days were spent at their Mitchell Bay cabin with lots of salmon fishing.  He was a member of the San Juan Island Golf Club and a charter member of the San Juan Island Yacht Club; he served as commodore in 1979.

Many wonderful trips were made north on the “Starduster” and later the cutter “Tangerine.” 

Six years were spent as a port commissioner and recently four years on the Marine Resources Committee.

Bill’s love for the islands was so strong he felt he must have salt water in his veins. 

Survivors are his daughter, Becky Shull of Burns, Ore.; grandson, John Workman and great-grandson, Shade Noble Workman of Friday Harbor; and sister, Peggy Donahue of Honolulu, Hawaii. 

Interment will be in the San Juan Valley Cemetery.  Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc., Anacortes, Wash.

To share memories of Bill, please sign the online guest register at http://www.evanschapel.com.