1943 – 2023

Lee Marble, 79, passed away on February 9 at his home on San Juan Island surrounded by his family. Born in Tacoma Washington, Lee moved to the Islands at age three along with his two brothers Dale and Gene, and parents Sarah and Bud Marble.

Alongside his brothers, he started his career in commercial fishing at the early age of 16, traversing the waters from Puget Sound to Alaska.

Growing up on the island, Lee attended the Friday Harbor schools where he made many life-long friends before his time at the University of Washington. He joined the US Navy at age 23 as a Radio Operator where he proudly served abroad in Vietnam. Upon his return to the island, he met Linda Usery, who he married on December 1, 1971, and together they established their life-long home on Mitchell Bay. The Marble family grew with his daughters Cassie and Michelle, and son Brian; joined later by his beloved grandchildren Alec Kurtz, AJ Kurtz, Brandon Payne, and Mitchell Payne.

Lee’s 50-year dedication to commercial fishing was punctuated by his endless sense of curiosity and exploration spanning beekeeping, coaching high school basketball, playing tennis, learning to fly, and travels to all corners of the globe with Linda, Gene & Joan Marble, and Dale Marble, widower of Carol Marble.

His passion for the sea remained throughout the later years of his life where you would find him kayaking on the bay with his wife or boating throughout the San Juans with family.

He will be incredibly missed by family and friends.