Former Friday Harbor resident John Paul Cook died May 14, 2010, in Rathdrum, Idaho. He was born in Stockton, Calif., in 1923. He moved to Juneau in 1957 from Bend, Ore., to work as a printer with The Juneau Empire, with his family initially living above the Empire facilities, then located at Main and Front streets. Shortly after statehood, he began working at the state’s Wage and Hour Division in the Department of Labor. He retired in 1982 as director of Workers Compensation.
Andrew Bryan Whitelaw passed away on May 14, 2010 at Life Care Center in Friday Harbor, where he had lived for the past 18 months. He was 73. Bryan was born in New York City on July 17, 1936 to Andrew and Emily Whitelaw. After graduation from high school in New York, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in December 1956 where he served as a pilot and master at arms assigned to the Lexington. He received an honorable discharge in 1960 and remained in San Diego, Calif., where he was “welding lead man” for PSA Airlines. He also designed and built boats, including one for Roy Disney.
Virginia L. Nelson (Hay) passed away peacefully at her home in Friday Harbor on June 17, 2010. Virginia “Ginney” died quietly with her two daughters, Catherine and Diane, and their husbands at her side. Virginia was born in Great Falls, Mont., Dec. 4, 1928. She is a graduate of Queen Anne High School, Seattle, Wash., where she made many lifelong friends. Ginney planned her 60th Queen Anne High School Reunion.
Phil Gates found freedom and connection with the infinite on Jan. 28,
2010 at the age of 90. Born in 1919 in Denver, Colo., to Herman and Nelle Gates. He is survived by his sister Phyllis Fenger of Carpinteria, Calif., and her daughter Ellen Fenger of Santa Barbara, Calif.; son Scott Gates of Friday Harbor, Wash.; daughter Lisa Gates, her husband Charlie Waldron, and their son Cole Waldron, of Santa Barbara, Calif.; and daughter Julie Gates of Marin, Calif.
After graduating from Stadium High School in Tacoma, Violet moved to Seattle and raised her three children on Queen Anne Hill. During World War II, Violet was a Civil Defense precinct operator and Grey Lady nurse, caring for the wounded as they arrived on ships from the Pacific War. Her career spanned the hotel and lumber industries and many years as an administrative assistant for the Washington State Ferry system.
Often, high school graduation is viewed by many as a chance to celebrate with drinking alcohol or using illegal substances. Thankfully, our community once again stepped up to help offer our graduating seniors another option: Project Grad Night, an all-night, alcohol and drug-free party exclusively for them!
Born in Cottage Grove, Ore., Jan. 7, 1921, Marian is the daughter of Elmer and Nellie Mae Moore. She graduated from Cottage Grove High School in 1938. She studied Dietary Management and Home Economics at Oregon State University in Corvallis.
Bea obtained her B.A. in English in 1938 and gradually worked her way to the West Coast as a teacher, spending time in New Mexico, Colorado, Minnesota, and Vancouver, B.C. She began her teaching career in 1950 as a nursery school teacher, then taught grades 1-8 at various times over the next 33 years. It was the Great Depression and seeing the breadlines that motivated Bea to have a lifelong career.
Born on San Juan Island Nov. 17, 1923, she was the oldest daughter of Rod and Hazel Wills. Hazel, her mom, came to town in a horse-drawn buckboard to visit the midwife, Ella Dightman. She lived nearly her entire life on the island. Her grandfather was stationed at English Camp during the Pig War. Yes, she was an islander.
Brian was born March 20, 1947, on San Juan Island, Wash., to Charles and Agnes Jameson. He graduated from Friday Harbor High School in 1966 and joined the Navy. He was very proud of his service aboard the carrier USS Valley Forge and two tours in Vietnam.
Susan Padgett-Dermody was born in Shelton, Wash., on Jan. 2, 1948. She grew up in Olympia, graduating from Olympia High School in 1966. Educational pursuits took her initially to WSU then to Central Washington, with her first husband, where she graduated with her B.A. in ’70.
Rex Lee Kelly peacefully passed away on June 5, 2010.
He was born in Henryetta, Okla., to Carrie D Moore and Earl B. Kelly on Jan. 28, 1931. He eventually left Henryetta to attend the University of Oklahoma in Norman where he received his bachelor of arts and law degrees.
A memorial service is scheduled for June 23, 3-5 p.m., for Elizabeth W. Burden, formerly of Friday Harbor. The memorial service will be in the Sorrento Hotel, 900 Madison St., Seattle.
