Erika Louisa Bird
August 23, 1932 – October 11, 2018
Longtime Port Angeles and Sequim resident, Erika L. Bird died of a short illness due to complications of Pancreatic Cancer on Thursday, October 11, 2018, in Port Angeles. Her family was constantly at her bedside during her illness.
Erika was born in Roseburg, Oregon, to Erek A. Johnson and Nannie L. Johnson. They moved to Yakima, Washington, and then Bremerton, Washington during the 1940’s. She graduated from Bremerton High School. She met Frank C. Bird, Jr. and they later married on July 31, 1951 in Bremerton. They were happily married for 61 years until Frank’s passing in 2012.
Erika and Frank are survived by a daughter, Karen (Walt) Lovell of Elko, Nevada, and two sons, Erek Bird of Port Angeles and Steven (Jill) Bird of Vancouver, Washington. She was the proud grandmother of five grandchildren and one great granddaughter. She is also survived by an older brother Doug Meador of West Van Lear, Kentucky, and a younger sister, Virginia M. Francis of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Erika was very active in the Olympic Peninsula Doll Club, the Peninsula Button Club, the Miniature Club, the Widows Club and her Sorority Alpha Zeta Master.
Erika and Frank loved to boondock in the deserts of Arizona. Over the years their travels took them from Alaska to Mexico and coast to coast in their pick up and trailer.
A Celebration of Life will be held November 3, 2018 at the Sons of Norway, Scandia Hall, from 2 to 6 p.m.
Kenneth Michael (Mike) Brandt
August 12, 1944 – September 5, 2018
Kenneth Michael (Mike) Brandt died unexpectedly on September 5, 2018.
Born in Cocoa Beach, Florida, to Marjory (Norton) Brandt and Kenneth Brandt, Mike lived most of his life in Sequim and Port Angeles, graduating from Port Angeles High School in 1962. He was on the wrestling team for both the school and the YMCA. He was proud of his fast turquoise and white 1957 Chevy.
Mike enjoyed working at the City of Sequim, and retired after 20 years of service. He made friendships with co-workers that lasted into his retirement. He would often stop by, proud to share produce and fruit or a bouquet of roses from his garden. Mike was a volunteer with the City of Sequim.
Married in 1983, Mike and Patti were soulmates. Mike truly loved Patti and his family. Mike was a man of integrity and a great judge of character. He always brought out the best in everyone he knew. He had a great sense of humor and loved to tease Patti and joke around with his beloved granddaughter, Cassidy. Mike set an example for his family on how to treat others. During retirement, they would often spend their days together at their family home working in the gardens and the orchard, while enjoying the Koi pond and beautiful view of the Olympics from their decks. He was a true farmer at heart and loved to use his tractor. His work shop (the Man Cave), produced bird and bee boxes, and completed many “honey do’s” on Patti’s list.
Mike and Patti loved hosting family gatherings at their home. There were many birthdays and holidays celebrated there. They traveled many times to Hawaii, Spain, Portugal and England with Patti’s sister, Sue and her husband, Dave Armisted. Dave was Mike’s best friend. Patti and Mike’s latest favorite place was Cannon Beach Oregon, and they would travel there twice a year to enjoy the beach and being together.
Mike had a passion for fishing. At the young age of six he was already fishing in Ennis Creek in Port Angeles. Sport fishing in Hawaii, and salmon fishing on his boat off Ediz Hook, and in the “Dungie” were the best activities. Mike was a member of the Coastal Conservation Association. He recently shared the love of fishing with nephew, John Neigel, and was excited to take John out salmon fishing.
Mike was fishing for silver salmon off Ediz Hook on September 5, when he passed away. It was a beautiful, calm day. He and his partner had caught their limits and were ready to come in to the dock. He had an unexpected heart attack and was called to fish without limits in heaven. He is greatly missed by Patti, his family and friends. Tight lines my love.
Mike was preceded in death by his father Kenneth Brandt.
Mike is survived by his wife, Patti, of Sequim; daughters Kyrah Brandt, Showlow, Arizona, Lori (Gary) Butler of Port Angeles, mother, Marjory Brandt-Haag, Sequim; brother Jim (Elda) Brandt of Joyce; granddaughters Cassidy (Norman Hansen) Butler of Lynnwood, Washington, and Olga Tikhonenko of Belarus. Mike enjoyed a special relationship with his son-in-law, Gary, and was especially fond of all his nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held in the Spring of 2019 with details announced at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Coastal Conservation Association (www.ccawashington.org), or the Salvation Army.
“Pat” Gail Quinn
September 12, 1925 – October 14, 2018
“Just Passing Through”
“Pat” Gail Quinn, an Oak Harbor resident since 1957, and longtime Oak Harbor businessman, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 14, 2018, at Regency on Whidbey.
Pat was born on September 12,1925, to Owen and Nawasa Quinn, in a two-room cabin in Ajlune, Washington; the middle of three boys. A few years later, the family packed up and moved to Sequim, where they bought and ran a dairy farm. In time, the Quinn brothers became known as the milkmen of the area. Pat’s father (who was also a boxer) encouraged him in boxing, matching him against his brothers. In his own words, Pat said, “At eight or nine, I could beat my older brother. In a year or so I could easily beat the two of them at the same time.” At age thirteen, he was allowed by his family to start fighting in local “smokers,” under the name of “Irish ‘Pat’ Quinn.” It soon became apparent that Pat had a natural athletic ability, and he eventually was in the ring with more experienced fighters.
Pat attended Sequim High School through his junior year. He was active in sports, playing football and track. At the age of seventeen, his parents decided it was time to expand his horizons, so they sent him to live with his aunt in Los Angeles, California. Pat finished his senior year there, graduating from El Monte High School in 1944. While at El Monte, he participated in football and track. He took first place in track in the State of California in 1944.
In boxing, he had a stellar record. Pat fought 51 amateur bouts. In 1944 he fought in the Golden Gloves in Los Angeles and had a KO in twenty seconds in the first round. The Los Angeles Times did an article on him, noting that it was the fastest KO in Golden Gloves that year. Afterward, he turned professional as a featherweight boxer at 125 pounds. His trainer was the ex-featherweight champion of the world, “Chalky” Wright. Bing Crosby’s brother, Bob, was Pat’s sponsor. Bing would come into Pat’s dressing room before a fight and spend about five or ten minutes encouraging him. Bing would say, “Well, Patty, you have a tough one tonight! But we’re rooting for you!” Out of 72 bouts, Pat won 68, lost two and drew two. Pat was the eighth-ranked featherweight in the world in 1950 when he quit boxing.
During this time, Pat had been working for Faller Glass Co., where he learned his trade as a glazier. In 1947 Pat was selected as a double for Mickey Rooney. He was contracted for five years and worked on three of his movies: “Killer McCoy,” “Off Limits” and “The Big Wheel.” He became close friends with Mickey Rooney, who attended many of his fights as a ringsider.
Pat met his beautiful bride-to-be, Betty Sutton, in Hollywood, and they were married in Grand Junction, Colorado, on May 20, 1950. They moved to Oak Harbor in 1957, and opened Quinn Glass, which they operated as a couple until 1979. They enjoyed work and travel, as well as time in Winthrop and Lake Havasu regularly. Pat enjoyed hunting, fishing and the outdoors.
Pat was “the life of the party,” always filled with quick witted comments and a smile on his face. True to his Irish ancestry, he replicated the jovial nature of a Leprechaun, loving a “little sip o’ happiness” and ”lifting a glass.” He loved to dance and sing a song or come up with a witty tune out of the blue. He had a cute twinkle in his eye and his laugh was contagious. He has left a permanent deep imprint with us forever. We love him. He was so loved by so many and is so greatly missed!
Pat is survived by his wife of 68 years, Betty Quinn; their three children: Colleen, Mike and Lyndell; fifteen grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren; also, numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
We would like to extend our many heartfelt thanks for all the wonderful caregivers at Regency who took such good care of our Dad at the end of his life.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, November 18, 2018, from 2:00 to 5:00 PM, at the Oak Harbor Elks Club. Family and friends are encouraged to share memories and condolences at www.whidbeymemorial.com. Also, if anyone has stories they would like to share about Pat at the memorial, please be prepared to do so. We know there are so many stories from wherever Dad was. They may also be emailed to info@whidbeymemorial.com.
