Obituaries
Published on Wed, Apr 28, 2010Read More Obituaries
Dennis Eugene Venzon
A celebration of life for Dennis Eugene Venzon of Agnew will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, May 17, at John Wayne Marina near Sequim.
Mr. Venzon died at his home on April 19, 2010. He was born Dec. 29, 1940, in Kenosha, Wis. He was the son of Arline and Joseph Venzon, who preceded him in death. In his teen years, he moved with his family to the Chicago area and graduated in 1958 from Township Maine High School in Park Ridge, Ill.
He was recruited to the University of Illinois on a track scholarship and graduated with a bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1962. He was accepted to Washington University Medical School in St. Louis, Mo., and received his medical degree in 1966.
He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1968-1970 as a flight surgeon and spent one tour of duty in Vietnam. After his discharge, he completed a pathology residency at Penrose in Colorado Springs, Colo. He retired 10 years ago from Pathology Associates, Inc. PS (InCyte Pathology) in Spokane, where he was a partner and practicing pathologist.
He loved to sing and play his guitar, including many of his own songs. He enjoyed fly-fishing, skiing and hiking. After retiring and moving to the peninsula, he developed an interest in foraging for wild mushrooms, crabbing, creating driftwood sculptures and scouring the beaches for beautiful rocks.
He is survived by Dianne, his wife of 29 years; children John Venzon of Arcadia, Calif.; Kate Venzon of Carlsbad, Calif.; and Joseph of Everett; four grandchildren, his sister Sandra and brother Dan, both of San Diego, Calif.
He was loved by many and always will be remembered for his wonderful sense of humor, adventurous spirit, intellect and kind heart. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to Hospice of Clallam County, Sonoma Mountain Zen Center or Washington University School of Medicine.
Noreen Kennedy
A celebration of life for Sequim resident Noreen Kennedy will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 20, at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 525 N. Fifth Ave., Sequim.
Mrs. Kennedy died April 21, 2010, at the age of 77.
She was born June 12, 1932, in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada, to Alex and Beatrice Kevan.
Her family moved to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and remained there until 1945. She graduated from Lamar High School in Houston in 1949 and attended the University of Texas where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega Sorority. She also earned a music degree from Trinity College London in 1952.
She married Dean Kennedy in August 1952 and became a naturalized United States citizen in 1954.
They lived in Virginia; Fort Hood and Houston, Texas; Cleveland, Ohio; Tulsa, Okla.; Bellevue; Walnut Creek, Brooks, Burson and Pollock Pines, Calif.
They retired to Sequim in 1994.
She was a housewife, secretary, manager of a title company, and manager and full-time field hand of a 50-acre English walnut orchard.
She is survived by her husband, Dean; son and daughter-in-law Kirk and Becki Kennedy of Kirkland; daughter and son-in-law Karen and Robert Takagi of Redmond; sister and brother-in-law Patricia and Bob in Houston; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County or St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Sequim.
Martha L. Brown
At her request, no service is planned for Martha L. Brown, of Sequim, who died April 16, 2010, at age 58, in Sequim.
She was born April 27, 1951, in Spirit Lake, Idaho, to Lloyd and Marjorie Thompson Wilson.
She grew up and went to schools in Endicott. She lived in Washington most of her life other than three years on the "Big Island" of Hawaii. She lived in the Sequim area for more than 20 years.
She married Jay Brown and they later divorced. She married Rodney M. McCall, a schoolmate from Endicott, on Sept. 23, 2006, at the McCall Angus Ranch in eastern Washington.
She was a registered nurse for more than 20 years. She enjoyed gardening, was very artistic and enjoyed horseback riding the local area with friends and colleagues.
She is survived by her husband Rodney M. McCall; son Jamie Brown; daughters Engre Brown and Ellison Brown; her mother Marjorie Brown; two brothers, two sisters and one grandchild.
Sequim Valley Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Fern M. Steinbach
A memorial service for Fern M. Steinbach, of
Sequim, will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 12, at 10618 Rowland Ave. SW, Lakewood.
Mrs. Steinbach died April 11, 2010, in Sequim, at age 84.
She was born Feb. 16, 1926, in Wenatchee to Forest Earl and Bessie Ellis Overmak. She lived in Arizona but spent most of her life in Washington.
She and Cecil Steinbach married in Sequim in the 1980s.
Mrs. Steinbach enjoyed movies, trips, ceramics, animals and visiting family.
Besides her husband, she is survived by daughters Gail Heagy of Tacoma and Sharon Bartlett of Monroe; sons Gary Bartlett of Seattle and Fred Bartlett of Vancouver, Wash.; eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Sequim Valley Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Marvel June Schweitzberger Nagel
A service was held for Sequim resident Marvel June Scheitzberger Nagel, who died April 20, 2010.
She was born June 14, 1927, in Kingsley, Iowa, to Sarah and William Schweitzberger, the youngest of six brothers and five sisters.
She moved to Washougal in 1945. There, she married Robert "Roy" Nagel. They had two children, Barbara Diann and Frank LeRoy, who was stillborn. The Nagels lived in the Orchards, Brush Prairie and Hazel Dell areas before retiring and moving to Sequim in 1983.
The Nagels owned and operated the Hazel Dell Laundromat from the late 1960s to about 1981.
Mrs. Nagel's hobbies included sewing, knitting, gardening flowers and food, and reading westerns.
She was a member of the Assembly of God Church in Vancouver and Sequim.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Barbara and Terrin Pearson of Vancouver, Wash.; sister Violet Kramer of California City, Calif.; three grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy, in December 2009.
Straub's Funeral Home & Columbia River Cremation in Camas was in charge of arrangements.
John A. Kochanek
At his request, no service is planned for John Andrew Kochanek, 87, of Port Angeles.
Mr. Kochanek died April 23, 2010, in Port Angeles.
He was born July 29, 1922, in Port Townsend to Harry and Magda (Horton) Kochanek.
Inurnment will be at OceanView Cemetery.
Drennan & Ford Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
ROBERT E. HEDGECOCK
July 24, 1930 to April 18, 2010
Robert E. Hedgecock passed on April 18, 2010 in Seaside, Oregon. Bob was born in White Cloud, Kansas July 24, 1930 to Frieda and Ivan Hedgecock. He graduated from Dayton High School in 1949 and University of Oregon. He served active duty in the Korean War and had a career with AVP Crepaco for 40 years.
He survived his wife of 45 years Lydia Wakeman. They have four children: Mark Hedgecock of Sequim, WA; Yvonne Lindbom of Bellevue, WA; Laura Hedgecock of Whidbey Island, WA; and John Hedgecock of Seaside, OR; and six grandchildren: Jaron, Jakob, Ivan, Anna, Theresa, Katie, and great-grandson Sean. Robert is also survived by his sister Shirley Hedgecock of Salem, OR and his brother Ron Hedgecock of Pensacola, FL.
He later married and is survived by Marleen and her two sons: Richard Gaynor of Minneapolis, MN and Alec Gaynor of McMinnville, OR; and three granddaughters: Molly, Mattie and Ariel.
A memorial service will be held on May 8th at 2:00 PM at the Seaside Christian Church located at 88786 Dellmoor Loop, Warrenton, OR.
Bob's favorite charity was to the Native American Children. Buy a lottery ticket in his memory!
Alan Hanby Swann
Alan Hanby Swann, age 72, passed away on April 14, 2010.
He was born on December 31, 1937 in Lynn, MA.
His mother was Amanda Hanby and his father was Donald Mallory Swann.
During his 6 years of service as a radio operator, he served the U.S. Navy on a destroyer. Alan received his mechanical engineering degree from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. It is one of the largest engineering programs in the United States for more than 100 years.
Alan met his wife, Rosa Julia, when they both worked at Cal-Style Furniture Mfg. in Compton, CA. He was vice-president of manufacturing where he supervised 750 employees working on custom dinette furniture. He married Rosa Julia in Torrance, CA in 1987.
Alan loved his boat (named Rosa Julia). He had it in dry dock for several years as he did major updates and remodeled it for future excursions. His endless patience was the perfect quality for his avocation of woodworking. Alan harvested the timber from his forest and painstakingly dried the wood for months in his shop. The designs for his custom furniture were his pride and joy. Anyone who met or worked with him found a loyal friend.
He is survived by his wife, Rosa Julia; daughters Lara Jean McDermott (husband Michael) in Larkspur, CA; Sonya Ann Milam (husband Tom) in Colorado; Patty Contreras (husband Jessie) in Fontana, CA; and Jorge Cornejo (wife Suzie) in Los Angeles, CA.
He is also survived by his brother, Rick, (wife Stephanie), in Fairfield, CT; plus ten grandchildren.
There will be a celebration of life on May 14 at 1:00 p.m. Father Robert Rhodes will conduct the memorial service at St. Luke's Episcopal Church.
Please consider a donation to your favorite charity in lieu of flowers.
Lorraine Morrish Snow
Born in 1923 in Hinckley, Minnesota, Lorraine died on Friday, April 23, 2010, at Fairhaven Estates at the age of 87.
She grew up spending summers with her three older brothers at a cabin on Grindstone Lake near Hinckley, and became an avid swimmer.
The family then moved to Pt. Angeles, WA, where Lorraine spent her high school years, developing a love of dancing, which she continued to do well into her 80s. After high school, she left the family home to have "adventures" with her girlfriends, and ended up taking a job in a secretarial pool at Ft. Lewis, WA. It was here that she met the love of her life, Carl Snow. They met and were married within 13 days, after which Lorraine moved to Springfield, Ohio, to live with Carl's parents, until he returned from WW II.
Lorraine and Carl initially settled in Livermore, CA, but moved back to Sequim, WA, where Carl started his own small accounting firm. They then had the opportunity to move to Lynden, WA where they founded Snow Ford Sales (now Pioneer Ford).
Lorraine is preceded in death by her parents; her brothers Albert and Gilbert Morrish; and her husband, Carl Snow. She is survived by her brother Will (Julia) Morrish; her sons, Dale (Judy) and Richard Snow; her daughter Sharon Cochrane; her grandchildren Carla (Kevin) Moore and Andy Snow; and her great-grandchildren Hannah and Jacob Moore.
At her request, no services will be held. Memorial donations may be made to Whatcom Hospice at www.hospicehelp.org.
The family wishes to thank all the staff at Fairhaven Estates (especially Theresa, Vickie, Nicole, Pat and her dear friend, Donna), Reid Henry, and Whatcom Hospice, who all took such great care of her and for the many kindnesses extended to her.
Be at peace, Mom.
Moles Family Funeral Homes, Bayview Chapel, Bellingham
Helen R. Dawley
May 17, 1925- April 13, 2010
Helen R. Dawley died in her home following a short but intense course of ovarian cancer. She died as she lived, with dignity, grace and courage.
Helen was born to J. Stanley and Ruth Symons in Seattle, Washington. She was raised in the Ballard area of Seattle and graduated from Ballard High School in 1942. She married Harvey "Bud" Ohrman on December 12, 1942. Helen and Bud continued to live in Ballard where they raised their three children until Bud's death in 1955. Helen later married Don Lind and moved to Port Angeles in 1956 where she continued to be a homemaker while helping build the Olympic Film Service business. She also was an owner and florist in Dusty's Flower Shop. She and
Don later divorced. Helen worked as a dental assistant and receptionist for several years during the late 1960s and early 1970s in downtown Port Angeles.
During these years she made many new friends and enjoyed learning new skills.
She married Cecil L. Dawley on September 25, 1973 in Acapulco, Mexico.
She moved to Sequim to Cecil's family home at the end of Dawley Road in Blyn, Washington. She created several flower gardens that enhanced the beauty of the surrounding ponds and bird sanctuaries. Helen and Cecil traveled the world for the first 18 years of the marriage.
Helen dedicated herself to community service in Sequim and Clallam County. She served on many boards including: The Human Services Coordinating Council, Healthy Families of Clallam County, and The Peninsula Community Mental Health Board. She volunteered as a reading tutor in the Sequim Schools, served as a court advocate for abused women and children, and started the first support group for individuals who had lost loved ones to suicide in Clallam County. She helped start the Sequim Food Bank, and was a strong supporter of the Sequim Boys and Girls Club. She received a variety of community service awards over the years including: The Soroptimist Women Making a Difference Award and The Clallam County Service Award.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents and one brother; her son,
Frank Ohrman, in 1971; and husband, Cecil, in 2005. She is survived by her son
Steven Ohrman; daughter and son-in-law Susan and Bill Rammelsberg; grandchildren Tyna Hatcher (Sheldon); Dan Ohrman (Darlene); Krista Rammelsberg; Erik Rammelsberg (Jessica); and two great-grandchildren Nolan and
Madison Ohrman.
A memorial service and celebration of Helen's life will be at the Dungeness Valley Lutheran Church, 925 N. Sequim Ave., at 11:00 AM on Saturday, May 1, 2010.
A reception will follow at the Paradise Restaurant.
Memorials may be given to the Peninsula Community Mental Health Center,
118 E. 8th St., Port Angeles WA, 98362; Parenting Matters Foundation,
PO Box 3323, Sequim WA 98382; or The Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County,
540 S. 8th St., Port Angeles WA, 98362.
A celebration of life for Dennis Eugene Venzon of Agnew will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, May 17, at John Wayne Marina near Sequim.
Mr. Venzon died at his home on April 19, 2010. He was born Dec. 29, 1940, in Kenosha, Wis. He was the son of Arline and Joseph Venzon, who preceded him in death. In his teen years, he moved with his family to the Chicago area and graduated in 1958 from Township Maine High School in Park Ridge, Ill.
He was recruited to the University of Illinois on a track scholarship and graduated with a bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1962. He was accepted to Washington University Medical School in St. Louis, Mo., and received his medical degree in 1966.
He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1968-1970 as a flight surgeon and spent one tour of duty in Vietnam. After his discharge, he completed a pathology residency at Penrose in Colorado Springs, Colo. He retired 10 years ago from Pathology Associates, Inc. PS (InCyte Pathology) in Spokane, where he was a partner and practicing pathologist.
He loved to sing and play his guitar, including many of his own songs. He enjoyed fly-fishing, skiing and hiking. After retiring and moving to the peninsula, he developed an interest in foraging for wild mushrooms, crabbing, creating driftwood sculptures and scouring the beaches for beautiful rocks.
He is survived by Dianne, his wife of 29 years; children John Venzon of Arcadia, Calif.; Kate Venzon of Carlsbad, Calif.; and Joseph of Everett; four grandchildren, his sister Sandra and brother Dan, both of San Diego, Calif.
He was loved by many and always will be remembered for his wonderful sense of humor, adventurous spirit, intellect and kind heart. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to Hospice of Clallam County, Sonoma Mountain Zen Center or Washington University School of Medicine.
Noreen Kennedy
A celebration of life for Sequim resident Noreen Kennedy will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 20, at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 525 N. Fifth Ave., Sequim.
Mrs. Kennedy died April 21, 2010, at the age of 77.
She was born June 12, 1932, in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada, to Alex and Beatrice Kevan.
Her family moved to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and remained there until 1945. She graduated from Lamar High School in Houston in 1949 and attended the University of Texas where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega Sorority. She also earned a music degree from Trinity College London in 1952.
She married Dean Kennedy in August 1952 and became a naturalized United States citizen in 1954.
They lived in Virginia; Fort Hood and Houston, Texas; Cleveland, Ohio; Tulsa, Okla.; Bellevue; Walnut Creek, Brooks, Burson and Pollock Pines, Calif.
They retired to Sequim in 1994.
She was a housewife, secretary, manager of a title company, and manager and full-time field hand of a 50-acre English walnut orchard.
She is survived by her husband, Dean; son and daughter-in-law Kirk and Becki Kennedy of Kirkland; daughter and son-in-law Karen and Robert Takagi of Redmond; sister and brother-in-law Patricia and Bob in Houston; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County or St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Sequim.
Martha L. Brown
At her request, no service is planned for Martha L. Brown, of Sequim, who died April 16, 2010, at age 58, in Sequim.
She was born April 27, 1951, in Spirit Lake, Idaho, to Lloyd and Marjorie Thompson Wilson.
She grew up and went to schools in Endicott. She lived in Washington most of her life other than three years on the "Big Island" of Hawaii. She lived in the Sequim area for more than 20 years.
She married Jay Brown and they later divorced. She married Rodney M. McCall, a schoolmate from Endicott, on Sept. 23, 2006, at the McCall Angus Ranch in eastern Washington.
She was a registered nurse for more than 20 years. She enjoyed gardening, was very artistic and enjoyed horseback riding the local area with friends and colleagues.
She is survived by her husband Rodney M. McCall; son Jamie Brown; daughters Engre Brown and Ellison Brown; her mother Marjorie Brown; two brothers, two sisters and one grandchild.
Sequim Valley Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Fern M. Steinbach
A memorial service for Fern M. Steinbach, of
Sequim, will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 12, at 10618 Rowland Ave. SW, Lakewood.
Mrs. Steinbach died April 11, 2010, in Sequim, at age 84.
She was born Feb. 16, 1926, in Wenatchee to Forest Earl and Bessie Ellis Overmak. She lived in Arizona but spent most of her life in Washington.
She and Cecil Steinbach married in Sequim in the 1980s.
Mrs. Steinbach enjoyed movies, trips, ceramics, animals and visiting family.
Besides her husband, she is survived by daughters Gail Heagy of Tacoma and Sharon Bartlett of Monroe; sons Gary Bartlett of Seattle and Fred Bartlett of Vancouver, Wash.; eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Sequim Valley Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Marvel June Schweitzberger Nagel
A service was held for Sequim resident Marvel June Scheitzberger Nagel, who died April 20, 2010.
She was born June 14, 1927, in Kingsley, Iowa, to Sarah and William Schweitzberger, the youngest of six brothers and five sisters.
She moved to Washougal in 1945. There, she married Robert "Roy" Nagel. They had two children, Barbara Diann and Frank LeRoy, who was stillborn. The Nagels lived in the Orchards, Brush Prairie and Hazel Dell areas before retiring and moving to Sequim in 1983.
The Nagels owned and operated the Hazel Dell Laundromat from the late 1960s to about 1981.
Mrs. Nagel's hobbies included sewing, knitting, gardening flowers and food, and reading westerns.
She was a member of the Assembly of God Church in Vancouver and Sequim.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Barbara and Terrin Pearson of Vancouver, Wash.; sister Violet Kramer of California City, Calif.; three grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy, in December 2009.
Straub's Funeral Home & Columbia River Cremation in Camas was in charge of arrangements.
John A. Kochanek
At his request, no service is planned for John Andrew Kochanek, 87, of Port Angeles.
Mr. Kochanek died April 23, 2010, in Port Angeles.
He was born July 29, 1922, in Port Townsend to Harry and Magda (Horton) Kochanek.
Inurnment will be at OceanView Cemetery.
Drennan & Ford Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
ROBERT E. HEDGECOCK
July 24, 1930 to April 18, 2010
Robert E. Hedgecock passed on April 18, 2010 in Seaside, Oregon. Bob was born in White Cloud, Kansas July 24, 1930 to Frieda and Ivan Hedgecock. He graduated from Dayton High School in 1949 and University of Oregon. He served active duty in the Korean War and had a career with AVP Crepaco for 40 years.
He survived his wife of 45 years Lydia Wakeman. They have four children: Mark Hedgecock of Sequim, WA; Yvonne Lindbom of Bellevue, WA; Laura Hedgecock of Whidbey Island, WA; and John Hedgecock of Seaside, OR; and six grandchildren: Jaron, Jakob, Ivan, Anna, Theresa, Katie, and great-grandson Sean. Robert is also survived by his sister Shirley Hedgecock of Salem, OR and his brother Ron Hedgecock of Pensacola, FL.
He later married and is survived by Marleen and her two sons: Richard Gaynor of Minneapolis, MN and Alec Gaynor of McMinnville, OR; and three granddaughters: Molly, Mattie and Ariel.
A memorial service will be held on May 8th at 2:00 PM at the Seaside Christian Church located at 88786 Dellmoor Loop, Warrenton, OR.
Bob's favorite charity was to the Native American Children. Buy a lottery ticket in his memory!
Alan Hanby Swann
Alan Hanby Swann, age 72, passed away on April 14, 2010.
He was born on December 31, 1937 in Lynn, MA.
His mother was Amanda Hanby and his father was Donald Mallory Swann.
During his 6 years of service as a radio operator, he served the U.S. Navy on a destroyer. Alan received his mechanical engineering degree from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. It is one of the largest engineering programs in the United States for more than 100 years.
Alan met his wife, Rosa Julia, when they both worked at Cal-Style Furniture Mfg. in Compton, CA. He was vice-president of manufacturing where he supervised 750 employees working on custom dinette furniture. He married Rosa Julia in Torrance, CA in 1987.
Alan loved his boat (named Rosa Julia). He had it in dry dock for several years as he did major updates and remodeled it for future excursions. His endless patience was the perfect quality for his avocation of woodworking. Alan harvested the timber from his forest and painstakingly dried the wood for months in his shop. The designs for his custom furniture were his pride and joy. Anyone who met or worked with him found a loyal friend.
He is survived by his wife, Rosa Julia; daughters Lara Jean McDermott (husband Michael) in Larkspur, CA; Sonya Ann Milam (husband Tom) in Colorado; Patty Contreras (husband Jessie) in Fontana, CA; and Jorge Cornejo (wife Suzie) in Los Angeles, CA.
He is also survived by his brother, Rick, (wife Stephanie), in Fairfield, CT; plus ten grandchildren.
There will be a celebration of life on May 14 at 1:00 p.m. Father Robert Rhodes will conduct the memorial service at St. Luke's Episcopal Church.
Please consider a donation to your favorite charity in lieu of flowers.
Lorraine Morrish Snow
Born in 1923 in Hinckley, Minnesota, Lorraine died on Friday, April 23, 2010, at Fairhaven Estates at the age of 87.
She grew up spending summers with her three older brothers at a cabin on Grindstone Lake near Hinckley, and became an avid swimmer.
The family then moved to Pt. Angeles, WA, where Lorraine spent her high school years, developing a love of dancing, which she continued to do well into her 80s. After high school, she left the family home to have "adventures" with her girlfriends, and ended up taking a job in a secretarial pool at Ft. Lewis, WA. It was here that she met the love of her life, Carl Snow. They met and were married within 13 days, after which Lorraine moved to Springfield, Ohio, to live with Carl's parents, until he returned from WW II.
Lorraine and Carl initially settled in Livermore, CA, but moved back to Sequim, WA, where Carl started his own small accounting firm. They then had the opportunity to move to Lynden, WA where they founded Snow Ford Sales (now Pioneer Ford).
Lorraine is preceded in death by her parents; her brothers Albert and Gilbert Morrish; and her husband, Carl Snow. She is survived by her brother Will (Julia) Morrish; her sons, Dale (Judy) and Richard Snow; her daughter Sharon Cochrane; her grandchildren Carla (Kevin) Moore and Andy Snow; and her great-grandchildren Hannah and Jacob Moore.
At her request, no services will be held. Memorial donations may be made to Whatcom Hospice at www.hospicehelp.org.
The family wishes to thank all the staff at Fairhaven Estates (especially Theresa, Vickie, Nicole, Pat and her dear friend, Donna), Reid Henry, and Whatcom Hospice, who all took such great care of her and for the many kindnesses extended to her.
Be at peace, Mom.
Moles Family Funeral Homes, Bayview Chapel, Bellingham
Helen R. Dawley
May 17, 1925- April 13, 2010
Helen R. Dawley died in her home following a short but intense course of ovarian cancer. She died as she lived, with dignity, grace and courage.
Helen was born to J. Stanley and Ruth Symons in Seattle, Washington. She was raised in the Ballard area of Seattle and graduated from Ballard High School in 1942. She married Harvey "Bud" Ohrman on December 12, 1942. Helen and Bud continued to live in Ballard where they raised their three children until Bud's death in 1955. Helen later married Don Lind and moved to Port Angeles in 1956 where she continued to be a homemaker while helping build the Olympic Film Service business. She also was an owner and florist in Dusty's Flower Shop. She and
Don later divorced. Helen worked as a dental assistant and receptionist for several years during the late 1960s and early 1970s in downtown Port Angeles.
During these years she made many new friends and enjoyed learning new skills.
She married Cecil L. Dawley on September 25, 1973 in Acapulco, Mexico.
She moved to Sequim to Cecil's family home at the end of Dawley Road in Blyn, Washington. She created several flower gardens that enhanced the beauty of the surrounding ponds and bird sanctuaries. Helen and Cecil traveled the world for the first 18 years of the marriage.
Helen dedicated herself to community service in Sequim and Clallam County. She served on many boards including: The Human Services Coordinating Council, Healthy Families of Clallam County, and The Peninsula Community Mental Health Board. She volunteered as a reading tutor in the Sequim Schools, served as a court advocate for abused women and children, and started the first support group for individuals who had lost loved ones to suicide in Clallam County. She helped start the Sequim Food Bank, and was a strong supporter of the Sequim Boys and Girls Club. She received a variety of community service awards over the years including: The Soroptimist Women Making a Difference Award and The Clallam County Service Award.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents and one brother; her son,
Frank Ohrman, in 1971; and husband, Cecil, in 2005. She is survived by her son
Steven Ohrman; daughter and son-in-law Susan and Bill Rammelsberg; grandchildren Tyna Hatcher (Sheldon); Dan Ohrman (Darlene); Krista Rammelsberg; Erik Rammelsberg (Jessica); and two great-grandchildren Nolan and
Madison Ohrman.
A memorial service and celebration of Helen's life will be at the Dungeness Valley Lutheran Church, 925 N. Sequim Ave., at 11:00 AM on Saturday, May 1, 2010.
A reception will follow at the Paradise Restaurant.
Memorials may be given to the Peninsula Community Mental Health Center,
118 E. 8th St., Port Angeles WA, 98362; Parenting Matters Foundation,
PO Box 3323, Sequim WA 98382; or The Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County,
540 S. 8th St., Port Angeles WA, 98362.
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