Andrew L. (Andy) Loehr

July 16, 1916 -August 18, 2010

Lt. coL. USAF (ret) • "Papa Casoni" Andrew L. Loehr passed away on Sunday, August 22, 2010. Andrew was born on July 16, 1916 in Blue Island, Illinois to Andrew and Helen Loehr. His father died in a railroad switching accident when he was just two, and his mother died of ovarian cancer when he was four. He was raised by his Old World paternal grandparents.



He began working at age ten as a paperboy and caddy to buy clothes and supplies for school. He graduated second in his high school class, but could not afford to go to college because there were few scholarships during the Great Depression. He became an apprentice mechanic working for his uncle for $1 per day. After he learned his trade, he went to work as a junior mechanic for a local airport. There were no schools for aircraft mechanics so it was strictly on-the-job training. In 1939, he was recruited by the Army Signal Corps to work on military aircraft. He eventually became an instructor at the Aviation Section, US Army Signal Corps school at Chanute Field in Illinois.



In 1942, he was recruited to be an aircraft inspector. He went to OCS and became a 2nd Lt., trained to be a Crash Intelligence Officer. He was then deployed to England to serve with the RAF. He saw service in England, North Africa and Italy and then was transferred to the China Air Task Force (formerly the Flying Tigers). His duties there included bringing out downed pilots, removing intelligence from downed aircraft and shipping advanced enemy aircraft home for study. After the war, he worked on the jet engine program with German scientists at Patterson Field in Fairborn, Ohio, where some of the first jets were tested and perfected.



He continued his work in military intelligence as an embassy attaché in Turkey. In Germany, his job was to recruit German rocket scientists before the Russians did. This assignment was known as Project Paper Clip. Upon returning to the US, he was assigned to Project Bluebook which investigated UFO sightings. His last assignment was with the Foreign Technology Division (spy division of the Air Force). He retired in 1980 from government service after 42 years of globe-trotting and adventure.



During his government career, he met and worked with many famous individuals such as General Chenault, General Hap Arnold, Jimmy Doolittle, General George C. Patton, and Chiang Kaishek, but he was most proud of briefing Wilbur Wright on the workings of jet engines. Meeting the father of the airplane was an amazing experience for a man who dedicated his life to knowing how planes worked inside and out.



He married the love of his life, Marie Casoni, in May of 1941. He had a son, Andrew, in April of 1942. He and Marie had two girls- Kathrine, in 1949 and Patricia, in 1953. The family lived in Turkey, Germany, California and Ohio. Because of the era and the type of job he had, Andy left the raising of his three kids to his wife. However, when he retired, that changed.



Andy and Marie moved from Ohio to Austin, Texas in the early '80s. The summers were too hot for them so they RV'd to Alaska. On their way back, they discovered Sequim. Marie had always wanted to live by the Mediterranean between the mountains and the sea. Sequim was even better with its great weather and it was in the US. They bought a lot on Three Crabs in 1982, and that has been the family homestead ever since.



By 1984 they were ready to unretire so in partnership with their daughter Patricia and her husband Jim McCauley they opened Casoni's Restaurant in Carlsborg. Casoni's won many awards including Best Italian Restaurant in the Pacific Northwest and Best Italian Restaurant in Washington. The restaurant was also featured on King 5 TV's Evening Magazine. Casoni's closed in 1994 when it was time to retire again. Andy was very proud that, long after the restaurant closed, former guests referred to him as "Papa Casoni."



Andrew lost his wonderful, fun, supportive wife, Marie, in 1995. He traveled some, swam a lot and then stayed home and became the best grandfather and dad a family could hope for. He finally realized that although his career was exciting, the best reward in life was his family. He now had time to appreciate them and he gave back so much love.



In 1997, he became the silent partner in the marketing firm, InsideOut Marketing & Design founded by his daughter Patricia, and son-in-law Jim. The company, now known as InsideOut Solutions is owned by Patricia and Jim McCauley, and Jeff and Beth Logan. Andy was very proud to watch the company flourish and grow to the seventeen employees it has today.



Andrew was a member of St. Joseph's Church in Sequim and served both as a lector and Eucharistic Minister for almost 25 years. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus for a number of years.



He was a proud member of the Sequim Sunrise Rotary for 19 years and a Paul Harris Fellow. Only after joining did he discovered that his Great, Great Uncle Gustavus Loehr was one of the four founding members of Rotary International, an organization that today has over 1.2 million members.



Andrew is survived by his son, Andrew A. Loehr (Tere Baker), daughters, Kathrine Going (Carl) and Patricia McCauley (Jim); grandchildren, Andrew P. and Jacky Loehr, Mercedes and Joe Fisher, Mischelle Mauer and Sean and Heidi Johnson; his great-grandchildren Austin Wilson, Christian and Cameron Mauer, Paige and Reece Johnson, and Jake Fisher. Andy's extended family; Michael and Patricia Stevens, Jeffrey, Michael and Jodi Steven; niece, Susan Gaines; sister-in-law, Veronica Casoni Ashworth; brother-in-law, Arturo Casoni (Carleen); Al Doum, Darcy Lamb and Jane Sallee.



A mass will be held in Andy's honor in Sequim at 11 AM, September 4th, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church on Maple Street. Join in the Celebration of Andrew's Life on September 5th at 11 AM at his home on 1252 Three Crabs Rd.



In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Andrew's name to Sequim Sunrise Rotary (Shelter Box Fund), P.O. Box 1521, Sequim, WA.



Lillian Star Taylor

A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, at Calvary Chapel, 91 S. Boyce Road, Sequim, for Port Angeles resident Lillian Star Taylor.

Pastor Hans Bailey will be the officiant.

She died Aug. 27, 2010, at the age of 13. She was born Dec. 4, 1996.

The time and location for a celebration of life on Saturday, Sept. 4, is will be announced on the funeral home's website, www.drennanford.com.

A complete obituary will be published in a later edition.

Drennan & Ford Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.



Margaret 'Margie K' Pugh Ridgway

A gathering to celebrate the life of Port Angeles resident Margaret "Margie K" Pugh Ridgway will be held from 11 a.m.-

3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, at the Veterans Center, 216 S. Francis St., Port Angeles.

Mrs. Ridgway died Aug. 20, 2010, at the age of 84 in Yakima.

She was born Oct. 21, 1925, in Mukilteo to Edwin and Katherine Margaret Porter Pugh.

She married John Ridgway in Reno, Nev., on June 23, 1984. He preceded her in death on Dec. 4, 2001.

She lived in California, Tacoma and Forks. She owned and operated her own beauty salon for many years and gave it up to go into logging.

She was Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary District 14 president and a member of the Eagles.

She enjoyed traveling to Australia and Hawaii, camping, piloting her Aircoupe and bowling.

She is survived by a grandchild; three great-grandchildren, 12 nephews, nine nieces, and many great-nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her husband, daughter and five siblings.



Mary Smith Bienert

December 31, 1911 - August 18, 2010

Mary Bienert passed away on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 in Port Angeles surrounded by friends and family. She was 98.

Mary, known as Mimi to many, was born on New Year's Eve, 1911, in Houston Texas. The day of her birth established the theme for her life: "Let's celebrate!"

She graduated form Sam Houston High School in 1929 and attended Dickinson Secretarial School in Houston.

Her love of travel and adventure took her to jobs in New Orleans and Atlanta and finally to Lake Oswego, Oregon where she lived and worked for many years. She served as secretary to the Superintendent of Schools in Lake Oswego for over 25 years.

Mary generously contributed both time and resources to agencies that support individuals with disabilities. She served on the boards of Rockwest Training Company and The Garten School in Salem. She was also a member of Soroptomists in Lake Oswego.

In 1976 she married the love of her life, Ben Bienert and traveled all over the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe with him until his death in 1989. They lived in Lincoln City and Salem, Oregon.

In 2000 Mary moved to Sequim where she lived at the Fifth Avenue Retirement Apartments and later at St. Andrew's Place in Port Angeles.

Mary was an elegant, vivacious, fun-loving person who will be missed by family members and many friends.

She is survived by daughters Billie Sandra Smith of Sequim and Barbara Cozzetto and her husband Steve of Prineville, Oregon, sister Edith Morgan of Port Angeles, niece Mary Morgan and her husband Tim McNulty of Sequim, nephew Michael Morgan of Seattle, Niece Jetty Courte of Montgomery, Texas, granddaughter Jena Kautoo of Vancouver, Washington, and greatniece, Caitlin McNulty of Houston, Texas.

A private gathering will be held by family and friends to celebrate Mary's life.





Mary Ann Stephens

passed on August 10, 2010 at her home in Sequim, WA.

She was born August 6, 1923 to Elizabeth Bringle Vaughan and William J. Vaughan in Covington, TN. She was educated in Covington Schools, graduating with honors. She also graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee. Her Master's degree was from Indiana State University where, at a young age, she was appointed Dean of Women.

She married John Stephens in June, 1947 and they had two sons: Bruce and Brian. They raised their family in Terre Haute, IN and Olympic Fields (Chicago,) IL. When John retired in 1979, they moved to Sequim, WA.

Mary Ann loved people, flowers, the outdoors and most all things colored blue. Though quite decisive about her likes and dislikes, she was very accepting and caring - as evidenced by her many friends.

Husband John and son Brian preceded Mary Ann in death.

She was a member of the Olympic Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Rhododendron Society, Audubon Society and Wavemakers (a local group of women who made waves.)

There will be a Celebration of Life/Garden Party at OUUF Hall (73 Howe Road, off Barr Road between Old Olympic Highway and Highway 101,) Saturday, September 4th at 2:00 p.m. Please bring remembrances/stories to share. Please, also bring a stem or two or more of flowers to place in a communal bouquet.

Memorials may be made to OUUF, Audubon Society River Center, Volunteer Hospice or a charitable organization of your choice.



Charlotte Yvonne Bourquin

August 9, 1923 - August 21, 2010

Charlotte was born in Chico, California to Eli Perry McLain and Harriet Thornton and is survived by her husband Robert, son Geoffrey, brother Monte, and granddaughter Anna.

Her life was greatly influenced by the events of World War II. She and Robert, a Marine sergeant stationed at Wake Island, were engaged in 1940. Wake Island fell to the Japanese on December 23, 1941 and Robert became a POW.

Robert and Charlotte were married in Portland, Oregon on October 22, 1945. She encouraged Robert to return to school and they both entered Oregon State College. After one year, they moved to San Francisco where they continued their studies at San Francisco State College. When daughter Melaine was born with cystic fibrosis and financial problems became too much to handle on their small G.I. Bill income, Charlotte dropped out of college and went to work to help her husband finish his degree and get his teaching credentials. They lost Melaine at the age of nine.

Charlotte was a very special person. Her deep love and concern for others was evident all her life. She often said that her greatest blessing was her family. Melaine's short life meant so much to her, and her son Geoffrey filled her life with pride and joy. She said that the love shared by her and Robert was eternal. In October they would have celebrated 65 years of marriage.

A memorial service is being planned.