Kathy Cummins Nichols (Peart)
Kathy Cummins Nichols of Sequim died at age 56 on April 12, 2019.
She was born Aug. 16, 1962.
A celebration of life is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at Sequim Bible Church, 847 N. Sequim Ave.
Doreen W. Lidgate
Sequim resident Doreen W. Lidgate died of Alzheimer’s disease in Sequim on April 16, 2019. She was 94.
Lidgate was born Jan. 27, 1925.
A full obituary will run at a later date.
Sign an online guestbook for the family at www.drennanford.com.
William “Bill” Wallace Kuss
September 24, 1924 – April 3, 2019
William “Bill” Wallace Kuss was born, in Seattle, on September 24, 1924. He died peacefully at home, in Sequim, on April 3, 2019. He was 94.
Dad is survived by his sister, Virginia Gunby; and 3 of his 4 children, Nancy Klotz, Cindy Kuss and Jeffery Kuss; 3 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild; and various nieces and nephews.
Dad was preceded in death by parents, Joseph and Lena Kuss; wife, Annette; son, Daniel; brother, Robert Ross; nephew, Robert Ross Jr.; and granddaughter, Erin Klotz.
Dad grew up in Seattle, was active in Sea Scouts and graduated from W. Seattle High, in 1942. He had a passion and talent for building. Dad attended Edison Vocational Boat School in Seattle. He served in the Army, from 1943-1946, as a Staff Sgt. in Co. D, 361st Engineer Special Services Regiment and saw action in all three theaters, including Normandy Beach.
After WWII, Dad worked at Grandy Boat Co., Jensen Motor Boat Co., Vic Frank and Marco Shipyards on Lake Union, in Seattle, and quickly became foreman. He married Annette “Annie,” a beautiful young RN, in 1948. Dad built their first home in West Seattle. He also built 2 personal sailboats (24’ and 32’), in the garage.
In 1964, Dad built our second home, in Sequim, and then he built and established West Bay Boat & Mfg. Co. Dad always told us, “Do something you love and are good at; there wasn’t one day when I didn’t want to go to work.”
When he wasn’t building boats or promoting boating, he was taking our family camping, fishing, crabbing or clam digging; or he was bird hunting, shooting trap and skeet or doing photography. He was twice past Commodore of Sequim Bay Yacht Club. Dad was one of the driving forces to build the John Wayne Marina in Sequim Bay. He built his 3rd sailboat, the West Bay, which he and Mom sailed all over Puget Sound and San Juan Islands. They often participated in the weekly SBYC Duck Dodge sailboat races.
In retirement, Dad became more involved in photography, including developing and printing his photos. He was active in the Olympic Peaks Camera Club and a participating artist/photographer at the Blue Hole Gallery, in Sequim. After Mom died, Dad met Arlene, and they enjoyed many happy times together.
Drennon & Ford Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of cremation. Go to www.drennonford.com to view a slide show of Dad’s life and share memories. A memorial gathering will be Sunday, April 28, 3-5 PM, at the John Wayne Marina. Memorial donations may be made to Volunteer Hospice of Clallam Co. and the Sequim Soroptomists Medical Loan Closet.
Lois Elaine “Elaine” Griffin
September 16, 1926 – March 6, 2019
Lois Elaine (Hage) Griffin, died March 6, at Meridian at Stone Creek assisted living in Milton, Washington. Friends and relatives remember a kind and loving mother, sister, grandmother and aunt — a special person who brought people together and made friends wherever she went. She was 92.
Elaine was born September 16, 1926, in St. Cloud, Minnesota, to Lester Hage and Lois Stubbins. The middle of three sisters, she grew up in Brainerd, Minnesota, and in high school, was a cheerleader and acted in the school plays. After high school, she moved to Seattle, where she worked for the Civil Aeronautics Administration (now the Federal Aviation Administration). On June 19, 1946, at age 19, she married Army Air Corps first lieutenant Zane “Buzz” Griffin at Seattle’s University Lutheran Church.
Buzz and Elaine raised three children and made homes in Tacoma, Medford, Oregon, the Hawaiian island of Oahu, Naples, Italy, Houston, Texas, Puyallup, and Sequim.Sons, Brand Norman and Lane Arnold arrived in 1947 and 1950, respectively, and daughter Leslie Anne was born in 1954.
Throughout retirement, Elaine and Buzz traveled extensively and were involved in many social clubs, including Over the Hill Dance Club and the — ironically named — Duck Lake Yacht Club in Ocean Shores. She loved to play bridge and took up golf, playing weekly with the Sunday Niners and the ladies of the Sunland Golf and Country Club.
She is fondly remembered by her grandchildren for lively games of Pictionary, trips to the U-pick berry farm, boat rides at sunset, homemade birthday cards, and “authentic” Norwegian lefse served with meatballs each Christmas Eve.
Elaine felt most at home near the water and on her 90th birthday, she continued a personal tradition of swimming in the chilly water outside her home in Lake Sutherland.
Elaine is preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Zane; sister, Colleen Mayo; and granddaughter, Keely Griffin.
She is survived by children, Brand (Susan) Griffin of Huntsville, Alabama; Lane (Peggy) Griffin of Richland; Leslie Andrews of Edgewood; sister, Betty Montieth of Roseburg, Oregon; and grandchildren, Lauren Griffin, Garrett Andrews, Molly LaLonde, Grayson Andrews, Cara Griffin, Brin Andrews, Mitchell Griffin, Hayley Andrews, and Natalie Griffin. She had one great-grandchild, Benedict LaLonde.
According to her wishes, the family plans to spread her ashes in the Strait of Juan de Fuca off Port Angeles.
Denise Ray McClain
June 6, 1951- April 16, 2019
Denise Ray McClain was born on June 6, 1951, in Bremerton, to Henry Kraft and Norma Jean York, just minutes after her twin brother, Dennis (Marki). Brothers, Doug and Dean (Barbara) followed shortly thereafter.
Denise relocated to Oxnard, California, at the age of 12; where she later met her future husband, Charles McClain.
They were married on August 22, 1970, and were approaching their 49th wedding anniversary.
In addition to her husband, Denise is survived by three sons, Charles Henry (Beth), Brian John and David Michael (Nyisha), and four grandchildren, Stone, Rhiannon, Odin and Orion.
She was preceded in death by one son, Thomas Patrick and one grandson, Sterling, a twin to Stone.
Denise was a musician, a wife, a mother, a grandmother and a friend. One of her greatest joys was seeing her students grow both as musicians and as people. Many went to State Solo and Ensemble competitions. All her students were winners.
Denise loved her husband. She loved her sons. But she had a special place in her heart for her grandchildren. Grandma “DiDi” loved to hold them (when they would let her); the newest additions, Odin and Orion, also twins, were born on December 23, 2018. She looked forward to Charlie’s retirement and their move to California to be closer to them.
Denise loved her friends, both in and out of Queen of Angels and St. Joseph Parishes. They shared a love of music, liturgy and the gospel. They laughed together, prayed together and especially ate together.
Please join the family at the Vigil Service on Wednesday, April 24, at 7 PM, and the Funeral Mass on April 25, at 11 AM, both at Queen of Angels Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Vincent de Paul or to the Clallam County Food Bank.
Denise did not believe in wearing black at funerals. Her favorite colors were yellow and white. Please join us in honoring her with those colors.
