Frederick Carhart Walker
September 10, 1930 – August 27, 2017
Fred was born in Kingston, WA. He passed away in Arlington, WA due to merkel cell carcinoma at the age of 86.
Fred was preceded in death by son Russell, mother Ethel, father Frederick Sr. and wife Shirley Adell. He is survived by his son Patrick (Kim) Walker, sisters Joan Hartmann, Patricia Talmadge, Charlotte Walker, and Cindy (Joe) Lesh and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Fred served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War as a radio mechanic. He retired as Bridge Maintenance Supervisor from Washington State Department of Transportation after a 26 year career. Upon retiring, Fred immersed himself in many hobbies including building and piloting model aircraft and sailboats, gardening and beekeeping. He also developed an interest in Mountain Man Rendezvous, joining the Peninsula Long Rifle Club in Sequim. Fred enjoyed finding great deals at garage sales near and far. Fishing, boating and hunting were mainstays in his life. He owned countless and varied craft from skiffs and powerboats to sailboats. Fred loved to sail on his own sailboats and volunteered as crew on the historic sailing ship Adventuress. He also helped to rebuild the deckhouse and work on her sails.
Fred was an active member of the VFW and American Legion during his life. He also was Assistant Scout Master in Kingston, helping lead hikes up the Duckabush River and a 50 mile hike through the Olympic Mountains. Fred purchased a converted Monomoy lifeboat and had the dream of turning her into a sailboat. He contacted one of the captains of Adventuress and arranged to donate the boat to a group where young people converted her to a sailboat where she continues to be a learning platform for sailing and boating.
After a life on the water, Fred took to the road and spent winters in his RV in the dry and warm southwest. He would then become a campground host in the mountains of the San Juan National Forest in Colorado where he enjoyed meeting new people and maintaining his campground. He always loved to stop in and help family and friends with projects. Whether it was driving a dump truck to clear fields for alfalfa or house sitting. Fred eventually settled down at Diamond Point in Sequim enjoying life in an adult RV community where potlucks, card games and pool were a way of life.
A celebration of Fred’s life was held at the family’s beach cabin at Presidents Point on September 4, 2017. Donations in Fred’s name can be made to Evergreen Hospice or your own favorite charity.
Marlyn Lael Michalski “Lyn”
March 21, 1933 – September 6, 2017
Marlyn Lael Michalski “Lyn” passed away peacefully at her home in Sequim on September 6,2017.
Lyn was born in Tacoma Washington on March 21, 1933 to Wilmont and Hazel Musser. The family moved to Bellingham when she was young. She graduated from Bellingham High and still keeps in touch with her high school friends.
She married her high school sweetheart, Ken O’Connor, at the tender age of 18. They had two children together. Daniel and Terry. The O’Connor family moved to California in the early 1960’s settling down in Morgan Hill. In her early days of employment she was a quality control technician for Gilroy Foods who has since become McCormick Foods.
After her fist marriage ended, she met and married Daniel Michalski. In the early 90’s they moved to Sequim where they built their house where Dan still resides to this day. In Sequim, Lyn became active in the Master Gardner’s and they both became active in St. Luke’s Church, even going on a pilgrimage to Israel. Lyn had a magnetic personality and made friends easily.
Lyn was preceded in death by her son Daniel. She is survived by her husband Dan, daughter Terry (Paul) Gregory, Step children; Debra (Bill) Wagner, Dana (Dan) Wright, Jami (Sandy) Michalski, Kurt (Linda) Halliwell, and Mark Halliwell. Also her sister Jane Ayers from Warren, Pennsylvania, nieces, nephews, and numerous grandchildren.
St. Luke’s Church dedicated a Mass in her honor on September 17th, at the 10:00 a.m. service.
The family is not planning a public memorial service but requests that memorial gifts be made to Hospice of Sequim.
The family would like to thank caregivers Tabitha Starkenburg, Lidia Monroe and Elisa Osborn for their kind and compassionate care and all the friends and family who have helped over the last few years.
Jose Luis “Lou” Gradillas
June 21, 1939 – August 27, 2017
Jose Luis “Lou” Gradillas of Sequim, Washington passed away at the age of 78 on August 27, 2017 from natural causes at the Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle, Washington, surrounded by family.
Lou was born on June 21, 1939 in West Hollywood, California, to Ramon Rodriquez Gradillas and Amelia Montano Gradillas.
He graduated from Santa Monica High School in 1958. He attended Santa Monica City College and majored in horticulture at Moorpark College.
He was in the Air Force from 1959-1963 as an AIC E-4 and a paramedic with a U-2 ground support group.
He married Ada Kathleen Smith on May 31, 1961 at Laughlin Air Force Base, Del Rio, Texas. They divorced in 1983. He then married Loxie Lea (Kinnaman) Swanson on August 14, 1996 in Sequim, Washington
In 1974 he moved to Port Angeles, Washington for the “clean air”. He bought Birchgrove Greenhouse on O’Brien Rd.
Lou worked as a landscaper at Northridge, Los Angeles, California 1964-1968. He was a partner in Positive Landscape Inc. 1968-1974. Owned and operated Birchgrove Greenhouse in Port Angeles, Washington on O’Brien Rd. In 1977 he sold the business and moved to Sequim, Washington and became a real estate agent. After 21 years of selling real estate in Sequim, Washington, he retired from Home Realty, now called Blue Sky. He loved his job. He was voted Realtor of the Year in Sequim twice, finalist for Citizen of the Year in Sequim, served as Chairman of the Sequim Parks Commission for 12 years, Chairman of the Sequim Food Bank for 6 years, Co-Chairman of the Irrigation Festival for a few years then became Chairman of the103rd Irrigation Festival in 1998.
Lou was a member of the Sequim Elks #2642, VFW Club Sequim, St. Lukes Epsicopal Church.
When his health was better he enjoyed fishing, hunting and a game of tennis.
Lou and Loxie loved family, socializing with friends, dancing and supporting the Sequim Community.
Lou is survived by his wife Loxie Lea Gradillas, of Sequim, his daughter DeAnna Smit Porter, Poulsbo, step-daughter Debra Tan (Marco), Renton, son Shawn Gradillas, Port Angeles, step-son Dan (Tracy) Swanson, Sequim, sisters Margaret Myers, Sequim, brother Leo (Dolores) Gradillas, Marina Del Rey, CA., grandchildren Joe (Eligia) Gradillas, Jeremy Gradillas, Zachary Smit, Madison Porter, step-grandchildren Hollis Porter, Sydney Swanson, Lindsay Swanson, Rizal Tan, great grandchildren Matea and Isaiah Gradillas, Willa and Ryker Gradillas, Easton Porter.
Lou was preceded in death by his parents Ramon and Amelia Gradillas, brothers Frank and Carlos Gradillas, brother-in-laws James D. Kinnaman and Larry Myers, father and mother-in-law James B. and Pauline Kinnaman.
There was a Celebration of life at Paradise Restaurant 703 N Sequim Ave, Sequim, WA 98382 on September 10, 2017 at 3 pm.
Ashes will be buried at Sequim View Cemetery in the family plot.
Memorial contributions may be made to Nationalbreastcancer.org or Diabetes.org.
