Obituaries

In memoriam: Former Edmonds City Counclmember Thomas Petruzzi

In memoriam: Former Edmonds City Counclmember Thomas Petruzzi

We received news from Edmonds Mayor Dave Earling Saturday afternoon that former Edmonds City Councilmember Thomas Petruzzi died last week. Earling worked with Mr. Petruzzi after he was appointed to the council in 1991 to fill a vacancy. While Mr Petruzzi successfully ran to retain his seat in 1993, he resigned from the city council in January 1997, stating he wanted to spend more time with his fam... »

In Memoriam: Florence Womer, 101, active member of Holy Rosary

Florence Marie Womer, age 101, died in her Edmonds home on Sunday, April 21, 2013. Florence was born Sept. 8, 1911 in Perham, Minn. and raised in Dent, Minn., where her parents, Joseph and Theresia Besler, owned the general store. Florence graduated from Fergus Falls High and moved to Edmonds with her parents and sister Louise in 1943. She married Howard L. Womer on June 10, 1946 at Holy Rosary Ca... »

In Memoriam: Joyeanna Chaudiere, Edmonds artist and life-long learner

Joyeanna Chaudiere 82, and long-time Edmonds resident, passed away peacefully April 21, 2013 in Everett, Wash. She was born in 1931 in Los Angeles, Calif. to Russ and Erma Erickson. Her father was a steel contractor involved with  many of the large buildings and freeways in downtown Los Angeles. Joyeanna was a graduate of Woodbury College with a BA in Home Economics and a minor in Business. She wo... »

In Memoriam: Edmonds Senior Center board member Robert ‘Bob’ Jones

Services will be held Saturday, March 23 for Robert “Bob” Jones, board president of the  Edmonds Senior Center and director/pianist for the Sound Singers of Edmonds. Mr. Jones was born on Oct. 14, 1937 in Longview, Wash. to John Allen Jones and Lavina (Schlittler) Jones. His love of music began with piano lessons in the third grade. After receiving an education degree from the Universi... »

In Memoriam: Former Edmonds Police Chief Marlo Foster

Former Edmonds Police Chief Marlo Foster has passed away following a 26-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. According to a news release from the Edmonds Police Department, sent Friday, Mr. Foster died on Tuesday, Feb. 11. Mr. Foster started his law enforcement career in Edmonds in 1963 as a patrol officer. He achieved the rank of sergeant and in 1971 was appointed as the Chief of Police, serving... »

Tribute to the late Ric Spee: 35-Year volunteer for Crisis Clinic

Crisis Clinic said goodbye recently to good friend and long-time volunteer, Edmonds resident Ricarda ‘Ric’ Spee, who served as a 24-Hour Crisis Line Phone Worker for 35 years. She retired from volunteering last summer due to declining health and passed away earlier this month, peacefully in her home and surrounded by her family. Ms. Spee’s longevity as a volunteer was of course remarkable; but wha... »

In memoriam: Ross Wood, former Woodway mayor

A memorial mass will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Holy Rosary Church in Edmonds for former Woodway Mayor Ross Joseph Wood, who passed away Nov. 15 at the age of 81. Mr. Wood was born Sept. 29, 1931 in New York City to Anna (Callahan) and Benjamin Ross Wood. He graduated from Brooklyn Technological High School in 1949 and was accepted to Cornell University. College was interrupted by four years of ... »

In Memoriam: Kenneth Duane “Kenny” Hummel

Services are this week for Meadowdale High School graduate Kenneth Duane “Kenny” Hummel, 18, of Lynnwood, who died unexpectedly Saturday morning Oct. 27, 2012 in Pullman, Wash. A rosary will be said at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 630 – 7th Ave. N., at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6.  The funeral mass will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, also at the church. Kenny was born Feb. 15, 1994 at Virginia ... »

Kenny Hummel: Making heaven shine with his big smile

The following story was published in the Monday, Oct. 29 edition of the Washington State University student publication, The Daily Evergreen, and is appearing here with special permission. By Kaitlin Gillespie Talk to Kenny Hummel’s family and friends and they’d say he had a great laugh. A warm, loving personality. An infectious smile. “I just want people to know that he was a good, nice kid who w... »

In Memoriam: Irene Alberta ‘Bertie’ Kvinge

Known to her friends as Bertie, Ms. Kvinge passed away on Monday, Aug. 27 at the Evergreen Hospice Center, Kirkland. An Edmonds resident since 1973, Ms. Kvinge was born Oct. 27, 1924 in London, England. My Edmonds News will have more details on her life in a future article, but meanwhile here is her obituary: Bertie had an amazing life starting with 5 years in the Women’s Royal Naval Service... »

Memorial service Saturday for 2012 Edmonds Citizen of Year Mary Van Meter

A memorial service will be held this Saturday, July 28, for Edmonds civic booster extraordinaire and 2012 Edmonds Citizen of the Year Mary Stuart Van Meter, who passed away July 6 after a long battle with cancer. Her last public appearance, two days before she died, was to ride in the Edmonds Fourth of July parade, an honor reserved for the Citizen of the Year winner. “Her grandkids really w... »

Remembering Bryan Briscoe, 1962-2012

During the past several months, My Edmonds News readers have become familiar with the photography of Bryan Briscoe. In particular, his scenic shots of Edmonds — from seagulls to ferries to mountains to bald eagles in flight — are breathtaking. His photo of a blue heron at Edmonds Marsh is featured on the My Edmonds News Facebook page. I’m sad to report that Bryan died last week, ... »

In memoriam: Robert B. Anderson, Cascade Symphony Orchestra founder

Robert B.  Anderson, founder and Conductor Emeritus of the Edmonds-based Cascade Symphony Orchestra, died on May 11, and the orchestra has a lovely tribute to Anderson on its website: ‘He was a dear friend, teacher and mentor to many of us in the symphony. His life was devoted to music and education, and he leaves a lasting legacy that will be enjoyed for generations to come.” Last Mon... »

In Memoriam: Long-time Edmonds resident, real estate broker Heidi Medina Miller

In Memoriam: Long-time Edmonds resident, real estate broker Heidi Medina Miller

Heidi Medina Miller, long-time resident of Edmonds, passed away early on Saturday, Feb. 25 at her home after a two-year struggle with cancer. Her husband of 24 years, Mike Miller, was at her side. Heidi was born on July 25, 1956 at Swedish Hospital in Seattle, and at the age of four moved with her family to Edmonds. She grew up in a charming log home on acreage near Lake Ballinger, complete with h... »

In Memoriam: Jane Yost Sorenson, daughter of Edmonds pioneers

A memorial service is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 27, at 2 p.m. at the Edmonds United Methodist Church for (Emma) Jane Yost Sorensen, daughter of Edmonds pioneers Maude Evans Yost and Jacob Yost. Ms. Sorenson passed away Feb. 20 at the age of 93. Born in Edmonds on May 12, 1918, Ms. Sorenson attended Edmonds schools, graduating in 1936. During these years she was active in music groups, playing the... »

In Memoriam: Robert (Bob) Walker

In Memoriam: Robert (Bob) Walker

Robert (Bob) H. Walker, an Edmonds resident for 46 years, passed away on Jan. 22, 2012 in the hospital at the age of 72 from ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Born on January 18, 1940 in Ballard, he grew up in the Seattle area and lived in Edmonds most of his adult life. Bob was a PE teacher, football and baseball coach and house painter in the summer. He lived life to the fullest. Bob was ... »

In Memoriam: LeRoy Middleton, co-founder of Reid, Middleton & Associates

On Thursday, Jan. 5, LeRoy decided he had accomplished all he had set his mind to do, and peacefully passed on to a better world. LeRoy was predeceased by his wife, Janet in 2001. Left behind to continue his legacy are his children – Michael Middleton, Robert Middleton, James Middleton, and Susan Dennis (Earl). He also leaves his wisdom and integrity to his seven grandchildren and five great-grand... »

In memoriam: June Erna Steves, 1931-2011

In memoriam: June Erna Steves, 1931-2011

June Steves, an Edmonds resident since 1967, passed away last week. June was born of Norwegian immigrants Harold and Erna Fremmerlid on June 29, 1931 in Edmonton, Alberta in Canada. She died in Seattle early in the morning on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011. June, whose last years were afflicted by Alzheimer’s disease, died from complications after a heart attack and was surrounded in love by her family a... »

In memory of former Edmonds resident David A. Larson

In memory of former Edmonds resident David A. Larson

Former Edmonds resident David A. Larson passed away Oct. 5 at the age of 60. Mr. Larson died in a car accident while driving on winding mountain roads near his home in Georgia, his brother Gary said. Mr. Larson was born April 18, 1951, in Seattle, but lived in Edmonds for most of his school years. He attended Edmonds and Melody Hill elementary schools,  Madrona Junior High School and Mountlake Ter... »

In memoriam: Edmonds resident Tom Music, March 3, 1980-April 17, 2011

In memoriam: Edmonds resident Tom Music, March 3, 1980-April 17, 2011

My Edmonds News just learned of the passing of 31-year-old Tom Music of Edmonds after a long fight against lymphoma. A programmer, Mr. Music was well known in the Seattle-area technology community. He also was a frequent participant in the social media scene, known by his Twitter handle @tommusic, and was an attendee at recent Edmonds tweetups. He often wrote about his battle against cancer on his... »