OBITUARIES: August 7th, 2002

Published 1:00 pm Wednesday, August 7, 2002

Bob Rorex, Sr.

Benton “Bob” Alfred Rorex passed away peacefully July 31, 2002. He was 88.

Bob was a longtime resident of Whidbey Island. He chose to settle on Whidbey after a military career that span-ned over 30 years.

A veteran of World War II and the Korean War, he retired as a chief petty officer in the Navy.

Mr. Rorex was active in the community with 4-H, Cub Scouts and the Little Theatre group in Langley. He was a craftsman with many talents. He was known for offering help and assistance and for being a friend to many people.

He is survived by his sister Kitty Rohel of Knoxville, Tenn.; daughter Betty Shatto of Grangeville, Idaho; sons Richard and Robert Rorex of Langley; grandchildren Gwen Kaschmitter, Cory Rorex, Nicholas Shatto, Charles Shatto and Richelle Rorex; and one great-grandchild, Jeremiah Kaschmitter.

Mr. Rorex’s wife, Dorothy, preceded him in death.

Donations in the memory of Bob or Dorothy Rorex can be made to the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts.

Irene Taylor

Irene Holston Taylor passed away peacefully Aug. 1, 2002 at the family beach home on Whidbey Island. She was born Sept. 20, 1911 in Spokane, the third of four children of Eugene and Irene Holston.

She was raised in Marcus, Wash., where her father ran a lumber mill on the Columbia River.

Mrs. Taylor graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane and later moved to the Seattle area after the death of her mother. After attending Western Washington Normal School in Bellingham, she graduated with a teaching degree and taught elementary school for several years in Snohomish.

After her marriage in 1944 to J. Richard Taylor, she moved to Mukilteo, where her husband was involved in working with his family at the Ferry Lunch Room on Front Street.

Mrs. Taylor and her husband raised three children, Tiffanie, Stephen and Sarah, educating them at Catholic schools. Mrs. Taylor was an active celebrant at St. John’s Catholic Church in Mukilteo, and served many years in the altar society.

She and her husband and family owned Taylor’s Landing in Mukilteo from 1945 to 1991, where she worked to help make the business a success. Over the years, she hosted many political events at her home, including entertaining former Governor Albert Rossellini in the 1960s.

Mrs. Taylor loved to read and was a member of the Delphinians book club in the 1950s. She enjoyed boating in the San Juan Islands, beachcombing on Puget Sound, and the home arts of cooking, entertaining, knitting, sewing, canning and decorating.

Later in life, she was able to travel to England, Ireland, Russia, Italy, Mexico, Asia, Tahiti and Hawaii.

Mrs. Taylor was preceded in death by her brother, Bruce Holston of Montana, sister, Mildred Ludwig of Waldron Island, her parents, and son Stephen Taylor of Mukilteo.

She is survived by her husband of 57 years,, J. Richard “Dick” Taylor of Whidbey Island; daughters Tiffanie Pearson of Mill Creek and Sarah Taylor of Mukilteo; brothers-in-law Edgar Taylor of Mukilteo and Charles Ludwig of Waldron Island; four grandchildren, one great-grandchild and numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7, at St. Hubert Catholic Church in Langley. A reception will be held afterward at the Losvar Condominium social room on Front Street in Mukilteo. Funeral arrangements are through Visser Funeral Home in Langley.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Mukilteo Historical Society.

Wilfred Jardine

Wilfred Donald Jardine, 70, passed away Aug. 4, 2002 at Careage of Whidbey in Coupeville. Mr. Jardine was born on Dec. 22, 1931 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and moved to the Seattle area in 1959.

Mr. Jardine was in the automotive trade and loved music. He was the drummer in the Senior Fun Band at the Bayview Senior Center.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Joan, of Langley, son and daughter-in-law Jim and Pam Jardine of Snohomish, and grandson Michael of Snohomish.

A memorial service will be held Aug. 14, 2002 at 3 p.m. at the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Langley. A reception will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Senior Services of Island County and the Langley C&MA Church.

Gerald Potts

Gerald Louis Potts, 72, died Aug. 4, 2002. Memorial services will be held Thursday, Aug. 8, 2002 at 1 p.m. at the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Langley.

A full obituary will appear in Saturday’s edition of The South Whidbey Record.