Alvin R. Giedt Sr.
Clinton resident Alvin R. Giedt Sr., died Nov. 23, 2001, of several strokes at Providence Hospital in Everett at the age of 75.
A Lehr, N.D., native, Giedt was born Nov. 25, 1925, to Jacob Peter and Rose Giedt. His family moved to Gackel, N.D., where Giedt attended school and worked at the Gackel Creamery until working with the Conservation Corps during the first part of World War II. He married Lela Giedt May 19, 1946, in Jamestown, N.D. After their two daughters were born, the family moved to Everett, Wash., in 1952, where their son was born.
In 1985 the Giedt family moved to Whidbey Island, where Alvin and Lela managed the Scatchet Head Community Club for eight years.
After working as a meat cutter, in the creamery, in sales and carpentry, Al was the one to go to if anyone needed information. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in several aeries for years, always lending a helping hand.
Giedt is survived by his wife of 55 years; a son, Alvin Giedt Jr. of Lynnwood; two daughters, Linda Smith of Woodland, Calif., and Barbara “Bobbie” Giedt of Freeland; a brother, Norman Giedt of Gig Harbor; two grandchildren, Rory Smith and Jason Smith of Woodland, Calif.; and two great-grandchildren, Elijah and Kaily Smith; and two aunts, Ella Haney-Wolf of Edmonds and Freida Ebele of Fargo, N.D. Giedt was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Violet Haugen; and a grandson, Todd Smith.
A memorial service is planned at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, at the Maxwelton Christian Fellowship Church, 7041 S. Maxwelton Road. Donations can be made to the American Cancer Society or a charity of choice.
Frances Deaman Wales Rogers
Frances Deaman Wales Rogers, 73, of Freeland, died Nov. 15, 2001, in Freeland.
Born April 17, 1928, she spent her childhood in Cambridge, Mass., and later moved to Kensington, Md., and in 1998 to Whidbey Island. Fran spent her life serving others. She was involved with Maryland’s Fair Housing organization, Resurrection City during the march on Washington, AIDS support and HERO Home Help Organization. She taught in the Head Start program and trained Head Start teachers.
Fran’s family would like to thank Don and Celeste Mergens for the loving care they gave Fran in the last days of her life.
Fran is survived by her husband, Donald Paige Rogers of Freeland; a son, Jonathan Rogers of Montgomery Village, Md.; a daughter, Caroline Adler of Virginia Beach, Va.; grandchildren Jacqueline Rogers, Scott Rogers, Elizabeth Kettl, Paige Rogers, Joanna Thome, Ralph Rogers, Brian Kettl, Mary Thome, Atticus Rectenwald and Joseph Adler.
Donations in her name can be made to the American Civil Liberties Union or the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.
Christine E. Overton
Christine “Christi” Elizabeth Overton, Whidbey General Hospital’s first female paramedic, died Nov. 28, 2001, of sudden cardiac death at her Seattle home. She was 41.
Born Aug. 6, 1960, in San Francisco, she moved to Oak Harbor with her family in 1972 and graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 1978. Overton attended Central Washington University in Ellensburg, training at CWU to become a paramedic. In 1985 she joined Whidbey General as its first female paramedic.
After leaving Whidbey General she trained as a flight paramedic, then later was accepted by the University of Washington for certification as a licensed physician’s assistant. She worked for Seattle’s Veterans Hospital, and there began a dog-assisted therapy program. Her Portuguese water dog, Star, came to work with her as part of the program.
A dog fancier, trainer and breeder, she served on the board of the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America, was a member of the PEO Sisterhood Chapter EU of Oak Harbor, and the Washington Association of Physicians Assistants. She was an avid traveler, visiting Portugal several times in the past three years. Friends say they will mostly remember her as a person who always had time for others.
Overton is survived by her parents, Sandy Overton and Jim Smith of Oak Harbor; a half-brother, Scott Mugford of Sacramento, Calif.; an uncle, Thomas Veblen of Boulder, Colo.; and cousins Conner Veblen in Colorado and Kari Veblen in West Virginia. She was preceded in death her grandparents, Robert and Aileen Veblen.
A public graveside funeral service is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, at Sunnyside Cemetery in Coupeville. Rev. David Lura of First United Methodist Church in Oak Harbor will officiate. Family and friends will gather after the service at Centennial Hall at the church, 1050 SE Ireland St. in Oak Harbor.
Memorials can be made to the Portuguese Water Dogs Foundation, Cardio Research, P.O. Box 790, Oaks, PA 19456-0790. Funeral arrangements are by Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.
Sharon Passmore
Sharon R. Passmore, 64, died Dec. 1, 2001, at her home in Central Park, Wash. She was born Feb. 7, 1937, in Coupeville to Thorval B. and Ruth E. (Neil) Orr.
She lived in Kennydale, Wash., where she received her early education before the family moved to Shelton, where she graduated from Mark E. Reed High School in 1954.
She moved from Shelton to Hoquiam in the early 1960s, and moved to Central Park in 1991. She worked for First Federal Savings and Loan Association in Aberdeen until 1974. She was employed at the Grays Harbor Woodworkers Federal Credit Union, retiring in the early 1990s due to ill health.
She was married to Clair Passmore in 1991 in Our Lady of Good Help Catholic Church, Hoquiam.
She was an excellent cook and enjoyed preparing meals for her family and friends, especially during holiday gatherings. Her passion for cooking was shared equally when dining out and traveling within the United States and abroad. She enjoyed her two trips to Europe. She and her husband were snowbirds, traveling to Arizona each winter for a few years.
She also enjoyed the family’s annual trips to Reno and Las Vegas. In September of this year she took a four-day cruise from Seattle to Victoria and Vancouver. She was a member of Our Lady of Good Help Church in Hoquiam and the St. Anthony Guild.
She is survived by her husband, Clair S. Passmore, Central Park; her mother, Ruth Orr, Hoquiam; two daughters, Debbie Seward, Hoquiam, and Jennifer Cooper, Olympia; a brother, Jim Orr, Lander, Wyo.; and two grandchildren, Jeremy Stutesman and Samatha Seward.
Memorial services will be held Thursday, Dec. 6 at 1:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Good Help Catholic Church in Hoquiam with Rev. Jesse Lorete officiating and Marge Celich as organist.
Coleman Mortuary in Hoquiam is in charge of arrangements.
Jeannette Henry
Long-time Coupeville resident and historian Jeannette Henry, 86, died suddenly in her Coupeville home Nov. 29, 2001.
She was born Dec. 6, 1914, to Coupeville prairie pioneers Harry S. and Georgia Knight Smith. She remained a central island resident, was raised on the family farm and graduated from Coupeville High School.
She married James E. Henry in 1945. After his death in 1953, she remained in Coupeville.
After leaving her cooking chores behind, Henry worked for 17 years at Whidbey Island Manor Nursing Home, and while there obtained her license as a certified nursing assistant. An avid reader, cook and ceramist, Henry was a member of Coupeville United Methodist Church and Island County Historical Society. She was known to love animals, especially her dog.
Henry is survived by a sister, Harriett Fryday of Tahuya, Wash.; a daughter-in-law, Carol A. Henry of Coupeville; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband; a son, James Henry; two brothers, George E. Smith and W. Knight Smith; and a sister, Pricilla Christiansen.
A graveside funeral service was held yesterday at Sunnyside Cemetery in Coupeville with Rev. David Engle officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Burley Funeral Chapel.
