Everell “Duke” Merritt LeBaron

Do not stand at my grave and weep

I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning’s hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry;

I am not there. I did not die.

Mary Elizabeth Frye, 1932

Duke passed through the veil from this world early Sunday morning, May 22, 2011. His wife, Kate, of 34 years and son, Trif, were with him.

Duke was born in Oakland, Calif. on April 25, 1929. He grew up in Berkeley, Calif. His studies at UC Berkeley were interrupted by being drafted into the Korean War, where he was awarded a Bronze Star. When he returned, he graduated from UC Berkeley, with a bachelor of arts degree in business administration. At age 52, he earned a master’s degree in appropriate technology and community self-reliance from Antioch University.

Duke’s life would be influenced by an event that occurred at his birth and continued long into his 70s. At birth, he was chosen to be a study participant in the Berkeley Growth and Development Longitudinal Study. The results of the study followed his life with interviews and questionnaires and became a series of books.

Duke moved to Washington state in 1971. He met Kate in 1977 and they were married June 25, 1977.

In 1978 Kate and Duke bought property on Whidbey Island and for years planned to move to the island “next year.” Next year finally came in June 1986 when Duke, Kate and their 7-year-old son, Trif, moved to the island to build their home and mini-farm.

Duke was an active member of South Whidbey and enjoyed getting involved in community affairs. He was a strong advocate for treating the environment with care and kindness. He believed in the power of local everything — buying local products, supporting local businesses and services. He worked at Bayview Farm & Garden for many years and only recently “retired.”

Most recently, he served on the Board of Supervisors of the Whidbey Island Conservation District and was an active member of Transition Whidbey. He was the visionary behind the idea of having a local Whidbey Island Community Credit Union.

Duke is survived by his wife, Kate, one daughter, Taina and her partner, Brian and four sons: Ward and wife Rose, Jon and wife Caroline, Matthew and wife PJ and Trif and wife Erin. He has five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

The community is invited to a memorial service for Everell M. “Duke” LeBaron at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 31 at Bayview Community Hall.