John David “Hawk” Loy succumbed to a stroke and passed away peacefully on the evening of Feb. 27, 2013, in Freeland. His passing was unexpected and he will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

John was born April 6, 1950, in Hinton, Okla. His family moved numerous times before his graduation from Plano High School in Texas. During his senior year he was the editor and photographer for his school newspaper, Wildcat Tales. He was active in sports, including track and field events and cross-country. He was a dedicated Boy Scout, earning the rank of Life Scout.

After graduation, John attended Colorado State University in Ft. Collins. He was a talented photographer, was well-read, and was a creative writer himself. He was fond of backpacking and climbing in his beloved Olympic Mountains. John was very intelligent, had a unique sense of humor and always enjoyed sharing a “frosty beverage” with friends. He had quite the gift of gab, and his camping buddies dubbed him “Constant Comment” for his garrulous nature. It was all in good fun, and he was a pleasure to be around during campfires, barbecues, hootenannies and other group gatherings.

He was quite athletic, was ambidextrous, and enjoyed bicycle riding, shooting hoops, practicing his golf swing, and was a huge Seattle Mariners and Seahawks fan.

John moved to Seattle in the early 1970s, and lived in the same apartment on First Hill for over 25 years. He was a bicycle messenger for 10 years for Bucky’s Messenger Service, where he received his nickname, “Hawk.” He worked for seven years at Julia’s Restaurant in Wallingford, followed by a 10-year tenure at the flagship REI store. During that time, John moved to Bremerton, where he found his urban oasis that he named “Hawkwood,” a wooded property in the Manette district, where he lived for eight years.

John was an avid toy and comic book collector. He enjoyed animation, particularly Anime. He loved older jazz and rock music.

In May of 2010, John suffered a stroke that paralyzed him for several weeks. After rehabilitation, he was released, only to learn that a fire had destroyed his home that very day. After living in temporary quarters, he moved to Whidbey Island in October 2011. He was active at the Freeland Library, enjoyed the WAIF Thrift Store, and his morning java at the WiFire Café.

John was preceded in death by both parents, Marcus Jr. and Virginia Loy.

He is survived by three brothers: Bennett Loy, his wife Terri, and daughter Allegra (Amarillo, Tex.); Marcus A. Loy III (San Francisco); and Michael Loy (Langley). He is also survived by step-sister Gayle McKool (Seattle) and step-brother Kent Anschutz (Austin, Tex.).

A celebration of his life is being planned by his dear friends in Kitsap County in the near future.

John was a very good man, brother, uncle, cousin and friend. We will all miss you, Hawk.