OBITUARY

Related Pages

Obituaries

U.S. Veteran Lawrence "Larry" Theodore Brewster

November 29, 1925 - November 27, 2009

Larry was born on in Mount Vernon, Washington to George Theodore and Vera Goldie (Guinn) Brewster. He passed on November 27, 2009 after a vigorous battle with cancer. Larry was the grandson and great-grandson of Skagit County pioneers.

During his childhood he lived with numerous family members and friends in many places, including Mount Vernon, Burlington, Ellensburg, Okanogan, Friday Harbor, Puyallup, Everett, on Kodiak Island and an experimental farm outside of Fairbanks, Alaska.

In spite of the challenges of starting a new school each year he was able to earn his high school diploma from Everett High School in 1943. After graduation he was employed briefly at Boeing before joining the Merchant Marine.

The Army Transportation Corp recruited him in February of 1944 while at basic training on Catalina Island, CA. He then went to New Orleans, for more training, where he discovered his lifelong love of jazz music. From New Orleans it was on to Jacksonville, FL for further training and then to the Atlantic Theater and the Mediterranean where he served as a deck officer on deep-sea tugs and tankers.

After returning to the Northwest he wooed and married Nellie E. Pettys on July 24, 1948. During this time he was employed by Blackball Transportation Co. on various runs around Puget Sound.

In 1949 he transferred to the Anacortes/San Juan Islands Run at which time he and Nellie moved north to Anacortes where their family of two boys and two girls were born and raised.

Soon after the birth of their first in child 1949 Larry quit Blackball and took a job at Bob Way and Paul Scofield's Signal station on the corner of 12th & Commercial in Anacortes for the higher wages that he could earn there. In 1950 he purchased the Mobil Station at 32nd & Commercial which he ran until 1967.

In 1965 he returned to the water and started working for Washington State Ferries which became a full time job in 1967. He retired from WSF in February of 1996 where his last berth was Master of the ferry Nisqually.

After retirement he became active in the Group Health Senior Caucus, traveling to Bellingham and Seattle for assorted meetings on a regular basis. He held a number of different positions including chairman, during his tenure with the Caucus.

He also continued to have an active interest in the well being of the ferry system, always attending ferry advisory meetings when they were held in Anacortes. He enjoyed his time at the Elks Club and the American Legion, both of which he was a member.

One of his greatest joys was beating Keith LaRue at cribbage, which unfortunately didn't happen quite as often as he would have liked. He looked forward to trips to Friday Harbor to play cribbage at the American Legion with his many friends on the island as well.

Larry loved to read and listen to music of many different styles. These were habits that he passed on to his children and grandchildren.

Larry is survived by his wife, Nellie at the family home; sons, Gordon (Dena Christensen), David (Becky); daughters, Sandra Cox (Steve) and Janet Davidson; 12 grandchildren, DeWayne Cox, Teri Stine (Jim), Ta'a North, Angie Marsh (James), Eric Rivas (Laurie Wollam), Krestina Wardlaw, Shanna Brewster (Brian Blechschmidt), Amanda Brewster, Nicholas Brewster, Ruth Davidson, Patricia Davidson (Jeremy Rehkop) and Melanie Driver; and nine great-grandchildren.

Larry is also survived by his sister Beverly (Leonard) Sund; sisters-in-law, Pearl Skorstad and Florence (Jim) Evans; his close friend, Keith LaRue; and numerous other relatives and many good friends.

Larry made many new friends while staying at Fidalgo Care Center. He was extremely grateful for the compassionate care and friendship they gave him, and his family is very grateful as well.

Graveside services will be held on Friday, December 4, at 1:00 pm, at the family plot at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, 17666 Valentine Road, La Conner, Washington.

Following the service, a celebration of his life will be held at the Anacortes Elks Club, 1009 - 7th Street, from 3:00 to 7:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, Larry requested that memorials be made to the Salvation Army or the American Legion.

Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Inc., Anacortes, WA and the San Juan Islands. To share memories of Larry,, please sign the online guest register at www.evanschapel.com.

SAN JUAN ISLANDER © 2010

editor@sanjuanislander.com

About Us | Advertising Info | Contact Us | Privacy Policy