Obituaries

Douglas James Sykes passed away on Monday, November 25, 2019. He was a lifelong resident of West Seattle and at the age of 58 left us much too soon due to undiagnosed High Blood Pressure. He was preceded in death by his Father, Claude A. Sykes and his Mother Sarah J. Sykes (nee McGillivray). He is survived by his sisters Claudia Irvine and Diana Parmele and his brother Joel Sykes. Along with them, he will be fondly remembered by cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.

Steven Thor Wilson passed away in his home on December 27, 2019, at the age of 72. Born on February 8, 1947 in Massachusetts, Steve was the son of Robert and Priscilla Wilson, and the youngest of five.

Steve's family settled in Seattle where he graduated Lake Sammamish High School. He grew roots in South Seattle, owning gas stations and ultimately a recreational vehicle business in Burien. At the age of 70, Steve retired and spent his final years enjoying life with his wife, Elvira. 

Born in Burien, WA on October 9, 1963. Jim passed away peacefully on October 19, 2019 in Anchorage, AK. He graduated from Highline High School (Burien) in 1982. Immediately upon graduation, he moved to Bethel, Alaska. Jim fell in love with Alaska where he lived his entire adult life.

Jim was a talented handyman; he could fix most anything. He loved his family, cars, sports and the great outdoors. Jim will be deeply missed by his family and all who knew him.

On Dec 23, 2019 Shirley Rae Woods finally succumbed to her long battle with vascular dementia, mental illness, heart disease, a concussion, strokes, a night of seizures, two stressful marriages, a difficult and risky delivery, paying the bills and living with a family of people who dreamed of escaping from each other. Shirley is survived by her son John Parker Woods of West Seattle.  She will be missed.

James Kegley, born in Olive Hill, KY, passed away on November 3rd in Seattle WA.  Ten days later, his beloved wife, Kyong-Sun, born in Chungjin Hamgyeoung Nam-do, Korea, passed away.

Greta P Spinning, 102 and 3/4 years old and 61-year resident of West Seattle, baker of cookies, and hostess extraordinaire died on November 1, 2019. Greta was born and raised in small towns on the prairies of Saskatchewan, Canada and moved to Regina in her teens where she attended business school and learned to operate the comptometer (a predecessor of a calculator), something she loved. She held a variety of office jobs working with numbers.

Josephine Gottbehuet passed away on December 11, 2019.  The funeral service will be held at Evergreen Washelli, 11111 Aurora Avenue N., Seattle, WA on December 28, 2019 at 12:00 pm.  

Josephine was a beloved mother and wife to Edward Gottbehuet who preceded her in death.  She raised two children, Jody and Mark Gottbehuet, who she loved very much.  Josephine also worked for Sears for 17 years and was a homemaker to her loving husband and family.  

Josephine lived a very long and happy life.  She was born in 1924 and was 95 years old at her passing.  

A life well lived. 

91 years of extraordinary living marked by loving others and being loved in return. Jacqueline Joyce “Jackie” Ladum, a life-long resident of West Seattle, a superb mother of five, and devoted wife of six decades to Larry, will be remembered for her enduring kindness, joviality, commitment to her beloved family and friends, fantastic cooking and hospitality, and her love of life.

Longtime Northwest sportswriter and friend to just about everyone he ever met over a career in journalism and in the grocery warehouse industry for the former Unified/ Associated Grocers in Seattle. That one sentence can only begin to celebrate the character that Robert George Sims brought to a life of creative inspiration, always supporting and encouraging those who would come to know him as a friend or a family member.

Robert “Bob or Bubba” Sims passed away at home in his Federal Way apartment on November 20. 2019 due to an internal medical condition.

Robert Henson Merryman died on November 12, 2019 at the age of 96.  At the time of his death, he was living in the Wyatt House, an assisted living facility on Bainbridge Island.  

Bob was born in Bremerton, WA on May 9, 1923, the son of Robert Merryman, Sr. and Frances C. Merryman. He graduated from Renton High School in 1941 and enrolled at the University of Washington.  During WWII, Bob was called to active duty in 1944 as an ensign in the U.S. Navy.  He served in the Pacific theater, becoming commanding officer of his amphibious landing ship by the end of the war.