Obituaries

William (Bill) John Mahon, born March 30, 1923 to James and Helen (Kerns) Mahon.  Raised in Philadelphia by the Sisters of Saint Joseph.  Graduated from high school in 1941.  Entered U.S. Navy in 1942.  Served one and one-half years in South Pacific and was discharged in 1945. Married “Sweet” Josephine Marie Hladik, October 2, 1946 in Sacramento, California.  They moved from Sacramento to West Seattle in 1952 and never left. They were married 62 years.  Retired in 1977 after 25 years with King County Sheriff’s Department.  Predeceased by wife Josephine (Dec.

Audrey Van Voorhees, born in Coudersport, Pennsylvania August 27, 1922 and a long-time former resident of the West Seattle community, went to be with the Lord, March 18, 2019.  She was 96 ½ years old and was preceded in death twelve years ago by her husband John.  She is survived by her son Robert Van Voorhees (Cheryl), daughter Yvette Chambers (Larry), brother Douglas Post (Shirley), sister-in-law Barbara Post, and a multitude of nieces and nephews.  She was a member of O.E.S., Crown Chapter and a dedicated member of her church, St.

Patricia A. Wamsley, passed away Saturday, February 16, 2019 at the age of 87. Patty was born in Winchester, ID in 1931 to Hilliard and Katherine Patton.  She grew up near Craigmont, Idaho on the family homestead amongst a large extended family on the Camus Prairie. She attended St. Gertrude’s Academy in Cottonwood, Idaho before graduating from Craigmont High School.  She went on to attend the University of Idaho and then received her teaching certificate from the Lewiston Normal. She taught elementary school in Pasco, WA until she married Arnold “Red” Wamsley, also of Craigmont in 1956.

Lillian passed away on Saturday, March 2, 2019 surrounded by her loving family.  Lillian, the youngest of four children, was born in Petaluma, California to Ole and Inga Sather.  Her siblings, Edwin Sather, Kermit Sather, and Elaine Hansen preceded her in death.  

Rufus and Mildred Ransdell of Seattle Washington gave birth to George Bock Ransdell on January 9, 1943.  He spent his childhood in Seattle along with sister Linda Ransdell Gurnari, graduating from West Seattle High School in 1961.  Following graduation, George joined the military serving in Germany and Fort Knox.  In 1963, George married classmate Joan Frances Pickart, together parenting three daughters: Monica Lynn Ransdell, Jennifer Lynn Ransdell and Joanna Lynn Ransdell Biron.  In1967, George and family moved to Portland, Oregon for a job transfer.  In 1989, George met and married Arlene

Catherine Carfrae Rhodes, age 92, of Seattle, WA passed away on February 24, 2019 at Providence Mount St. Vincent West Seattle. 

Catherine was born June 22, 1926 in Seattle, WA to William Watt Carfrae and Catherine Grant Carfrae (born Barnet), originally of Fife and Edinburgh, Scotland. Catherine was the last remaining Carfrae of her generation.  

Austin Calvin (“Cal”) Wiseman was born in Carthage, South Dakota on August 4, 1929 to parents Austin L. and Ellen Wiseman.  Cal suddenly passed away February 13, 2019 surrounded by family members.

Cal graduated from Madison High School, where he met his high school sweetheart and future bride Joyce. Cal and Joyce (nee Johnson), married May 23, 1950 in Madison, South Dakota. 

Cal served his country during the Korean Conflict in the South Dakota National Guard. First stationed at Camp Carson in Colorado, and later deployed “overseas” to Alaska. 

Richard Lee VanDerschelden, DDS died peacefully at home on January 31,2019.  Dick was born in Omak on April 11,1934 to Joe and Goldie.  He graduated from Fife HS in 1951, then from UW Dental School in 1957.  He entered the US Navy, married Carol Ann Bull and served 2 years, obtaining rank of Lieutenant.  He practiced dentistry in South Park where he served the community for 44 years.  During this time, he was active with South Park Lions, Georgetown Comm.

Jerry Andresen, 74, Yakima, WA and formerly of West Seattle, WA, Minot and Lake Upsilon, ND died on Friday, February 15, 2019 in a Yakima, WA hospice home following a thirteen-month battle with brain cancer.

Jerry Buford Andresen was born on March 3, 1944 in Everett, WA to Arvid and Miriam (Weeks) Andresen. He was raised and educated in the West Seattle, WA area and graduated from Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA with a degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Art. 

Bill passed away on January 18, 2019, at the far-too-young age of 55 surrounded by his friends. He died at Swedish Cherry Hill from complications relating to sepsis. Having survived a heart attack, several strokes, and staph infection in November, Bill was never able to fully fight off the blood infection.

Bill was born August 30, 1963, in Evanston, Illinois to James and Susan Peckham. He joined his proud brothers Charlie and Jimmy and lived his pre-college years at the family home in Wilmette, Illinois.