Obituaries

The extraordinary life of Martin (“Marty”) C. Dirks of West Seattle, a family man, adventurer and master storyteller who also made significant contributions as a civil engineer, ended on July 16 in a Seattle hospital, surrounded by his loving family. He was 87.

Marty split his time between Seattle, where he was born on April 9, 1934, and Camano Island, where he was raised. Highlights of his teen years were chronicled in the Seattle Post Intelligencer by his father, Clarence, a sportswriter-turned “City-Bred Farmer” columnist. Marty’s mother was Cleo Coons.  

Barbara Glee Maurer died on July 15, 2021, at the age of 76, in the comfort of her home overlooking Puget Sound, surrounded by friends and family. Her death was a culmination of a valiant battle against cancer.

The family of Phyllis Joyce Harriage (Clark) is deeply saddened to announce her death at 81 years old from complications of Parkinson’s disease on June 14, 2021.

John Herbert Nitardy was born to Otto and Alice (Mehaffey) Nitardy on April 29, 1937, in Minneapolis, MN and died June 1, 2021, at Wesley Health Center in Des Moines, WA. 

Marijo Hudson, age 83, passed away peacefully at her home in San Rafael, CA on April 14, 2021, following a courageous six-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. 

Born in Fauntleroy, WA to Marguerite (Meg) and Jack Neitro, she was a proud graduate of West Seattle High School, class of 1955, and later attended Washington State University. After her first marriage to Robert Steele ended in divorce in 1978, she enjoyed a twenty-three-year long marriage to Gerald Hudson, who predeceased her in 2008. 

Denny Smith loved being around friends and family. Denman Smith went home to the Lord on February 18, 2021. Denny was born on June 24, 1931 to Otto and Frances Smith. He was the youngest of 5 children.

James F. Engelhardt, formerly of Burien, WA, passed away gently April 7, 2021, at age 71. His longtime companion, Marion, and brother, Bill, were bedside with Jim at West Hills Hospital in California when his nearly five-year battle with ALS came to a peaceful end. 

It is with great sadness that the family of Gordon D. Plancich, Sr. announce his passing after a brief illness on April 11, 2021, at the age of 95.  Gordon was born in Dockton, Washington, on September 8, 1925. 

Ramon Duane Tolbert, also known as Ray, Dad, Mr. T and Tony, was born September 18, 1930. After a brief stay in the hospital and rehab center, he passed away the evening of March 1, 2021. 

Debra May Duran-Rios, aged 66, passed away quietly on March 2, 2021. Born April 30, 1954 in Los Angeles, California to father John Duran, and mother Ivy May Pittman. Her years were spent working and raising her family.