Marian J. Main, age 84, passed away peacefully, surrounded by  her family on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 13, 2012 at Hospice House in Bellingham. She was born June 28, 1927 in Everett, WA to Walter and Ruth Jellison. Marian was raised in Everett and graduated from Everett High School. She graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Business Administration. While at the UW she was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority and met Gerald “Jerry” Main. Marian and Jerry married on August 23, 1952 in Everett. Marian was an active member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bellingham. She had many wonderful friends and was active in her bridge club, tennis club and Monday Club. Marian was one of the original seven women members of the Bellingham YMCA. She volunteered with many organizations including St. Joseph Hospital Guild, Sacred Heart Altar Society, Whatcom Museum of History and Art, Bellingham Public Library and Seattle University. Marian excelled in creative arts including knitting and needlework, quilting, beading, painting and gardening. She was well-known for her homemade bread and her pickles. Marian was proud to be Captain Jerry’s First Mate on the family boat. The center of her life was her devotion to her faith and her family. Marian is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, Jerry, daughters Teresa (Tobey) Gelder, Mandy (Tom) Minderhout, Barbara (Chris) Hill, and Mickey (Mike) Middendorf, son Michael (Jeannene) Main, 12 grandchildren, one great-grandchild, sisters Rosemary Jellison (Hannah Watkins) and Susan (Richard) Mirkovich, brother Walter (Beverly) Jellison, sister-in-law Mary (Dick) Barger, and many loving relatives and friends. A Vigil Service will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Wednesday, May 16th at 8:30 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Thursday, May 17th at 12 Noon. Reception will follow at the Parish Hall. Burial will follow at Bayview City Cemetery. The family wishes to thank Highgate Senior Living and Whatcom Hospice for their loving care of Marian. Memorials may be made to Whatcom Hospice.

Don was  the husband of Dianna Anderson of Bellingham.

Verl Markee, age 79, passed away in Bellingham. A Celebration of  Verl’s life will be held at Westford Funeral Home on Thursday, May 24th at 10 AM followed by a reception.

Matt Friedman, age 36, passed away May 6, 2012 in Seattle. He was born October 21, 1975 in Seattle to Dr. Stephen Friedman and Carolyn Shaffer. Matt graduated from Sehome High School in 1994 and attended the University of Washington’s School of Business Administration. Matt was a devoted father and dearly loved his 8 year old daughter, Lydia. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed fishing, hunting and scuba diving. Matt was a dreamer and lived life to its fullest – with unrivaled passion and energy. Matt is survived by his daughter Lydia Louise Friedman and her mother Leah, step-daughter Josie Chartier, father Dr. Stephen Friedman, mother Carolyn Shaffer, brothers Phillip (wife Erin) Friedman and their children Calla and Elliott, Douglas Friedman and Michael Friedman and many loving relatives and friends. Visitation will be held Friday, May 11th from 3-5 PM at Westford Funeral Home. A Celebration of Matt’s life will be held at 2 PM on Tuesday, May 15th at the Squalicum Boathouse at Zuanich Point, 2600 South Harbor Loop in Bellingham. In Matt’s memory, an education fund has been established for his daughter, Lydia Friedman. Donations can be made at any Key Bank branch to ‘Phillip B Friedman For The Benefit Of Lydia Friedman.’

Muriel Davis Christie, age 97, passed away on April 23, 2012 in Bellingham,  WA.  Muriel was born June 17, 1914 in Birmingham, England to Abel and Mary Davis. At age 11, she moved with her family to Alberta, Canada. The family moved from Canada in 1927 to Lake Samish where her father built the family home.

Muriel graduated from Whatcom High School and went to work at the XXX Barrel. She married Howard Christie in 1937. They then moved to and worked in Washington DC. In 1955 they moved to Juneau, AK where they raised their three children. Muriel was an active member of her Juneau community. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

She was preceded in death by her husband Howard of 67 years, her son Roger, and her grandson Brendan. She is survived by her two daughters, Candice Christie and Meredith Riley of Bellingham, her 5 grandchildren, Olin Gullufsen, Ryan Gullufsen and wife Stacy, Windy Ferguson, Jasmine and Leonard Riley, and great grandson, Davis.

Muriel’s ashes along with Howard’s will be taken to Juneau Alaska to be scattered by Shelter Island. Our heartfelt thanks to the Hospice staff for their kindness and support.

Joel was preceded in death by his father Peter. Survived by mother Betsy, sister Melanie, brother Daniel and many loving relatives and friends. Service at Bayview Cemetery on Wed., April 25th at 2 PM.

Ruth E. Monson, age 85, passed away April 21, 2012 at Spring Creek Retirement  Community in Bellingham after bravely sharing her life for several years with numerous types of cancer. She was born October 3, 1926 in Bellingham to Elizabeth and Albert Haveman. Ruth attended the Campus School and Bellingham High School where, as high school seniors, she was student body vice-president and her future husband, Ian Monson, was president. They were married in Bellingham on June 12, 1948. Ruth was an excellent homemaker, enjoying raising her children, sharing in her grandchildren’s lives and recently being entertained by her first great grandchild. She was politically active in her neighborhood, volunteered for several mayoral campaigns and served on the Bellingham Public Library Board for 16 years. Ruth had a sweet nature and was a warm, friendly and caring person. She enjoyed many summers at the family cabin on Lake Samish where special gatherings were highlighted by fabulous “salmon barbeques”. Later, in retirement, she and Ian spent many winters touring the Southwest with their trusty “XL” 5th wheel trailer in tow. Visiting the Kaisers in the “desert oasis” of Quartzsite, AZ was always a highlight of these trips. Ruth was preceded in death by her brother Tom Haveman. She is survived by her loving and caring husband, Ian, daughter Kathy (husband Fred) Kaiser, son Steve Monson, grandchildren Elizabeth, Max (wife Paulina) Kaiser and Matthew (wife Carolyn) Monson and their son Caleb, sister and brother-in-law Margaret and Don Lind, sister-in-law Pat Haveman and many close relatives and friends. Memorials may be made to Whatcom Hospice. A graveside service will be held at Bayview Cemetery on Saturday, May 26, 2012 at 1:00 pm. A reception will follow at 602 Fieldston Rd. in Bellingham.

Analee Marie Brethour, age 89, passed away peacefully on April 18, 2012. She was  born Dec. 2, 1922 in Seattle, WA to Vernon and Velma (Garland) Kuney. She graduated from Lowell grade school, Bellingham High School in 1940 and business school in Seattle. She served in the US Navy WAVES during WWII, and married D.J. Brethour in 1946 at her parents’ home in Bellingham. While employed at the Leopold Hotel as secretary to the manager, she was a member of the National Secretaries Association, Chamber of Commerce and served as chairman of the Convention-Tourist Committee. She also served as executive secretary to the National Foundation-March of Dimes and was Chapter Chairman and Treasurer. Analee was a charter member of the duplicate bridge club in Bellingham and served as its secretary and unit president. She and her husband owned and operated Piston Service of Bellingham where her husband began working at the age of 18. Analee enjoyed needlepoint work, music, bridge, bowling, attending stage plays in Seattle and Vancouver and many years traveling in their 5th wheel. The family gatherings for holidays and birthdays were very important to her. She maintained a close relationship with her school friends as a member of the “Golden Girls” which still meet for lunches and dinners together. She was member of St. James Presbyterian Church where she was baptized and was a 50 year member of Eastern Star.

Analee was preceded in death by her parents, her husband D.J., her brother Arthur Kuney and her niece Stephanie Kuney Brown. She is survived by her son, John Gregory (wife Ursula) Brethour and daughter, Leanne (husband Ron) Secor, grandchildren Pam (husband Rob) Potter, children Maddie and Max, Robert (wife Jody) Nesbitt, children Kyle, Levi and Brooke, Chris Brethour, Tanya (husband Chris) Lattner and their son Zachary, and nephews Mike Gillis and Clyde and Jay Stanton. Visitation will be held at the Westford Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 25th from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., followed by funeral services at St. James Presbyterian Church, 910 14th Street in Bellingham at 11:00 a.m. Reception to follow. Private family committal will follow at Greenacres Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Washington www.alzsociety.org.

Joe Chorvat, age 40 passed away April 16, 2012. Joe was born August 8, 1971 in Bellingham  to Frank and Sandy (Stull) Chorvat. Joe was a devoted father to his beloved son Christopher. He graduated from Bellingham High School in 1989 and WWU with a B.A. in Business Administration. Joe enjoyed snowboarding, golfing, fishing and spending time with his friends and family. He is survived by his son Christopher and Christopher’s mother Sarah; parents Frank and Sandy; brother Jason (Dongru) and their children Nick, Peyton and Jade, brother Tim (Jenna) and their daughter Lily; grandfather Mack Stull, and many loving relatives and friends. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 PM on Sunday, April 22 at Westford Funeral Home, followed by a reception. Since Joe loved the mountains the family requests memorials to Whatcom County Search and Rescue, 1041 W. Smith Rd, Bellingham, WA 98225.

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