Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
Local Obituaries for Bellingham, WA, Whatcom County & Surrounding Areas
Jay Theodore Kaufman
Oct 27, 2023
Jay Theodore Kaufman passed away peacefully at home on October 27, 2023, at the age of 90. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother, he loved family, basketball, books, libraries, good beer, and travel. Born in Bellingham, WA to Ted and Jean Kaufman, he was the oldest of four children. He went to what is now Western Washington University to...
Ruth Eileen Lyles
Oct 26, 2023
Born in Portsmouth, OH on September 23, 1923 to Frank and Edna (Schwamberger) Gemperline, Ruth Eileen Lyles passed away at her Lynden home on October 26, 2023 at the age of 100. In Portsmouth, Ruth graduated from Holy Redeemer High School. After marrying Harold Lyles and having two children, Lynn Ann and Raymond Francis, they moved to Chicago, IL. In...
Peggy Koellmann
Oct 18, 2023
Peggy Virginia (Scott) Koellmann, passed away peacefully on October 18, 2023 in Bellingham, Washington. She was born on July 19, 1941 in Leon, Iowa to John and Anita Scott. Peggy, a most loving and devoted mother, grandmother, and sister, is survived by her son Derek and his wife Jennifer, brother John and his wife Earlina, daughter Keri, grandsons Sam and...
Ruby Janet Smith
Oct 17, 2023
Ruby Schafer was born February 28, 1935, in Bellingham, WA at St. Joesph’s Hospital just three days after her future husband, Curt Smith; their mothers’ week-long stays overlapped as was the standard in those days.
A lifelong Bellingham resident, Ruby grew up with her mother Maud, father Harry, and younger sister Joanne, in several houses around Bellingham including at Dellesta Park...
Kylah "Nex" I. Hadley
Oct 8, 2023
Kylah Irene Hadley "Nex" was born on September 10, 2007 – the beloved daughter of Kevin Hadley and Rebecca Sprinkle. Tragically, on Sunday, October 8th, she was taken from us far too soon due to an accidental drug overdose. Nex was a bright young soul, pursuing her education at BTS, where she was working towards her GED. Having recently celebrated...
Karen D. Pantoleon
Oct 6, 2023
Karen Pantoleon, aged 69, passed away peacefully at her Ferndale home with her family by her side on October 6, 2023. Born on July 30, 1954 in England to James and Patricia Cowmeadow, Karen grew up with her mum and siblings in Cambridge. She graduated from Impington Village College and held various jobs before immigrating to the US in 1980....
Robert P. Andrews
Oct 5, 2023
Robert P. “Bob” Andrews was born June 2, 1936 in Bellingham, WA to Robert E. and Frances Andrews. He passed away peacefully on October 5, 2023. Robert graduated from Bellingham High School in 1954. After graduating, he joined the Navy where he served for 20 years. While in the Navy, he met a nurse from Connecticut, Laurian Richter, and they...
Louis Francis "Lou" Michel
Oct 1, 2023
Louis Francis “Lou” Michel, age 91, passed away at Hospice House Sunday, October 1st, 2023, in Bellingham, WA. He was born June 11, 1932, in Sandusky, OH to Dorothea and Ludwig Michel. Lou was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers Edward, Thomas, and Ronald. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Diane Carol Michel, daughters...
Harold Loerke
Sep 28, 2023
Harold Wayne Loerke passed away unexpectedly on September 28, 2023 at the far-too-young age of 67. He was born on August 2, 1956 in Klamath Falls, Oregon to Emily (Elzner) and Wayne Loerke. His family moved around a lot growing up, but Harold always had a best friend in his brother Frank and he had a close relationship with both...
Janet H. Miller
Sep 28, 2023
Sadly, our sister Janet passed away on September 28, 2023, after a long struggle with cancer. A native of Poughkeepsie, NY, she graduated from the College of St. Rose in Albany, NY. Bellingham became home for her in 1985. Janet was predeceased by her parents, Edmund and Ruth Miller. She is survived by siblings Diana Wills of Sacramento, CA, Eric...
John H. Hood Iii
Sep 27, 2023
Born on October 26, 1948 in Seattle, WA to John and Elizabeth (Hoitt) Hood, John passed away on September 27, 2023 in Ferndale, WA. He is survived by his children, John Hood IV and Elizabeth Hood. He will be laid to rest at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA.
Richard Lee Hawley
Sep 25, 2023
Richard Hawley, age 88, passed away September 25, 2023 in Bellingham. He was born November 5, 1934 in Bellingham to “Dutch” and Charlotte Hawley. He graduated from Bellingham High School and was the owner of Hawley’s Auto Supply and Marina. Richard was preceded in death by his daughter Dianne Hawley, grandsons Robby Hawley and Austin Hawley, and former wife Marlys...
Byron Hilton Brown Jr.
Sep 24, 2023
Byron Hilton Brown Jr. passed from his life on this world on September 24, 2023 after a courageous 14-year fight against neuro-endocrine cancer. He was 77 years old. Byron was born in San Francisco and was raised in California. He enlisted in the United States Air Force for four years during the Vietnam War, was promoted to Sergeant, and used...
James D. "Jim" Cederlind
Sep 24, 2023
James D. "Jim" Cederlind passed away in Seattle, Washington on Sunday, September 24, 2023. Jim was born in Portland, Oregon on March 31, 1953 to Dr. and Mrs. Irvin Cederlind. He grew up in Bellingham and graduated from Sehome High School in 1972. After high school, Jim attended Portland State University, graduating in 1987. Jim was preceded in death by...
Joanne M. Kurtz
Sep 20, 2023
Joanne Marie Kurtz (née Bornstein) passed away on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, after a brief fight with cancer. Joanne was surrounded by family at the time of her passing. A woman of incomparable spirit, enthusiasm, and zest for life, she had an unbounded love for her family that we will now draw upon forever as we mourn her loss. Joanne...
Earnestine Essex
Sep 18, 2023
Our fierce and sassy matriarch, she filled us with her love and extended love to everyone she’d meet. An exemplary sister, mother, aunt, grandma, and friend. Our southern queen, Earnestine. Born in Hugo, Oklahoma on May 13, 1931, Earnestine Essex (Tice) and her two brothers (Paul and Don) learned strength, grit, and independence from a young age. Following her dreams...
Carolyn Shaffer
Sep 18, 2023
Carolyn Shaffer, a deeply generous mother, sister, friend, and former nurse, passed away in Bellingham on September 18, 2023 at the age of 75 surrounded by her three loving sons and sisters. She was born November 9, 1947 in San Diego, CA to Boyd and Audrey (Wolz) Shaffer and grew up in Hilo, on the Big Island of Hawaii. She...
Camille R. Skaggs
Sep 17, 2023
Camille R. Skaggs, age 80, of Bellingham, WA, passed away peacefully on September 17, 2023. Camille was born March 31, 1943 in Milwaukee, WI to Henry and Raynelle (Nelles) Schwabe. She met Paul Skaggs on a blind date and they married on June 3, 1967 in Scobey, MT. In 1969, Paul and Camille moved to Whatcom County where they raised...
Ruth Debord
Sep 14, 2023
Ruth Jane DeBord passed away peacefully at her Sandy Point home the morning of Thursday, September 14, 2023. Ruth “Ruthie” Debord was born in North Bend, Oregon to parents Jerry and Katherine Hopcroft. She moved to Washington in 1967, when she was only six years old. She graduated from Sehome High School and later met Russell DeBord. They were married...
Barbara Czapczynska
Sep 14, 2023
Barbara (Basia) Teresa Czapczynska, 84, of Bellingham, Washington, passed away peacefully on September 14, 2023. She was born on January 23, 1939 in Lublin, Poland to the late Antonina and Florian Hagel. She was the beloved wife of the late Ryszard Czapczynski, who preceded her in death in 1992. She was also preceded in death by her son Jaroslaw Czapczynski...
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