MARK ALLEMAN ’85 died Dec. 22, 2020, at the age of 63. Mark worked at Northwest Plating Co., where he was a work planner. A member of the Church of the Nazarene in Bonney Lake, Washington, Mark was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease) in 2016. He is survived by his wife, Maxine.
LORRAINE ROTTRUP ATKINSON ’52 died Dec. 19, 2020, at the age of 90. Born to Danish immigrants in Watertown, South Dakota, Lorraine was 14 when she moved with her family to Washington state. She graduated from Highline High School in Des Moines before attending Seattle Pacific College, where she met her husband, DONALD ATKINSON ’49. After graduating from SPU, she went on to earn an education degree from San Francisco State College. Lorraine served as a pastor’s wife for many years and was also a librarian in the Marysville School District and at Seattle Pacific University. She and her husband moved to the Warm Beach Senior Community in the early 1990s, where they became active members in the Warm Beach Free Methodist Church. Preceded in death by her husband, Donald, Lorraine is survived by a twin sister, a brother, two daughters, including CHRISTINE ATKINSON SHAW ’76, five grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.
PHYLLIS BRANNOCK BARTRAM ’60 died Sept. 27, 2020, at the age of 85. Phyllis was born in Corvallis, Oregon, and spent her early years in Reedsport, Lookingglass, Northern Idaho, Spokane, and Medford. [Please add appropriate states to these cities or indicate where they are since there is a mix of area (Northern Idaho) and cities. Or maybe just say she spent her early years in the Pacific Northwest.] She graduated from Medford High School in Oregon and received her nursing degree from the University of Washington in 1961. She attended Seattle Pacific College, where she met her husband, HAROLD “HAL” BARTRAM ’59. They married in Seattle in 1960 and moved to Eugene, Oregon in 1965. Phyllis worked as a county health nurse in Washington and Oregon before her career as a school nurse for Eugene School District 4J, which lasted 22 years. She enjoyed reading, sewing, and spending time with her grandchildren. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Eugene and enjoyed being involved in her Sunday school class. Preceded in death by a son, Phyllis is survived by Hal, her husband of 60 years, a daughter, and four granddaughters.
VICTORIA “SUZANNE” BOND, former associate professor of educational leadership, died March 3, 2021, at the age of 70. Read her full In Memoriam here.
COLLEEN FLORIAN BROWN ’76 died May 1, 2021, at the age of 70. The second of six siblings, Colleen was born in Poulsbo, Washington. Her family moved to Ketchikan, Alaska, in 1964 when her father became captain of the Malaspina. Colleen graduated from Ketchikan High School in 1969, and left to attend Northwest Bible College and then graduate from Seattle Pacific in 1976 with a degree in teaching with a specialty in art. In 1971, she married JOHN BROWN ’76. Colleen was a longtime resident of Ketchikan. Over the years she was a school teacher at Clover Pass Christian School, a piano teacher, a custom picture framer, and a crafter, whose Blueberry Festival booth could be reliably found in the same corner for over 12 years. She designed puppets, wove baskets, arranged dried flowers, and sold both Mary Kay Cosmetics and Watkins at various points throughout her life. Colleen’s desire to be useful and create beautiful things (music, paintings, crafts) was a defining trait throughout her life. Colleen demonstrated her relationship with Christ through the love she shared with her family, friends, and anyone in need of help. She was generous with her time and support and attended the First Lutheran Church, Assembly of God Church, and was a founding member of South Tongass Alliance Church in Ketchikan. Her favorite past times included playing the piano, painting, drawing, and spending time with her grandchildren. Colleen is survived by John, her husband of nearly 50 years, two sons and a daughter, two grandchildren, a brother and four sisters, including KATHY FLORIAN VERBARENDSE ’71 and SHARI FLORIAN SHELTON ’76, as well as numerous extended family members.
JOHN “JACK” BUCKHAM ’68 died June 2, 2021, at the age of 78. Jack died unexpectedly while working on his beloved farm east of Kamloops on the South Thompson River. A 2007 inductee into the Kamloops Sports Hall of Fame, Jack was the athletic director at South Kam Secondary, formerly Kam High, for 22 years. He led KSS to six provincial basketball appearances and also coached football, rugby, track and field, tennis, and volleyball. His wife, Diane, often served as his assistant coach. Jack also chaired the 1992 Canadian Junior Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships in Kamloops and was the longtime coordinator of the Provincial “AA” Championships hosted in Kamloops. In 2000, he was named Kamloops Sports Person of the Year. Predeceased in death by his wife, Diane, John is survived by two sons, five grandchildren, a sister, two brothers, and many nieces and nephews.
BETH HOFFMAN BULLINGTON MA-TESOL ’03 died April 21, 2021, at the age of 55. Beth was born in West Reading, Pennsylvania, and graduated from High Point Baptist Academy, Bob Jones University, and Seattle Pacific University. She married Stuart Bullington and worked for Graco Children’s Products in Asia for many years. Beth and Stuart served on the mission field with Overseas Missionary Fellowship in England. She worked with Chinese students attending college in Sheffield. She was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Beth enjoyed cooking, quilting, sharing the Bible with women, and writing. At the time of her death, she was in the process of writing a book. Beth is survived by Stuart, her husband of 17 years, a son and daughter, her parents, three brothers, and several other extended family members.
SARA JACKETS DEYERMOND ’04 died Aug. 1, 2021, at the age of 39. Born in Wenatchee, Washington, Sara graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 2000, continued her education at Gonzaga University, and earned a BA in business administration from Seattle Pacific University in 2004. She earned a master’s degree from Seattle University in business administration in 2007. Her work history was varied, but it led her to serve with the United States Army Corp of Engineers beginning in 2012. While with the USACE, she was stationed with the Omaha District, TransAtlantic Afghanistan District, Fort Worth District, Seattle District, USACE Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and the Galveston District. She was selected as one of 12 Department of Army Civilians to attend the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College. Her dream of living near a beach came true when she earned her job as a procurement analyst for the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers for the Galveston District. In Afghanistan, she met Johnny Deyermond, who was part of the military support staff protecting the Kabul station, and they married in 2016. Sara traveled extensively, including being stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan; climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania; spending time in Bali, Belize. She visited 49 states in the U.S., only missing Rhode Island before she died. Sara is survived by her mother, grandparents, uncles and an aunt, and cousins. Her husband, Johnny, died 12 days after Sara died.
RONALD “RON” EDGBERT ’60 died April 29, 2021, at the age of 82. Ron was born in Whittier, California, and was the second of two children. He graduated from Whittier High School in 1956 and later earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Seattle Pacific College. After graduation, he returned to California where he was a music teacher in the Los Angeles County School District before beginning a career in retail music sales. In 1970, he married Mary Ottengheime, and they had a daughter and a son. The young Edgbert family moved to Washington in 1978, and Ron continued his career in music sales until he retired in 2009. Desiring to live closer to his grandchildren, Ron relocated to Mason City, Iowa, in 2013. Central to Ron’s life was his love of music. An accomplished musician since his youth, Ron began his involvement in church music ministry in high school and continued throughout college and his adult life. He loved leading worship from the piano bench and the organ console at South Bay Christian Church and Lakewood First Baptist Church in Southern California; at Eastside Free Methodist Church and at Westminster Chapel in Bellevue, Washington; and at First Covenant Church in Mason City, Iowa. The only things exceeding Ron’s love of music were his love for family and friends and his deep, abiding Christian faith. Whether through music, stories, or gatherings, Ron wanted to introduce people to each other and to loving and life-changing relationships with Jesus Christ. Ron is survived by his children, JENNI EDGBERT READ ’93 and JEFF EDGBERT ’96, sister ARLENE EDGBERT STEVENS ’58, and four grandchildren.
ARCHIE EDWARDS ’54 died July 4, 2021, at the age of 91. Archie had worked full time as a construction contractor for Archie Edwards Construction as late as 2004. At that same time, he and his wife, Pat, were active in Maltby Christian Assembly in Snohomish, Washington, where they resided. They had five children, including TAMARA EDWARDS CHRISTOPHER ’89, and 10 grandchildren.
RAYMOND “RAY” EVANS ’50 died March 7, 2021, at the age of 95. Retired from teaching in the Sacramento City Schools, he is survived by his wife, GRACE ADAMS EVANS ’52.
BARBARA MOSES GALLAGHER ’71 died Nov. 29, 2020, at the age of 71.
RICHARD GOODMAN ’65 died May 25, 2021, at the age of 84 following an extended illness. Dick was born in Milton-Freewater, Oregon, and graduated from Oroville High School in Washington. He married his high school sweetheart, Wilma Stewart, and they lived in Oroville until they moved to Wenatchee, Washington, where Dick attended Wenatchee Valley College for two years. After two years at WVC, Dick, his wife and their three children moved to Seattle, Washington, where Dick earned a teaching certificate from Seattle Pacific College. Dick taught at schools in Washington and California. Throughout the years, he touched the lives of thousands of students, and he was famous for his field trips, annual chick-hatching project, and shop classes. In 1973, Dick bought a muffler shop and gas station on South Wenatchee Avenue, Dick’s Exhaust, which he ran for 17 years, before selling it and returning to teaching. After his wife, Wilma, died in 1983, he met and married Janice McCafferey in 1985. Dick and Janice and her two children lived in Wenatchee and Chelan, where they owned a successful bed and breakfast. Dick and Janice spent their years together as avid high school sports fans and surrounded by a large group of friends. They were longtime members of the Free Methodist Church. Dick loved his family, his friends, and his Lord. He was a voracious reader, loved travel and exploration, and sports. He could build a house and rebuild a carburetor. He could make a skateboard or an ice-sailing racer. He only bought one new car in his life because he knew he could keep it running forever. Predeceased by his wives, Dick is survived by two sons, a daughter from his first marriage, and a stepson and stepdaughter from his second marriage, 16 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
STEVEN “STEVE” GOUGH ’70 died May 21, 2021, at the age of 73. Read his full In Memoriam here.
RAYMOND “RAY” JOHNSON MBA ’96 died June 21, 2021, at the age of 67. Ray was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, and relocated with his family to Spokane, Washington, when he was 2 years old. He attended Assumption School, Shadle Park High School, and Eastern Washington University. In 1978, he married his wife, June, and relocated to Southern California where he had careers at Inglewood Park Cemetery and Lockheed Corporation. In 1991, Ray accepted a position at Boeing Co. in Seattle. While there, he earned an MBA at Seattle Pacific. He was then a business project manager on the U.S. and European AWACS and 777 programs until his retirement in 2013. Ray was deeply devoted to his faith and his family. He loved to travel, sightsee, and hike. He visited 34 national parks and 23 countries during his lifetime. He loved being outdoors and time spent landscaping his home. He also had a good sense of humor and was a movie buff. Ray is survived by his wife of 43 years, June, two sons, five sisters, and many extended family members.
JOHN KNAPLUND ’61 died Oct. 7, 2020, at the age of 83. John was born in Ketchikan, Alaska, where his parents and grandparents were fish-buyers in Kelly’s Cove on Noyes Island. In 1949, his family moved to Whidbey Island, Washington, where they built and ran Knaplund Hardware until 1974. In 1959, John married his best friend MARLENE THAVES ’57. After graduating, John became a school teacher/coach, teaching the fundamentals of life and mentoring students and athletes while being a faithful witness to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He excelled as a basketball and baseball player for his high school alma mater Langley High School and for Seattle Pacific College. As the basketball coach of the Marysville Tomahawks, he led them to the NWAA League/District and Region championship and finished third at the Washington state AA Tournament. The Everett Herald named him a finalist for the Man of the Year in Sports Award of Merit after the 1971–72 Tomahawk season. He returned home to coach his alma mater Langley/South Whidbey Falcons to league and the NW District A championships while finishing in sixth and eighth places at the state A Tournament. John spent 11 years working for the South Whidbey School District as a project manager and school facilities director. During his tenure, he was responsible for projects that doubled the size of South Whidbey High School and remodeled Langley Middle School. John also worked for many years as a custom home builder on Whidbey Island. A dog lover, he enjoyed taking his dogs with him on the job each day. After retirement, he built his dream home for Marlene and his family on his grandparents’/parents’ property. He experienced once more the very view he had loved as a child. John is survived by his wife of 61 years, Marlene, three sons, and four grandchildren.
SUZANNE GAYLORD KNOPP ’61 died June 12, 2021, at the age of 82. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Suzanne graduated with high honors from Jefferson High School before coming to Seattle Pacific College. Suzanne met WILLIAM “BILL” KNOPP ’61 while they were freshmen. They married in 1959. Suzanne graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Christian Education and worked for Boy’s and Girl’s Aid society in Portland while Bill attended Western Seminary. They had two sons and a daughter join the family when they lived in Bend, Oregon, where Bill pastored the First Baptist Church. Suzanne and the family moved to Elmhurst, Illinois, in 1976 and resided there until 1995 when they moved back to Oregon when Bill became pastor of the First Baptist Church of Corvallis. Suzanne accepted Jesus as her savior when she was young and considered it a great privilege to serve others in Christ’s name. She also considered it an honor to serve her family and lead children’s ministries in the churches where she and Bill served. Suzanne enjoyed traveling to many countries with Bill, including three trips to Israel. Suzanne is survived by her husband, Bill, their two sons and daughter, nine grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and three brothers and a sister.
ROBERT “BOB” LIND ’60 died April 7, 2021, at the age of 83. Bob graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a degree in electrical engineering and married Carol MacMillen in 1963. They had one daughter, who died as a child. Bob and his wife lived in Portland, where he worked for Control Data Corporation. Bob was a kind, generous, and outgoing person who loved good conversation. He was an active member of the Old Car Club, and he restored his Pierce Arrow to mint condition. While in Portland, he was a member of Valley Community Presbyterian Church. After he retired, he and Carol moved to Lincoln City, Oregon, where they joined Chapel by the Sea Presbyterian Church. There, he served as a deacon and formed deep community. Don is survived by his wife, Carol, as well as many friends.
JAMES “JIM” LINDBLOM ’52 died Dec. 28, 2020, at the age of 90. Born in Morris, Minnesota, Jim moved with his family to Neah Bay, Washington, in 1948. He graduated from Seattle Pacific College with a bachelor’s degree in health and physical science and went on to earn a master’s degree in education from the University of Portland in 1962. While in the National Guard in 1951, Jim married his childhood sweetheart, Lois. He embarked on a 31-year career teaching math and science and coaching football at the junior high level in the Vancouver (Washington) School District. He also coached one of the first soccer teams in Vancouver, Washington, at McLoughlin Junior High. After retiring from teaching in 1980, Jim became a chicken farmer near Battle Ground, Washington. He raised fryers for Lynden Farms and Foster Farms for over 20 years, winning awards as top Washington grower in 1984 and top small farm in 1985 and 1989. Jim was a devout, lifelong Christian. He taught Sunday school to adults, was president of the Nazarene Young People’s Society (NYPS) for several years at Hillcrest Church of the Nazarene in Vancouver and was secretary of the church board there for decades. He was a member of Pleasant View Church of the Nazarene in Ridgefield, Washington, at the time of his passing. He enjoyed bowling, golfing, scuba, and was a big fan of the Portland Trail Blazers and Seattle Seahawks. Jim was also an avid reader of newspapers, magazines, biographies, and history. Jim is survived by his wife of nearly 70 years, two daughters and a son, five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, two brothers JOHN LINDBLOM ’58 and DAVID LINDBLOM ’61; and many other extended family members.
MARY BOWEN MACKEY ’55 died April 6, 2021, at the age of 87. Mary was born and raised in Seattle, graduating from Queen Anne High School. She then attended Seattle Pacific College and the University of Washington, training for a career as a registered nurse. While in nurses’ training at Northern State Hospital in Sedro Woolley, Washington, she met Frank Mackey. They married in October 1954. In the years to follow, they became parents to two sons and a daughter. Mary’s first job out of college was director of nursing at Seaside Memorial Hospital in Long Beach, California. She then worked for the Boynton Clinic followed by nursing at Northwest Urology. She completed her full-time work as a radiation therapy nurse with North Puget Sound Oncology. After retirement, she worked part-time for Cascade Surgeons with doctors Whitman and Wolf. Mary finally retired in 1998 after 44 years of service as a registered nurse. Mary and Frank enjoyed traveling. They made two trips to Europe, 11 trips to Hawaii, and spent 18 days in Japan when their son, Steve, was an exchange student. For the past 16 years, Mary and Frank spent winters in Arizona. They were also active members at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, Washington. Preceded in death by her son, Ken, Mary is survived by her husband of 66 years, Frank, son Steve, daughter MARITA MACKEY CANTRELL ’86, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
CAROL GRAHAM MAGNUSON ’58 died June 12, 2021, at the age of 84. Carol was born in Longview, Washington, and graduated from Lebanon High School in 1955 before enrolling at Seattle Pacific College. She married Jack Magnuson in 1958 and they lived in Corvallis, Portland, Albany, and Salem before settling in Dallas, Texas, in 1972. Carol was a clerical assistant at West Salem Elementary School for three years. She worked as a library assistant at Oakdale Elementary School in Dallas for 13 years. She returned to school once her children were grown, completing the medical records program at Chemeketa Community College in 1984. Carol applied her degree through the College Cooperative Work Experience for Dr. Glatt, DO, in Dallas, and then with the External, Health Records Program at the West Salem Clinic. She also worked for several years as a medical records clerk in The Doctor’s Clinic in Salem. She eventually retired from Dr. Gottschalk’s plastic surgery practice in Salem. Carol had a quick wit and enjoyed quilting, crafts, needlework, tracing family history, and tending to her garden and flowers. In retirement, she worked at Grandma’s Attic Sewing Emporium to showcase her talents and fund her quilt making. Carol was active with Dallas Rotary and Rotary International, where Jack was a past president and district governor. They were an inseparable team during his service and were great Rotary Ambassadors. Carol was involved in helping Dallas Rotary gather nearly 500 child-sized quilts for the Rotaplast International — Wrap-A-Smile Project. This helped children in developing countries have surgery to repair a cleft lip. After the repair was complete, they were given a quilt to wrap up in and smile for the very first time. Service to the community was a big part of Carol’s life, and she was a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority; the Polk Co. Genealogical Society; The Daughters of the America Revolution; Mid-Valley Quilt Guild; American Field Service Exchange: Rotary Exchange Program; Camp Fire Girls as a leader; Cub Scouts and Webelo Scouting, and she was a Sunday school teacher. Carol and Jack moved to Albany, Oregon, to be closer to family about a year before her death. Carol is survived by her husband of 63 years, Jack, two sons and a daughter, eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and a sister and brother GREG GRAHAM ’61.
MICHAEL “MICKEY” MARTINO ’58 died June 26, 2019, at the age of 85. Born and raised in a large family in Oliver, British Columbia, Mickey excelled at sports, especially baseball and basketball. He was offered a contract to play professional baseball with the Saint Louis Browns (now the Baltimore Orioles), but before reporting to spring training, he was offered a full scholarship for both basketball and baseball to Seattle Pacific College. Mickey accepted and became the first member of his family to attend and graduate college. In 1959, Mickey became teacher, coach, and athletic director of Kamloops Secondary School. He became instrumental in raising the profile of high school sports at Kam High and the entire North Okanagan region; he also led the charge to bring high school football to the North Okanagan region while also coaching multiple teams at the same time. Mickey was a pioneer in fundraising for school athletics. He created the Kamloops Secondary School Athletics and Recreation Society,which was later replicated by many high school and college programs and allowed Kam High athletics to flourish. In 1999, he was named a charter member of the Kamloops Sports Hall of Fame, and a scholarship was created in his name. Mickey taught for 37 years, from 1959 to 1997. In 1979, however, he moved to Westside Secondary, where he focused on nurturing students and their well-being. He tirelessly helped his students rise to their potential. In retirement, Mickey and Gloria enjoyed their cabin at North Barriere Lake. Mickey is survived by Gloria, his wife of 63 years, two sons, three grandchildren, three sisters, and numerous extended family members.
BRUCE MCKEOWN ’67 died May 2, 2021, at the age of 75. A former professor of political science at Seattle Pacific University and also at Westmont College in Montecito, California, Bruce died on Camano Island, Washington. A skilled teacher, researcher, and writer, as well as a talented photographer, Bruce was a member of St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church on Camano Island. He is survived by his wife, FREDA TODD MCKEOWN ’67, two sons, four grandchildren, and brother ROBERT MCKEOWN ’64.
JAMES “JIM” REYNOLDS ’50 died May 27, 2021, at Warm Beach Senior Community. He was 97 years old. Born in Sioux City, Iowa, Jim and his family moved around during the Great Depression, finally heading west on the back of a flatbed truck with another family. After running out of gas money to contribute once the family got to Yakima, Washington, Jim helped pick hops to work their way to Seattle. The family finally settled at 336 W. Bertona, in a house that sat near where SPU’s McKenna Hall now sits. Jim then attended seventh and eighth grade in Seattle Pacific College’s Normal School in a small classroom where SPC student teachers gained experience. During World War II, Jim dropped out of Seattle’s Cleveland High School to serve in the South Pacific with the Coast Guard on the USS San Pedro. According to the USCG Veterans Association, Jim was the last surviving WW II veteran to serve on the San Pedro. After the war, Jim returned to Seattle Pacific College as a student. In 1949, he married FRANCES BARBEZAT REYNOLDS ’49 and became a school teacher and principal in the Edmonds School District. After retirement, he worked in the Planned Giving Office at Seattle Pacific; his wife, Frances, worked in Campus Ministries and the Alumni Office. Jim and Frances were charter members at the North City (now Shoreline) Free Methodist Church. They attended the Shoreline Free Methodist, Seattle First Free Methodist, and Warm Beach Free Methodist churches. He’s survived by his wife, Frances, sons RICHARD “RICK” REYNOLDS ’75, GREG REYNOLDS ’78, and BRIAN REYNOLDS ’80, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
TERRY ROBINSON ’82 died April 11, 2021, at the age of 68, from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Terry was born in Spokane, Washington, and was the oldest of four brothers. The family traveled all over the United States during his childhood, because his father served in the U.S. Air Force. In 1971, Terry graduated from Hillsboro High School in Hillsboro, Oregon, and joined the Air Force three days later. He served at the end of the Vietnam War in Europe as a weapons mechanic. During this time, Terry accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. After his honorable discharge, Terry returned to Oregon and became a youth pastor at Valley Full Gospel Church in Hillsboro. There, he met Ellen Kay Frank, and they married in 1978 in Forest Grove, Oregon. The couple worked/lived at a ranch for troubled boys in Ellensburg, Washington, and moved to Redmond, Washington. Terry graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a degree in psychology in 1982. He and Ellen settled down in Woodinville, Washington, and he helped start the children’s wing at Fairfax Psychiatric Hospital. He worked there for seven years before moving to work at Boeing as an aircraft mechanic. In 1996, he, his wife, and two children moved to Spirit Lake, Idaho, while Terry worked for Empire Airlines. Terry was always part of the pastoral program of the churches they attended. In 2004, he became the youth pastor and director of family ministry for Spirit Lake Baptist Church. In 2007, he and Ellen founded Spirit Lake Calvary Christian Fellowship. Terry strove to be a servant of God and a true example of Jesus Christ’s love for humanity. He also loved hiking, camping, time with his family, and travelling. Terry is survived by his wife, Ellen, son and daughter, five grandchildren, his mother, three brothers, and nieces and nephews.
BARBARA CONNELL ROZEMA ’66 died July 20, 2021, at the age of 77. Born in Seattle, Barbara grew up in Mount Vernon, Washington. She graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1962 and from Seattle Pacific College in 1966 with her teaching credential and a bachelor’s degree in marine biology. Barbara married Clarence Rozema, whom she’d met at Emmanuel Baptist Church in 1966 and made her home in Bay View, Washington, near the family’s boat business. She taught first grade at Madison Elementary in Mount Vernon and then at Lucille Umbarger in Burlington until the birth of their first child in 1970. Two more boys followed. Barbara threw herself into raising her children and helping her husband manage the family boat business, all the while working in her church and supporting her children’s education. Barbara lived a life profoundly influenced by her faith. She was actively involved in Bible Study Fellowship, both as a participant and as a leader. Preceded in death by her husband, Clarence, Barbara is survived by sons DIRK ROZEMA ’93, Jason Rozema, and NATE ROZEMA’99, eight grandchildren, brother JOHN CONNELL JR. ’71, and many nieces, nephews.
CINDY BACKMAN SHEELY ’78 died Feb. 20, 2021, at the age of 64 due to a brain aneurysm. Born in Renton, Washington, Cindy graduated from Renton High School in 1974. Even as a child, Cindy always wanted to be a teacher. After high school, she attended Highline Community College for two years before transferring to Seattle Pacific University, where she received an elementary education degree. Her first teaching position was at Rainier Valley Christian School, where she began teaching a second/third split class and had her first introduction to private Christian education. After two years there, the principal gave her a reference and encouraged her to apply to Seattle Christian. She began work there in the fall of 1980 and taught for the next 26 years, spending time in both first and second grade. Cindy loved teaching and saw teaching as her ministry. Her goal each year was to make each child feel that secretly he or she was her favorite. She loved shaping those young lives, and she practiced firm discipline. If she caught a child lying or cheating, she knew that this would be a God-given opportunity to mold them for eternity. One of her students once remarked “Mrs. Sheely may smile a lot, but she rules with an iron fist.” In 1994, she was named to “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers”. In 1982, she married Kevin Sheely, whom she had met at church. Cindy struggled with health issues her whole life, including a tumor on her pituitary gland, infertility, severe headaches, a heart attack, and a stroke. Through all the struggles, she maintained a cheerful attitude and unwavering faith. Cindy attended the Skyway Church of God (later named NextStep Fellowship) her entire life. She served in several ministries, playing the piano and organ, singing in the choir, teaching and leading Children’s ministry, acting in dramas, preparing meals, Mexico missions, and more. After retiring, she attended Bible Study Fellowship. In 2006, Cindy retired from teaching, and she and Kevin traveled to Taiwan to adopt their infant daughter. She was Cindy’s greatest joy, and Cindy loved being a mother even more than teaching. Cindy is survived by her husband, Kevin, and daughter Kaylen.
LARRY “ELI” SMITH ’74 died May 12, 2021, at the age of 69. Born in Woodburn, Oregon, Larry’s father passed away when he was a young child. A few years later, his mother remarried and his stepfather adopted him. Larry graduated from Franklin High School in Portland in 1969. Over the next 10 years, Larry attended college, including Seattle Pacific College from 1972 to 1974. He graduated from George Fox University in 1979. Larry also spent seven months in Hawaii on a mission trip, during which he met his wife, Susan Cook. They have two sons. Larry worked as a social service worker for about 20 years, split between Head Start and nursing homes. Larry was active in Calvary Chapel of McMinnville for over 33 years. He loved sports, especially golf, baseball, and soccer — both as a player and then as a coach. Almost 20 years before he died, he learned he had myotonic dystrophy, a form of muscular dystrophy that begins in adulthood and weakens muscles and systems. When Larry could no longer participate in sports, he remained an active sports fan, most notably of the Yankees, the Portland Trail Blazers, and University of Oregon football. Larry also loved collecting souvenirs, including coffee mugs, baseball hats, German nutcrackers, and In & Out T-shirts. Larry is survived by his wife, Susan, two sons, his mother, a brother, four sisters, and many nieces and nephews.
LEONA STAUSS ’57 CC* died Oct. 23, 2020, at the age of 90. Born in Hillsboro, Oregon, Leona, graduated from Cascade College. She passed away in West Linn, Oregon, and is survived by many family members and friends.
JANINE GATES TERWILLIGER ’96 died Oct. 18, 2020, at the age of 52. Born and raised in Montana, Janine attended Seattle Pacific University, Montana State University, and University of Montana. She was involved with several activities at Heritage Christian School, and had a passion for horses, knitting, snowmobiling, and spending time on the water. Janine is survived by her husband, Mark, a son, her parents, two brothers, and other extended family members.
JAY WADLEY ’97 died July 22, 2017, at the age of 42. Born in West Point, New York, Jay lived in Phoenix, Arizona, at the time of his death. He is survived by his daughter, his mother and father, a brother, and two nieces.
*Cascade College
