Obituaries

Death Notices

Kai Reid Shimizu Johnson

Kai Reid Shimizu Johnson broke the ties of his earthly life on December 27, 2018 at the tender age of 25. Despite years of battling the effects of Marfan syndrome, a genetic disease, born December 1, 1993, Kai lived fiercely and fully. He wore his signature ballcaps backwards. He was a good confidant and keeper of secrets. He was tender. He was a master of satire. And he played a masterful game of Hanafuda cards.
He attended Bainbridge High School and graduated from Shelton High School. In school, he was encouraged to take an auto shop class where he discovered his love of autos, jeeps and trucks. At graduation in 2012, he was given a Mazda b3000 dubbed the Purple Panda. The ensuing years were spent “improving” the Purple Panda. The improvements included vastly increasing the height of the truck from the ground. He enjoyed off-roading jaunts at the Bon Jon pass followed by bonfires with his friends.
He was a brother in the Relentless Car Club and continued to embrace new friends wherever he went.
He was known for his big heart and could be counted on to help friends, neighbors and his family at Newlife. However, it was his physical heart that became problematic. Kai was diagnosed with Marfan’s syndrome as a preteen. At sixteen, he underwent heart valve replacement surgery. At 22, he welcomed the birth of his son, Mason, and only weeks later received a heart transplant at the University of Washington Medical Center.
Kai had deep family roots in Hilo, Hawaii and his happiest times were spent on the big island. In his final weeks, he returned to the big island for three weeks where he celebrated his 25th birthday with his son and mother, family and friends. Shortly after returning to Poulsbo, he was hospitalized at the UW Medical Center. Family, friends and hospital staff were with him and his mother was singing to him as he quietly slipped away.
A celebration of life will be at the Restore Church, 20081 Viking Way, Poulsbo, WA on Saturday, January 26 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make tax deductible donations to the Marfan Foundation at Marfan.org or UW Medicine Cardiology Research Fund. Checks can be made payable to UW Foundation and mailed to UW Medicine Advancement, Box 358045, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105-9950. Online gifts can be made at https:// www.acceleratemed.org/give/?source=CARRES.
Kai’s son, parents, maternal grandmother, brothers, sisters, cousins, his many friends and colleagues will miss him but are happy he has been released from further pain. As his mother texted friends, Kai “has gone four wheeling with Jesus.”
Kai is survived by his father Reid (Elise) Johnson, brothers Matt Smith and Mark Smith; by his mother Lindy (Steve) Belcher, sisters Amber Belcher and Lindsey Belcher; his son Mason and Caleigh Munoz.



​Ralph D. Springer

Ralph D. Springer, 92, died on September 13, 2018, at his home of 66 years in Shelton, WA. He was born February 17, 1926 in Galvin, WA to Fred and Delma (West) Springer. He was a school bus driver during his senior year of high school at Mary M. Knight, until has graduation in 1944.
Ralph signed up to serve in the United States Navy during WWII. He served aboard the USS Magoffin (APA-199) U.S. Pacific Fleet from 1944 to 1946, achieving the rank of Seaman First Class V. He was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal; American Area Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal.
He worked in logging for Simpson Timber Company operating the loading machine for many years. He received an award for saving an injured co-workers life by using mouth to mouth measures until help arrived. Ralph retired in 1985. From 1961 to 1965 he took a home study course in electronics through the RCA Institute of New York receiving a degree with high scores. Ralph loved the outdoors. Some of his favorite activities were fly fishing, hunting, gathering seafood, gardening, sight-seeing and camping.
During the depression era he learned to repair most anything. Things were never wasted. If an item couldn’t be repaired he would use the parts to make something else, or to have on hand, just in case there was a need for a part at a later time. During the last few months of his life, Ralph was not very mobile due to a stroke. When his neighbors, Bob and Jan, would arrive with a dozen fried oysters his face would light up into a big smile. To their amazement, he would eat the dozen oysters along with every last crumb before they had time to get cold!
Ralph was a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, cousin and friend.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Fred and Delma Springer, and an older brother Charles, the love his life Wanda (Cook) Springer in 2006, daughter Judith (Springer) Watters in 2008.
Surviving him, daughter Janice Patch. Sisters Annabelle Morrison, Jeanette Thomas, Eileen Blenz, and sister-in-law Tillie Springer. Grandchildren Jesse Patch, Rebecca Ronne, Justin Watters, Sarah Dannenberg. 14 great-grandchildren, cousins, nephews, nieces.
Ralph requested no services. Inurnment will be at Brinnon Cemetery on a future date. Arrangements by McComb and Wagner.


Michael Ellis Philbrook

On December 25th, 2018, Michael Ellis Philbrook passed away at home. He was born October 26th 1955 to Milton and Jerrine Philbrook, in Ketchican, Territory of Alaska. They moved to Port Gamble, Washington when Michael was five. He graduated from North Kitsap High School. 
Michael is survived by his wife Terry, daughters Jessica Garman, Tina Philbrook, and son Patrick Philbrook.  A Celebration of Michaels Life will be January 26th 2019 at the Hoodsport Fire Hall at 2:00 pm.



Wayne Harvey Estvold

​Wayne, a retired shop teacher, lost his 10-month battle with AML (acute myeloid leukemia) on January 6, 2019. He was born on March 1, 1947, to Randolph and Kay Estvold of Shelton, Washington. He graduated from Shelton High School in 1965 and continued on to Washington State University, where he earned a teaching degree in Industrial Arts in 1970. He continued on to receive his Masters in Industrial Education at the University of Idaho. He met Pam Lowe in his freshman year at WSU and they were married two years later. They celebrated their 50th anniversary last April. After graduation, his first teaching job was in the little farming community of Craigmont, Idaho. In 1972 he started his 30 year teaching career in the Beaverton, Oregon teaching drafting, wood-shop, plastics, metals, house construction and finally automotive. His military career started with ROTC at WSU and he earned his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army. He later joined the Oregon National Guard as an Engineer Officer where he spent 20 years serving his state and country. He was activated twice to Korea for operation “Team Spirit,” an effort to encourage North Korea to disable their nuclear weapons. He also spent several summers fighting forest fires in Oregon. Wayne first and foremost loved his family and his country. He enjoyed boating (especially tugboats), fishing, traveling, collecting antiques, hikes with faith walkers, spring, daffodils and sunsets. He liked the challenge of Sudoku puzzles and the Kindle version of Words with Friends. Construction was in his blood and he built several houses in the Shelton area.
Wayne is survived by his wife, Pam; two children Tami and Wes; five grandchildren, Lauren, Austin, Addison, Ethan and Emma; two sisters Janet Miller and Holly Estvold. His memorial service will be at Faith Lutheran Church, on Saturday, January 19, 2019 at 1:00 p.m.

Leland Charles Lovrien, 96, a resident of Olympia, died January 9, 2019, at Kelly’s Adult Family Home. Arrangements are by Woodlawn Funeral Home - Lacey.


Shirley Jean Baumgart, 83, a resident of Shelton, died January 8, 2019, in Olympia. Arrangements are by Forest Funeral Homes & Cemetery.


Sandra Mann, 70, a resident of Shelton, died January 8, 2019, in Shelton. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory.


Anice Faye Peterson, 60, a resident of Belfair, died at Harrison Hospital in Bremerton on January 2, 2019. A celebration of life will be held at the Belfair Eagles, January 26 at 2 p.m. Her wish was to have donations in lieu of flowers contributed to the Humane Society of Mason County.


Lorraine Ann Lawrence, 74, a resident of Shelton, died January 9, 2019, at home. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory.


Leroy Marion Robbins, 88, a resident of Shelton, died January 7, 2019, in Shelton. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory.


Michael David Reeves, 66, a resident of Olympia, died January 3, 2019, in Olympia. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory.


Claudia Anne Foster, 62, a resident of Hoodsport, died December 25, 2018, at home. A celebration of life will be held January 19 at 1 p.m. at Shelton Presbyterian Church. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory.


David E. Lopeman, 75, a resident of Shelton, died January 9, 2019, at home. A viewing will be held January 13 at 9 a.m. at the Little Creek Event Center, with graveside service to follow at 10 at the Squaxin Cemetery. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory.


Erica Thompson, 34, a resident of Olympia, died January 5, 2019, in Olympia. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory.


Deborah I. Jones, 64, died January 9, 2019, in Mason County. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory.


Theresa Deberry, 68, a resident of Ocean Shores, died January 7, 2019, at home. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory.


Judy Ann Rogers, 75, a resident of Puyallup, died January 8, 2019, in Good Samaritan Hospital. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory.


Brian Lee Bedford, 60, a resident of Hoodsport, died January 11, 2019, at home. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory.


Terry Lee Jacob, 66, a resident of Belfair, died January 12, 2019, at home. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory.


Linda Bausch, 63, a resident of Olympia, died January 11, 2019, at home. Arrangements are by Forest Funeral Homes & Cemetery.


Roberta “Robin” McLaughlin, 67, a resident of Shelton, died January 11, 2019, in Shelton. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory.