Obituaries

Death Notices

Bill L. Keller

Bill L. Keller, 95, of Shelton, Washington, went home to Jesus on January 28, 2020. 
Mr. Keller was born on June 10, 1924 in Rawlins, Wyoming to John and Gussie Keller. He fought in WW II until being seriously wounded in the South Pacific. After the war, Mr. Keller and his wife, Doris built a house in Lawrence, Kansas, but soon moved their young family to Washington State. Mr. Keller’s wife, Doris, passed away in 2014 after 69 wonderful years of marriage. In 2015, Mr. Keller married Reda Daniels Buhl and they were happily married almost five years until his passing.
Mr. Keller had a contagious sense of humor, laughed often and always had a big smile on his face. He loved being with his family.
Mr. Keller enjoyed boating, fishing and camping. He and his family often sat around the campfire singing songs while he played his guitar.
Mr. Keller’s interests included lapidary, watch/clock repair and woodworking.
While recovering in the hospital from a bullet wound received on January 22, 1945, Mr. Keller awoke to find his Purple Heart laying on his pillow. He was disappointed for 75 years that he had not been personally presented the medal. On January 24, 2020, he finally received his Purple Heart graciously presented by Colonel Roy C. Harrington, U.S. Army Reserve, fulfilling a lifelong wish.
Mr. Keller is survived by his wife, Reda, three children and their spouses, seven grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Mr. Keller was preceded in death by his wife, Doris Keller.


​Delbert Glen Stormo

Delbert Glen Stormo was born on May 23, 1925, to Peter and Lucy Stormo (Larsen) in Vienna, South Dakota. He was 94 years old. He passed away Jan 9, 2020, at his home in Allyn, WA. 
He was married to Barbara Lu Stormo (Kraushaar) and she preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his parents, a grandson and two great-grandsons.  
He graduated from Vienna High School in Vienna, South Dakota. He served in the Army for 2 1/2 years in Europe and was wounded twice. He then attended Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis, MN, to be a sheet metal worker. He worked in Fargus Falls, MN for a year and then moved to Bremerton, WA and worked at PSNS for the next 30 years. He was a volunteer for the local fire department and also a fire commissioner.
It was during those years that Del and Barb built the family home in Allyn, WA and became part of the community where they raised their family. Delbert is survived by his children, Lyle Stormo (Mary) of Litchfield, MN and Duane Stormo (Shari) of Allyn,WA and Lori Stormo Wynn (Dana) of Gig Harbor, WA and Gene Stormo (Arlene) of Port Orchard, WA. He also has 14 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. 
During his lifetime he enjoyed golfing and bowling and watching sports. Playing cards was one of his greatest enjoyments. He was loved and is missed daily. An online memorial can be seen at www.lewischapel.com

​Margaret Christine Chamberlain

Margaret Christine Chamberlain passed away at age 89 in Shelton Health & Rehabilitation Center on January 22, 2020.
She was born in Garrett, Indiana, on October 20, 1930, to Richard and Olga Weideman.  She had two older brothers: Richard, who had died as a young child before she was born, and Robert, whom she remained close to throughout their lives.  Her father had emigrated to the U.S. from Denmark as a young man, and made a career with the B&O Railroad; this obtained the family travel privileges, often used for trips to Chicago where Margaret’s maternal grandparents (also Danish émigrés) and other relatives lived – and provided opportunities to enjoy concerts, shops, museums and other big city amenities.  Margaret grew up in the family’s Garrett home, which stayed in the family until both her parents had passed away many years later; she returned a number of times over the years to visit. She kept friends throughout her entire life that she made growing up there.  
During high school, she once served as a “Girls State” delegate in Indianapolis, and she was employed as a lifeguard at the Garrett municipal swimming pool. After high school, she attended Grand View College in Des Moines, Iowa; then Indiana University; and finally Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, where she completed her B.A. She enjoyed recounting stories of those experiences, and also of a summer job she held at Mesa Verde, Colorado.  Before completing college, she took a year off to work at the Lincoln National Life Insurance Company in Ft. Wayne.
After college, Margaret moved to Seattle, preferring the idea of big city life.  Her cousins Dick Norman and George Norman, and George’s wife Elsie, also lived in the area. She moved into a young women’s residence and made friends there, and right away took a job at Allstate.
In Seattle, she met Robert Chamberlain (“Bob”), and they married in 1956. Bob was beginning his lifetime career as a commercial artist and watercolorist. Margaret’s friends in Garrett often called her “Wedie,” but Bob took to calling her “Maggie,” and she became so known to her many in-laws and friends in the “far west”. 
Bob and Maggie settled in a home in West Seattle, where they lived when two of their three children were born, David (in 1956) and Rebecca (1958).  After the family moved to the Olympia area in 1959, where Bob formed his own successful graphics business, their third child, Richard (1960) was born. Over the years, apart from several transitional homes in the Olympia area, they had three main residences: in Lacey (1960-71); in a home Bob built in a development called “Camelot” near Black Lake (and where Becky had her horse “Poco”); and for the last 40 years, in another home that Bob built at Kamilche Point near Shelton. Margaret made close friends among her neighbors.  She offered a welcoming presence, and was also well loved by neighborhood kids and her children’s friends.
For most of Margaret’s 64 years of marriage, she worked as a stay-at-home mom or homemaker, though as her kids were growing up she worked several years respectively in a clerical job for Washington State in corrections, and as a bookkeeper for an Olympia travel agency. At various times, she also engaged in volunteer activities, such as the College Women’s Club or the Cancer Society drive.  
She enjoyed working outdoors, making the yards of their various homes beautiful.  She was an avid reader.  She often helped with Bob’s art activities, including trips to help set up shows. Over the years, Bob and Maggie enjoyed many other trips as a couple, or together with family and friends: to visit Garrett several times, to visit Bob’s relatives in Alberta and Utah, and to sight-see and visit friends on numerous trips around the west and across Washington State. Their time together often included boating, picnicking and weekend drives.  
Margaret is survived by her husband Bob, her children David Chamberlain, Rebecca Bracilano, and Richard Chamberlain, and their families: Carole Williams, Fred Bracilano, Chris and Shelly Chamberlain, Zoe Bracilano, Tove Bracilano, Anna Bracilano, Billy and Jodi Brown and their three boys (Connor, Gabriel, and Daniel), and Tristan and Laura Bexell; by sisters-in-law Charlene Chamberlain and Jessie Chamberlain; and by loving nieces and nephews and their families, and a number of close friends.
Arrangements are through McComb & Wagner in Shelton. No services or other memorial event are planned at the present time. At a later date, a more informal event might come together, as has become traditional in recent years for the extended Chamberlain family.
Margaret’s favorite charity was St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

James Sherman
Jim was born in El Paso, Texas, November 27, 1934, to Dr. James Edwin Sherman and Mary Louise Doherty Sherman. He died at home in Shelton, Washington, December 16, 2019, after a courageous 20-year battle of progressive dysphagia, following surgery and treatment for parotid malignancy. 
Jim’s early years were spent in Defiance, Ohio, where his father, one of the nation’s top authorities on the structure and chemistry of human blood, was doing research on the causes of pernicious anemia. When Jim was eleven, he developed life-threatening bronchitis, and the family moved to Coronado, California. His health improved, and he developed his love of free diving, achieving a near record of holding his breath just under five minutes. Jim was not fond of the classroom, preferring to spend time diving with friends in California and Mexico. He managed to obtain “D’s” in Spanish, but “A’s” in geometry and chemistry. While a senior at Coronado High, he was chosen to represent the school at the Westinghouse Chemistry Competition in San Francisco. Outstanding students from across the US were selected to take the test. Jim scored near the top and was named “A Westinghouse Scholar.”
Jim enrolled at San Diego State University as a chemistry pre-med student, but soon discovered mathematics, which became a lifelong challenge and obsession. He was also on the university’s swimming and wrestling teams. After graduating with honors with degrees in mathematics and physics, he accepted a position at the Boeing Company in Seattle and enrolled at the University of Washington to continue PhD studies. Jim fell in love with the Pacific Northwest. After joining the Seattle Mountaineers, hiking and climbing became passions, and he climbed many of the major NW peaks. In addition, he was an avid runner, winning the 1974 Seattle Marathon in his 40-and-over age division. Jim was a voracious reader, never far from books, his Kindle and the World Almanac Book of Facts. He liked many authors. Shakespeare, Mark Twain, Dickens were favorites, and he was fond of quoting lengthy passages from their works. His interests were vast: animal and marine wildlife, birds, (crows and ravens), insects, (especially ants), landscaping, woodworking, hunting mushrooms, and classical music (Bach). He was a history buff and did research on the U.S. Civil War, writing a paper on General William Tecumseh Sherman, his great, great … uncle. Jim studied mathematicians his entire life: Galois, Goedel, Newton, Maxwell, Euler and one of his favorites, the great genius, Ramanujan from India. Jim was the proverbial “walking encyclopedia.”
As a mathematician and computer scientist, Jim spent most of his working years at Boeing Computer Services, Seattle, with a four-year interim at TRW Aerospace Company, California. His work involved mathematical modeling of strategic weapons systems (anti-satellite program, ballistic missiles and preferential defense). He did extensive work on math modeling for the storage of radioactive material, Hanford, WA. Jim won a special achievement award for his research paper on contributing to the advancement of the state of the art in transmission power line loading analysis. Jim was a brilliant mathematician with an ability to stay focused on solving complex problems. The head of his group at TRW (A. Dean) wrote: “Jim possesses a keen analytic mind which is able to eliminate many superfluous variables from a problem and focus attention upon those variables which are most important to an understanding of the true nature of the problem. Jim is truly outstanding.” He never gave up until he solved a problem. In 1980, he accepted a position with the Consulting Division of Boeing Computer Services Professional Services Organization as a consultant and mathematical analyst. Although this was a managerial position, Jim liked to joke that fortunately he did not have to manage anyone other than himself!
After his marriage to teacher/librarian, Marilyn Giese Rey, Jim found a new focus in life.  They spent 43 years together and shared many common interests. One of their favorite pastimes was cruising in their 32’ sailboat exploring the San Juan Islands, the Gulf Islands, Canada, Desolation Sound and beyond. Their adventures included extensive world travel: Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Haiti, the US and British Virgin Islands and many other Caribbean Islands, where Jim tried to teach Marilyn skin diving with limited success! They spent a summer on the Greek Island of Poros and another exploring England, Scotland and Ireland. Jim and Marilyn enjoyed visiting the South Pacific: Tahiti, Fiji, the Cook Islands, New Zealand and Australia.
When Jim and Marilyn decided to retire early, they embarked on their greatest adventure. During their travels, they fell in love with New Zealand and became shareholders of Moturoa Island, a private island and sheep farm in the Bay of Islands on the North Island. They decided to leave hectic Seattle life behind and build a home overlooking the ocean on Moturoa Island, N.Z. Building a home on a private island, where building materials had to be brought by ferry, was a challenge.  However, their builder was experienced, and they soon had their dream home. Ten idyllic years were spent beachcombing, boating, swimming, diving, walking and running the island trails, reading, bird watching (Moturoa is a bird sanctuary), tree planting and also learning about sheep! They adored peaceful island life. Jim enjoyed sitting on their deck with Marilyn watching glorious sunsets with a glass of excellent NZ wine! These were the best years of their lives.
After Jim was diagnosed with an invasive parotid malignancy, they returned to the US and were fortunate to have the best surgeons and treatment at the Department of Otolaryngology, the University of Washington, Seattle. The cancer was eliminated, but Jim had daunting, painful physical issues. Due to the uncertainty of Jim’s prognosis, they decided with great regret to sell their NZ home. Just as Jim never gave up on a math problem, he never gave up on life. He designed their home on Thunder Ridge above Hood Canal, WA, and did most of the landscaping. He also designed a workshop for his prized tools and never lacked a tool project. Jim lived life to the fullest. He never gave up, nor did he ask “why me?” Jim’s final months were difficult, but, as always, he faced his declining health with great courage.
Due to his love of animals, Jim was a vegetarian. He cared deeply for animals, great and small, wildlife causes, the environment and all his kitties, past and present. He will be remembered for his wit, intelligence, courage, loyalty, honesty and generosity. He was a member of Pi Mu Epsilon, Honorary National Mathematics Society, The Seattle Tennis Club, The Seattle Mountaineers, The Sierra Club and World Wildlife.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his cherished sister, Susan Mason, and husband Bill, sister Mary Matthews, brothers-in-law Erich Giese, Paul Giese and wife Lucretia, and his sister-in-law, Rita Giese Harrah. Surviving are his loving wife, Marilyn, his devoted stepson, Paul Rey,  cherished nephew and nieces, Bill Mason, Betsy Mason, Mary Mason and Ann Mason, his loving sisters-in-law, Gretchen Ramsdell (Steve) and Sue Giese, brother-in-law, David Harrah, his beloved kitty, Bode, niece, Susan Todd Regan and nephew, Bill Simrall.
Thank you to Dr. Neal Futran and staff, University of Washington and to our devoted helper, Judy Feasel. 
At Jim’s request, no memorial is planned. Donations may be made in Jim’s name to: World Wildlife Fund, PO Box 96555, Wash DC 20077, or Kitten Rescue, 420 SE Rt. 3, Shelton, WA 98584.  


​Dr. Helen F. Killoran

Dr. Helen F. Killoran passed away January 26, 2020. Helen was born September 3, 1941, in Seattle, WA, and was the oldest daughter of Thomas H. Killoran and Geraldine E. (Watt) Killoran who both preceded her in death. She is survived by her siblings, M. Ann Jenkins, wife of the late Jack Jenkins, Thomas L. Killoran (Sue), and James P. Killoran (Carol), and was a loving aunt to numerous nieces and nephews.
Dr. Killoran was an Associate Professor of English, Emerita, retired from Ohio University, Lancaster Campus. After receiving her PhD in English Literature from the University of Washington in Seattle, she held this position for most of her teaching career.
Helen’s colleagues enjoyed working with her because of her hard-working, responsible and pleasing personality. Her students appreciated her scholarship and engaging manner in the classroom.
Dr. Killoran was widely known and respected as one of the foremost specialists on the life and works of Edith Wharton. She published two books and numerous articles on the subject and, for a time, was president of the Edith Wharton Society.
Helen is interred in Shelton Memorial Park. A private service was held for her on January 30.


​John Michael Spiker

John Michael Spiker, son of LTC and Mrs. Gerald J. Spiker, died of pancreatic cancer on February 7, 2020. He was surrounded by his wife Susan and his two daughters, his oldest daughter reading to him. He was born in Mason General Hospital on July 25, 1966.
He graduated from Clover Park High School and attended the UW, and was a life-long machinist, supervisor and programmer. He loved his yearly summer vacations at Kalaloch when all family members would gather. His passion was to hunt in the fall for deer, elk, moose and grouse. He loved to go camping with family and friends. He was an avid reader and taught his children to read and enjoy it. Above all, John loved family. 
He was preceded in death by his mother, Karen, and grandparents John G. and Margaret Spiker of Shelton.
He is survived by his wife Susan, daughters Adriel and Katherine, son Nicholas, stepdaughters Danielle and Sarah, stepsons Jason and Ryan, granddaughters Savannah and Nika. Also survived by a brother, James, his father, and stepmother Marion.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Cancer Society.

B. Joan Cheston

In her 81 years, B. Joan Cheston played many roles: daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and musician. Over those decades, many of them difficult, it was music that sustained her spirit, comforting her. In her 20’s, she directed the US Navy WAVES Chorus in Washington D.C. Later, over her 40 years in Portland, her lovely soprano voice would be part of the Portland Symphonic Choir, as well as the choir at Grace Memorial Episcopal Church. 
But for Joan, who died on January 12, it was her role as “Grammy” to seven young Shelton children that increasingly nourished and defined her. Years earlier, both her daughter, Susan Isham, and son, Carter Cheston, moved here from Portland with their young. Grammy missed them all, and in 2015, joined them in Shelton.
In Shelton, music continued to nurture Joan. Here, she lent that golden voice to the St. David of Wales Episcopal Church choir, and to Anna’s Bay Chorale, directed by her son-in-law, Jonathon Isham.
Happily, she became more active in her renewed life as Grammy. There were weekly lunches, tea parties, three-generation mani-pedis, family holidays, birthday celebrations and more. And there were frequent events at Gateway Christian Fellowship, where Joan’s son, Carter Cheston, serves as associate pastor. Carter’s wife, Christa Lewis Cheston, founder of Transforme Jewelry, is another musical talent, often singing at the church, as do their children. 
Along with their two children, Joan’s daughter Susan Isham, an assistant with Thurston County, and her husband, Jonathon, an educator, often join fellow parishioners at the church’s musical events. Everyone sings.
As they do, children grow up. Susan and Jonathon’s son, Zachariah (Zac), 20, is an Airman stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. Daughter Ruby, 14, a budding artist and writer, is an eighth grader at Oakland Bay Junior High School.
Carter and Christa homeschool their quintet of offspring. Grace, 17, also takes some classes at Shelton High School, singing in its musicals. Olivia, 15, helps with the church’s worship ministry. Joy, 13, enjoys drawing with her cousin Ruby, especially in Japanese anime style. All three girls assist in their mother’s jewelry business. Eliot, 11, is both a karate enthusiast and serious scholar – especially with science and tech. Youngest, Isaac, 8, is an avid participant in video games and rollerblading.
Daughter of an Episcopal priest, Joan remained a lifelong follower of that faith. But as Grammy,watching her family perform at their very different church, we pray she recognized her true legacy: a fierce passion for music, shining anew in the lives of her descendants, and very possibly in the lives of those to come.
Grammy B. Joan Cheston was dearly loved, and will be missed. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, February 22, 2020, at St. David of Wales Episcopal Church, 324 W. Cedar St., Shelton WA 98584. Reception following.
Remembrances to The Oregon Humane Society, 1067 NE Columbia Blvd., Portland OR 97211.

Catherine Ann Allen, 65, a resident of Yelm, died Feb. 6, 2020, in Olympia. Arrangements are by Forest Funeral Homes & Cemetery.


Ann Roslyn Schulz, 74, a resident of Shelton, died Jan. 30, 2020, at home. A service will be held Feb. 22 at 11:30 a.m. at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 206 E. Wyandotte Avenue in Shelton. Arrangements are by Forest Funeral Homes & Cemetery.


Patricia Weaver, 72, a resident of Cornelius, OR, died Feb. 2, 2020, in Cornelius. Arrangements are by Fuiten, Rose and Hoyt Funeral Home.


Marian West, 70, a resident of Tumwater, died Feb. 1, 2020, at home. Arrangements are by Forest Funeral Homes & Cemetery.


Carl D. Hansen, 70, a resident of Ocean Shores, died Jan. 23, 2020, in Shelton. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory.


Inga V. Willis, 94, a resident of Grapeview, died Jan. 24, 2020, at home. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory.


Naomi Gwen Roberts, 95, a resident of Shelton, died Feb. 1, 2020, in Shelton. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory.
Peggy L. Bryden, 60, a resident of Shelton, died Feb. 4, 2020, in Olympia. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory.


Billy Lee Keller, 95, a resident of Shelton, died Jan. 28, 2020, at home. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory.


Jerry Mack Eaton, 72, a resident of Hoodsport, died Jan. 26, 2020, in Seattle. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory.


William Maxwell Amburgey, 87, a resident of Olympia, died Jan. 27, 2020, in Olympia. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory.


Sharon Lee Brown, 74, a resident of Shelton, died Jan. 22, 2020, in Tacoma. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory.


Leo Joseph Bordeaux Jr., 87, a resident of Grapeview, died Jan. 30, 2020, at home. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory.


Carlene D. Davies, 73, a resident of Shelton, died Feb. 2, 2020, in Shelton. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory.
Marques Hudson, 39, a resident of Olympia, died Feb. 1, 2020, in Thurston County. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory.


Richard Allen Mullins, 61, a resident of Montesano, died Feb. 7, 2020, at home. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory.


Connie Edward Bolden, 86, a resident of Lacey, died Feb. 6, 2020, in Lacey. Arrangements are by Forest Funeral Homes & Cemetery.


Robert Johnson, 98, a resident of Shelton, died Feb. 6, 2020, in Shelton. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory.


Erm M. Brown Jr., 95, a resident of Shelton, died Feb. 7, 2020, in Shelton. A service will be held Feb. 15 at 2 p.m. at the Mason County Senior Activities Center. Arrangements are by McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory


Leonardo Hizabel Romero-Loza, 4, a resident of Shelton, died Feb. 9, 2020, in Seattle. A funeral mass will be held Feb. 13 at 11 a.m. at St. Edward Catholic Church, 601 C. St. Shelton. Burial following, with reception after. Arrangements are by Forest Funeral Homes & Cemetery.