David Anton Marincovich aka “Tank” of Burien, Washington died suddenly on December 17, 2011 of an Intracerebral Hemorrhage. David was born on February 20, 1943 in Seattle to Bonney and Donald Marincovich. He grew up in the West Seattle (early years) and Burien areas attending Sunnydale Elementary, Puget Sound Jr. High and graduating in 1961 from Highline High.

David’s passions in life were Boy Scouts and Soccer. Even before his sons were old enough to join he was working with Sea Scouts and Boy Scouts in the Burien area. When oldest son Daryl became a Webelo Cub Scout, David became his leader. When the boys joined Troup 393 (David’s former Troup) at Sunnydale, David became their Scoutmaster. He also belonged for several years to the Burien/Sea Tac Flyers, a semi-pro football team. When the boys began to play soccer, David became their coach and most ardent supporter. David also took referee classes and clinics to provide that skill to the Washington State Youth Soccer Association. When the boys grew up and moved on out of soccer, David stayed on, coaching, refereeing and volunteering wherever needed. In 2008 he was awarded a plaque for 35 years service to Washington State Youth Soccer, and became a Lifetime Member of the Washington State Youth Soccer Association. Soccer was truly his greatest passion. When he became a ” soccer grandfather” to his two granddaughters, there he was at field side, helping wherever he could, and honing their skills at home between practices. Alyda’s last soccer game this season was on December 3rd. Guess where David was? That’s right, on the sidelines cheering her on. Most area people know David “Tank” from his soccer activities, if they aren’t high school classmates. He will be greatly missed in the youth soccer world, where he was Mr. “if you want it done, call on me”.

David is survived by his mother Bonney Marincovich, his sisters Antonia Abbott, Shelley Williams (Colon), Julie Marincovich, and his brother Donald “Toby” Marincovich (Linda), his sons Daryl (Cathy) and Deven, granddaughters Marissa and Alyda, nephews Brian Williams (Jenny) and Chris Marincovich and niece Angela Marincovich (son, Aiden) and his former wife and close friend Dixie Marincovich. He loved his family and would do anything he could for them. He will be greatly missed by all of us.

A picture of David can be found on the Washington State Youth Soccer Association website and at the Highline Soccer Association website also.

A Memorial Service for David is scheduled for this Saturday, Jan. 14th at 2 p.m. at Glendale Evangelical Lutheran Church, located at 13455 2nd Ave SW in Burien.

The family would love for his friends to turn out and share their memories.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: We are experimenting with publishing Obituaries for local residents as a community service. If you have one, please email as editor@b-townblog.com for consideration.]

Florence was born in Spokane in 1917, graduated from Eastern Washington College and married Norton Smallwood in 1938.

She is survived by three children, including Pam Harper, co-author of the ‘Three Tree Point’ book, as well as 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be next Sunday, Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. at the Lake Burien Presbyterian Church, located at 15003 14th Avenue SW, Burien.

Story by Ralph Nichols
Photos by Bryan Charles

A Freedom Shrine in Burien’s Community Center – a collection of 29 significant documents in American history presented by the Exchange Club of Highline – was formally dedicated on Thursday, Nov. 10.

These attractive photographic reproductions feature the primary documents on which this nation was established – the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

Other notable Freedom Shrine documents range from the Mayflower Compact, President Washington’s First Inaugural and Farewell addresses, and Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and Gettysburg Address, to President Franklin Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms speech, and Martin Luther King’s “I have a Dream” speech.

It also includes lesser-known documents such as Virginia Gov. Patrick Henry’s 1778 letter to the commander of American forces in Illinois country, Gen. Anthony McAuliffe’s Christmas message to troops of the 101st Airborne Division during the Battle of the Bulge, and the German and Japanese instruments of surrender that ended World War II.

“We are very pleased to have this Freedom Shrine in this beautiful facility,” said Bonnie Johnson, president of the Highline Exchange Club, which has about 30 members. “For a small organization, we do a lot of community support.”

Highline Exchange Club member Jerry Heigh.

Exchange Club member Jerry Heigh described the Freedom Shrine, which includes introduction and dedication plaques, as a collection of documents “that have been very important to the citizens of the United States over the years.”

He said the club has also placed Freedom Shrines at Highline High School, the Puget Sound Skills Center, Sylvester Junior High School, the Tukwila Activity Center, and Sea-Tac International Airport.

A Freedom Shrine Memorial Plaza placed by the Highline Exchange Club at Bonney-Watson Washington Memorial Park in SeaTac remembers members of the armed forces who are prisoners of war or missing in action.

Heigh noted that Freedom Shrines were placed in all Highline District high schools, but that some were taken down during building renovations. The club is working to locate the documents and restore those shrines.

Burien City Councilwoman Rose Clark expressed thanks to the Exchange Club on behalf of the city. “These are really, really wonderful documents,” she said. “Looking at them personalizes our history.”

Clark said her “most favorite” document is an account of proceedings in the Susan B. Anthony trial that stemmed from her crusade for women’s right to vote.

Inspired by the Freedom Train that toured the United States in 1949, the Freedom Shrine is a program of the Exchange Clubs of America.

Burien Mayor Joan McGilton and Councilmember Rose Clark.

The Burien Community Center is located at SW 146 St. and 6th Ave. SW. The complete list of Freedom Shrine documents is:

• The Mayflower Compact
• The Declaration of Independence – Jefferson’s rough draft
• The Declaration of Independence
• Washington’s Letter to Colonel Nicola
• Patrick Henry’s Instructions to George Rogers Clark
• The Treaty of Paris, 1783
• The Northwest Ordinance
• U.S. Constitution
• Washington’s Copy of the Constitution
• The Bill of Rights
• Washington’s First Inaugural Address
• Benjamin Franklin’s Epitaph
• Washington’s Farewell Address
• Jefferson’s First Inaugural Address
• The Star Spangled Banner
• Jackson’s Letter Describing the Battle of New Orleans
• The Monroe Doctrine
• The Emancipation Proclamation
• The Gettysburg Address
• Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address
• The Thirteenth Amendment
• Lee’s Letter Accepting Washington College Presidency
• Account of the Proceedings of the Susan B. Anthony trial
• Theodore Roosevelt’s Letter on Cuba
• Wilson’s First Inaugural Address
• The Nineteenth Amendment
• Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms speech
• Letter naming Eisenhower Supreme Commander in Europe
• General McAuliffe’s Christmas Message
• German Instrument of Surrender, World War II
• Japanese Instrument of Surrender in the Pacific, World War II
• John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address
• Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech

Patricia (Pat) Ann (Mola) TOOKE (65) Beloved mother and grandmother left this earth on September 24, 2011.

She was born in Renton, WA on September 13, 1946.  Grew up in Normandy Park and graduated from Highline High School in 1965.

She is survived by her 2 children: Annastacia Tooke of Charlotte NC and Patrick (Darcey) of Burien, WA and 2 granddaughters.

Pat recently retired from the Highline School District as a paraeducator.  She loved her work in education and felt it was extremely important that everyone receive a quality experience.

Her latest passion was the Zoo. She loved being a docent at the Woodland Park Zoo.  The family wishes that memorial gifts be made to Woodland Park Zoo (https://www.zoo.org/donate), 601 N. 59th St., Seattle, WA 98103 in memory of Patricia Tooke.

“My mother recently passed away,” said her daughter Staci Tooke. “She was a lifetime resident of the Burien area – I think the only time she didn’t live in Burien was when my dad was stationed in Germany, the picture is of Me as an infant and my parents.”

[EDITOR'S NOTE: We are experimenting with publishing Obituaries for local residents. If you have one, please email as editor@b-townblog.com for consideration.]

Lauretta M. Gatto, 78, of Ephrata Washington passed away Wednesday October 5, 2011 at Central Washington hospital in Wenatchee, Washington with her family at her side.

She was born in Ellensburg, Washington on August 19, 1933 to Pete and Alice Gatto. Lauretta grew up in Burien, Washington and graduated from Highline High School in 1951. “Her moods were like the April sky-and just as variable“.

In her younger years, Lauretta was a stock car driver and a beauty pageant contestant. As a young girl she spent many hours riding horses down to Puget Sound with her best friend, Joanne.

She taught First Aid to the local fire and sheriffs departments before there were paramedics. One of her regular customers at the Olympic Bowl where was a motorcycle officer with the local sheriff department. She made him and his partner each a scarf one year and soon received requests from others on the department. The scarves gained in popularity and she was soon getting requests from state patrol officers as well.

She was co owner of a number of businesses as well during her lifetime including owning a restraunt, a florist and a trout farm, Kepka Lake Trout Farm in Wilkerson, Washington. She also worked a variety of jobs including cook/waitress for many years at the Olympic Bowl Restraunt and making candles at Lund’s Lites.

Lauretta retired in 1995 from Safeway as a deli/bakery worker in Bonney Lake Washington.

She enjoyed being in the outdoors picking mushrooms, berries, beachcombing and camping and baking/cooking. Like her mother she had a ‘green’ thumb and was determined (and successful) in making her little patch of the desert ‘green’. She shared her interests with her family and friends imparting an interest and love for the outdoors, crafts and baking in all of us.

Over the course of her life she had been married to James Hughes, Bob McLaren and David Keyser.

Lauretta is survived by her sons: Robert Hughes of Sumner, Washington and David Keyser (Erin) of Ephrata, Washington and daughters Sherrie Garrett (Joe) of Forest Grove, Oregon and Cindy (Bill) Ruud of Des Moines, Washington.

Her brothers James (Ruth) Gatto of Whidbey Island, Peter John (Ginny) Gatto of Elma, Washington; Frank (Diane) Gatto of Gig Harbor, Washington.

10 Grandchildren, David, Jordan, Matthew, Joshua and Marcus Keyser, Maria (Matt) Parnel, Jessica (Nick) Sapegin, Kyle Ruud, Joshua Dority, Michelle (Brian) Kroll, Justin and Sarah Hughes. And 6 great-grandchildren. Alexis, Joseph and Madison Sapegin, Claire Kroll, Gabby and Samantha Hughes.

Her special friends and neighbors Ted and Judy Lewis, Nada Jacobson, Walt and Joyce, Donna Leighter and her lifelong childhood friend, Joanne (George) Samuel.

A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, November 5, 2011 from 12 to 3pm in the Fellowship Hall at Glendale Lutheran Church located at 13455 2nd Ave SW in Burien.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: We are experimenting with publishing obituaries for local residents. If you have one, please email as editor@b-townblog.com for consideration.]

The beam will be on display on Saturday. Sept. 3rd at the Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market at the South Marina Park from 10 a.m. till Noon and then travel back to Federal Way, its permanent home.

See a video and read the full story on our sister site The Waterland Blog here.

A memorial fund has been set up to help cover funeral costs for Gabriel Arthur Pena, the 3-month old baby boy from Burien who was killed by a drunk driver on I-5 Sunday night (Aug. 21) near Vancouver, Washington (read our report here).

“Imagine trying to come to grips with losing your 3 month old baby boy to a Drunk Driver, then being hit with the fact that you can’t come up with the money that it takes to bury your baby,” reads a Facebook Page. “I can’t imagine what that must feel like, so I am asking all my Friends and Classmates, to find it in your heart to please help us raise enough money to put Gabriel to rest, I’m not asking for a huge donation only whatever you can afford to give, any amount is one step closer….even if it’s to pass this on to other friends…. Please help out our fellow Classmate William T. Piña and his daughter Terra.”

A memorial service will be held for Gabriel starting at 6 p.m. this Sunday, Aug. 28th at the Covington Christian Fellowship Church, located at 26201 180th Avenue SE in Covington.

On another tribute website operated by MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers), Gabriel’s aunt said:

“Gabriel is my 3-month old nephew and he was killed Sunday night by a drunk driver. My Sister and her baby’s father had decided to take him on his first big trip to meet some family, on their way home they got a flat and pulled to the side of the road. Shortly after they were hit by a drunk driver. We have been getting a lot of support, but I think that it would help people to know exactly what the cost of drunk driving could be. We would have him in our arms right now if it weren’t for that man getting into a car drunk.

For more information on the memorial fund and how you can help, click here for its Facebook Page.

Barry Dean Clark, son of Robert & Marylou, born June 18th, 1957 in Seattle, WA, passed away July 1, 2011.

His final memory is of a weekend fishing trip with his sons. Barry met Tonja, the love of his life at Mt. Rainer HS whom he cherished for 38 years.

He made his career as a supervisor/mold maker at Verailla where he has many dear friends.

He enjoyed spending time with family and friends boating and fishing. His “need for speed” allowed him to keep pace with his sons on many snowmobile adventures.

Barry is survived by his wife Tonja, sons Justin and Ryan, brothers: Steven, Robert, Clinton (the late) and Mark, sisters: Cheryll and Lori Clark. Barry’s big heart and fun loving spirit will long be remembered.

A celebration of life will be held Sunday July 17, 2011 at the Normandy Park Cove from 2pm to 6pm.

Donations in lieu of flowers: Lupus Foundation: www.lupus.org.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: We are experimenting with publishing obituaries for local residents. If you have one, please email as editor@b-townblog.com for consideration.]

Longtime Burien resident and Discover Burien volunteer Jane Knight Hendricks Matz, 87, passed peacefully away on Monday, June 6th, 2011, surrounded by her loving family, who followed a tradition of farewells and childhood storytelling at her bedside.

“She was diagnosed with bladder cancer when she and I worked together at Discover Burien,” said former DB Executive Director Patty Sader. “In true Jane fashion, she accepted the diagnosis with grace and dignity, and vowed that cancer would not rule her life or define who she was. My life is richer for having had her in it!”

“She was such an incredible person,” added DB Event Manager Debra George. “We’d all just love to live our lives like she did. She had so many stories, and it was such a pleasure when she’d come to our Friday night group and share them with us. I just wish I could be half the person she was.”

Former Executive Director Steve Gilbert said “Jane was such a vivacious person. She had a sparkle in her eye every single time we got together. We’d leave each other little notes in the office, and those were fun. She was such a dynamic person – she couldn’t have been taller than 4’10″ yet she had more love of life in that tiny little body than nearly anybody I’ve met. She’s one of those people that makes you feel like you’re a better person just because you knew her. I always got such positive energy from her. I miss that woman so much, I really do.”

Former Discover Burien Executive Director Steve Gilbert with Jane Matz in March, 2010.

There will be a ‘Celebration of Life Party’ for Jane from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. on Monday, July 11th at The Mark Restaurant. “Come and bring all your favorite stories to celebrate,” reads the event page.

Here’s more from a tribute on Jane’s Facebook Page:

Jane, a resident of Seahurst and Burien for over 60 years, was born and raised in Ohio, graduating from Mineral Ridge High School in 1941 and was Gamma Sigma at Youngstown State University followed by Kansas City Flight School. On graduation from flight school she packed up and moved to the west coast to become one of the first U.S. stewardesses.

Jane loved flying and gave up her career only when she met and married the love of her life, pilot, John Patrick Hendricks (Pat). Pat’s family had roots in Burien since the 1930’s and the couple settled in Burien in 1951 when they started their own family.

While maintaining a residence in Burien, Pat’s adventurous flying engagements moved the family around from California to Alaska until his untimely death in an Idaho plane crash in 1960. Jane and her three children continued to travel for some time until landing permanently back in Burien.

Through the travails and dark days of losing Pat and raising her young children alone, Jane maintained an uncommonly strong love of people, travel and life. Wherever she landed throughout the world, she made friends.

She then met and married pilot, George E. Matz, and they were happily married sharing their love of flying and traveling to far flung corners of the country. In 1996 George passed on and Jane continued her interest in aviation supporting the Museum of Flight, Aviation High School and the education and growth of her grandchildren.

Jane’s presence was always evident having worked for the Burien Chamber of Commerce, Bells of Burien and most recently, as a volunteer of Discover Burien where she was awarded Volunteer of the Year the last several years running. She is recalled by area residents and business owners as a happy-go-lucky, life-loving personality who lived a vibrant and colorful life.

On the west coast, she is survived by her daughter, Kathy Christensen and husband Steve, son Michael Blessworth and wife Nancy, daughter, Kim Hendricks and grandchildren, Nick Christensen and wife Rebecca, Erika, Dane and Brando Christensen, Monet Hendricks and nephews Steve and Cliff Hetherington. In the eastern U.S. she is survived by her sister, Edith Burge and husband Bruce and nieces and nephews including Sandy, Holly, Linda, Julie, Bruce, Nancy, Mark and many in the next generations of Burge Country plus sister-in-law Audrey Knight (beloved Gabe Knight, deceased), niece Gale, nephew Johnny and their next generation.

Jane is also survived by lifelong, uncountable friends who became as family in her heart as she was in theirs.

As Jane sails into her next life, she is thanked for all the contributions and joy she brought to this one. Dancing the skies on laughter-silvered wings she graced our lives. She will be missed.

Jane Knight Hendricks Matz
Through Alaska to Seattle I came,
And met a Grand Dame.
She was mighty though small in statue;
To friends and family loyal and true.
Her love for us was unconditional,
Even when she wondered if we were being rational.
The stars became brighter on June 6th 2011,
The night the Angels came and lifted her to heaven.
Mary Jane Matz from Ohio,
You will always be my HERO!!

- Patty Lynch Ehnle Ramirez

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to The Jane Hendricks Matz Scholarship Fund through Aviation High School at 615 South 200th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198 (206)-716-0006.

George Leopold WHERLEY, age 94, died peacefully May 29th, 2011, at the SeaTac adult family home where he and his wife Margaret had been living for a year and a half. George is survived by his son, John (Barb George) Wherley; five daughters, Ruth (Dave) Matthews, Joy (John) Ramshur, Marie (John) Spear, Chris (Mike) Davis and Carol (Kevin Hurt) Cohoe; 12 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; 1 great- great-grandchild and his sister, Cynthia Wherley. He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Margaret on April 18th, 2011 and his brother, Frank Wherley. George & Margaret lived in the Seahurst area for 49 years, where George was known as the Seahurst Santa. He made small toys to give out to the children who sat on his lap at St. Francis of Assisi Church, The Burien Art Gallery, and various other locations. His service as Santa was a feature on Channel 5’s “Evening Magazine” twice. A celebration of his life will be held on Thursday, June 16th, 2011 at 11:00 am at BONNEY-WATSON Federal Way, 1535 SW Dash Point Road, Federal Way, WA, reception following. Interment, Gethsemane Catholic Cemetery, Federal Way, WA. Please sign his guest book at www.bonneywatson.com. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice, acknowledgements to, Attn: M. Spear, PO Box 62, Lynnwood, WA 98046.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: We are experimenting with publishing obituaries for local residents. If you have one, please email as editor@b-townblog.com for consideration.]