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

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.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: On Wednesday, Oct. 6th, 2008 Highline High grad, aspiring musician and UW student Carly Henley was found dead behind a frat house in the U-District, the victim of suicide (read our original report here). Her death had a major impact on many residents. An Open Mic Memorial will be held for her Saturday night, Oct. 23rd, at BTB Advertiser Infusion Tea and Coffee, located at 15607 First Ave South in Burien (206-436-8440).]

by Rachel M. Lusby

“In the shower totally counts!” Carly Henley excitedly stated on her website as she recalled her years of singing experience.

Carly had been singing most of her life (in the shower included), and began writing songs and playing guitar within the last couple years.

She picked up the guitar not long after her older brother Bryce David Henley did; about four months after he had been working hard at learning to play the guitar.

In the following video, Bryce said “she was almost instantly better that I had been, after all that work. And I had to give it to her, the girl had talent”:

Click here to view the embedded video.

By all accounts, Carly was a happy and friendly young woman whose passion for music was only shadowed by her love for people and for the Lord.

Maddie Guidos, 20, was one of Carly’s best friends.

“The name “Carly” should be under the dictionary’s definition for “best friend” because she was the epitome of what anyone could ever want or dream of in a friend,” she said.

Maddie and Carly met in second grade at the bus stop. “I am so thankful for the day she walked into my life, or should I say the day she walked onto my sidewalk in second grade where our bus stop was. I am so proud to say that since that day 13 years ago, I have had Carly Henley as my best friend.”

Maddie said she and Carly had a “profound understanding” with each other and their bond was one which no one else could ever fully comprehend.

“I always said you know you have a true friendship when you don’t need anything but each other,” Maddie said. “Carly and I were always perfectly content with a Friday night consisting of me, her and nothing else. Those were my favorite memories; nights where we’d just sit and talk for hours. We’d have sleepovers but they didn’t ever consist of sleeping. I’d always have to say: ‘Hey Car, it’s 3:30am; we should probably get to bed.’”

“We’d be silent for about two minutes and then end up talking some more,” Maddie recalled.

Christina Marie Storms, 20, said she feels she’s been “touched by an angel” having been granted the privilege of knowing Carly. “She restored faith in so many peoples’ hearts with her unconditional love for the Lord and incredible zest for life.”

Photo of Carly Henley by Kinsey Gross. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34071170@N04/)

“Carly was one of the first people I met in high school,” said Christina.

Carly was always the first to greet her with a hug and a smile in the hallway, and always asked her how her day was, she noted.

“I just want to say, Carly Henley was a ray of sunshine, a light in so many lives, one that will burn bright always,” Christina exclaimed. “Though I am unsure who famously said this, a quote came to mind while listening to Carly’s music: “’The fingerprints never fade from the lives you touch.’ I promise you Carly, those fingerprints will never fade away.”

“Friday evening at her candlelight vigil, it was so clear how many fingerprints she’d left behind,” Christina said. “To see so many people gathered in her honor and memory was truly incredible, unbelievable almost. Carly’s life is the biggest inspiration I’ve beheld in a long time and will be the most outstanding one, for certain.”

Jamie Lee Carter, 19, agrees.

“Carly was the friend that you could go days, weeks, months, even years without speaking to, and be able to pick up right where you left off at a moment’s notice,” she said. “I loved her because I knew her love would always remain.”

Carly’s boss from Angelo’s of Burien and 909 Coffee and Wine, Kelly Ricci, feels the same and said Carly was was a “very kind, nice loving person who went out of her way to make other people feel better.”

“Carly was always positive and genuinely interested in everybody and what [they] had to say,” said Kelly. “She’s just a beautiful person inside and out.”

Aaron Jacobson, 20, was one of Carly’s high school classmates and closest friends.

“I had the fattest crush on her,” said Aaron about his best friend. “She’s the most beautiful person I’ve ever met. I thought I was supposed to marry her.”
Aaron met Carly in high school and says their friendship was really cemented their senior year.

“She gave the best hugs,” Aaron said and then laughed at the memory. “She taught me how to hug.”

Aaron stated he had an “awkward” hug, one where he leaned forward very oddly and barely touched whomever he was hugging; he said it was more impersonal.

“What was that?” Aaron said Carly had asked after he gave her one of his “awkward hugs.”

Carly and Aaron were Homecoming King and Queen of their class at Highline High School in 2007/2008.

After high school Carly began attending the University of Washington and Aaron moved to the University District and commuted to Bellevue College.

This is when, Aaron said, their friendship became even tighter. Their close proximity allowed them to spend more time together as friends.

Carly and Aaron did everything and nothing together. They went to concerts and on runs, but they also spent time kicked back doing nothing in particular.

“We went to see John Mayor and Keith Urban together,” Aaron reminisced. “We hid and dodged security guards to get to the front row!”

Photo by Kinsey Gross. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34071170@N04/)

Carly was the type of person who thought of everything. Aaron talked of a day when she asked him last minute if he would like to join her on a quick trip to Ellensburg. He was tired, but said yes anyway.

When she arrived to pick him up, she had a full dinner plate for him, because he hadn’t had time to eat.

“She literally thought of things to do out of the kindness of her heart.”

Aaron said when he got his wisdom teeth pulled, and “looked like a chipmunk,” Carly came over just to keep him company.

Carly was as outgoing and shining on the outside as she was on the inside.

When it came to personal style, Carly was eclectic.

“She had her ‘hippy look’,” Aaron said with a grin emerging.

Carly liked to hold her hair back with cloth headbands tied behind her head, occasionally long and flowing dresses, and her “leather satchel purse.”

“She wore jeans a lot,” Aaron said. “And she always rocked the Vans.”

A red, zip-up hoodie often completed her ensemble.

“Her favorite color was probably red.”

Aaron talked about a trip him and Carly and some other friends made to Hawaii. Carly’s family had surprised her with a trip for her birthday, and so about 8 days before leaving, Aaron said, they all got plane tickets.

“We surprised her with an ice cream cake,” Aaron said. “We begged the Baskin Robbins lady to have it ready by 8 p.m.”

Carly was majoring in women’s studies at the UW; a major which Aaron believes was an attempt to follow in her mother’s footsteps in a way.
Her real desire was, however, to pursue a career in music.

“I always told her she would be famous,” Aaron said.

Carly, though, said she just wanted to have an impact on people through her music.

“She did change peoples’ lives, without a doubt,” said Aaron. “She shaped who I am more than she knew. Now that she’s gone, I’m rethinking everything. She was one of those people who made me question how I was going to live the rest of my life without her.”

Aaron stated he is now giving more thought to what his life goals are; what he wants to study, what he wants to accomplish.

Also, Aaron said he wants to get a tattoo that states Carly’s motto on life: “Love wins” with a “C” as the period at the end of the statement.

“Love wins,” Aaron said was something he believes was inspired by John Knox youth group and an adage Carly based her life around.
Carly was a well-recognized face in the city of Burien.

Not only had she attended schools in the Highline District, but she also performed in a number of local locations and had a summer job at 909 Coffee and Wine.

Her family, according to many, was clearly where she got her compassionate personality.

Aaron Jacobson said this type of compassion runs in Carly’s family.

“Her family is great; I can see where she gets it.”

Carly drew inspiration from everything and everyone around her; “the world around me; the sky; the ocean; Seattle; the trees; people I love…” she listed on her website.

Her passion was music and her goal was to make her dream a reality. She loved people and God.

“She truly was God’s angel here on Earth who has and will continue to touch the hearts of many through her music, good-hearted ways, and strong faith,” said Jamie Lee Carter about Carly. “Unlike many people of our age, Carly always knew what was the right thing to do.”

“Six strings down, on a heaven-bound flight,” wrote musician Jimmie Vaughan and other artists about Jimmie’s brother Stevie Ray Vaughan. Just as SRV shared his talent and spirit with the world, Carly wanted to share hers through her own music.

“I love music and sharing my soul with the world,” Carly typed, “and would love nothing more than to pursue this dream of mine.”

Carly’s lyrics praised confidence and had an emphasis on loving one’s self.

This “zest” was portrayed through her inspiring music.

“She’s a real girl, with all her flaws, she’s a real girl, but she’s happy ‘cause she loves the skin she’s in” Carly sang in her track “The Skin You’re In.” “Just know you’re beautiful and one of a kind, too.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Some people have said Jesus needed a lullaby, and although Carly’s life may have been cut short on Earth, her lullaby lives on in the hearts of those who love her.

“You are such a beautiful, beautiful soul Carly Danielle. I hope you’re having a great time up there,” proclaimed Christina Storms.

Carly’s family and loved ones want to make sure her music continues to inspire other people, and have created “The Carly Henley Project. Love the Skin You’re In.”

The purpose for the project is to record and release all of Carly’s unreleased music.

“We will be taking any and all of her recordings that she had previously started and turn them into finished, complete, studio quality songs. The plan includes giving other artists close to Carly an opportunity to give her music life, as well,” the website noted.

The website for this project says “The Carly Henley Project’ is dedicated in the memory of an exceptional girl who touched the lives of many. Carly Henley left us at the young age of 20, but not before inspiring passion and love into the lives of hundreds of people, young and old alike. She was a shining light in this sometimes dark world, and it is with her light that this project is borne.”

For every donation made over $10 a prize will be rewarded.

A donation of $10 or more will receive a copy of Carly’s latest album; a donation of $30 or more will receive a copy of her CD and a “Love Wins” T-shirt packaged in a Love Wins tote bag. A donation of $75 or more will receive a Love Wins tote bag containing two copies of her album, a Love Wins T-shirt and a special DVD. $125 or more will be given all of the prior gifts with a lyric song book and a personal thank you note. A pledge of $500 will receive everything listed prior and a special invitation to the opening CD release party along with four tickets to The Carly Henley Project Benefit concert. And lastly, a donation of $1000 or more will receive all of the above plus your name in the liner notes of the CD.

The Carly Henley Project site says after the project is complete, all proceeds will go towards two causes Carly would have been passionate about.
“The donations will be passed through “The Carly Henley Project: Love the Skin You’re In,” which will focus on organizations that engage youth in music and art programs, as well as teaching them the importance of embracing who they are.”

Bryce says in the online video the purpose of the Carly Henley Project goes far beyond just the distribution of her music.

“It’s to keep her dream alive, to keep that energy, that music that effect of hearing Carly’s words, keep that growing, to keep that spreading to more and more people,” he says.

For more information on The Carly Henley Project:

• Carly Henley Project Page
• Facebook Page

Click here to view the embedded video.

Last week, 2008 Highline High School graduate and University of Washington student Carly Henley, 20, was found dead at a fraternity house, the victim of suicide.

On Friday night (Oct. 8th), hundreds – possibly thousands – of people gathered at the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity house near the UW, filling the street and adjacent yards with candlelight in remembrance of this talented, attractive young musician. According to comments made on Facebook, people lit candles all over the world, whether or not they had known her.

Nearly everyone brought a candle, and some brought extra for those without. Blue and pink ribbon pins were passed around, as well as fliers commemorating Carly’s life. Many women wore colorful headbands, something Carly was known to do herself.

Many of our Readers knew Carly. Several knew of her, perhaps as classmates, acquaintances, or fans of her YouTube Channel. Here’s her obituary as published in The Seattle Times:

Carly Danielle HENLEY
Carly Danielle Henley, 20 years old, of Seattle, passed on Wednesday, October 6, 2010. Born on July 30, 1990 in Long Beach, California to Dede Henley Norris and Dr. David Henley. A loving sister to sister, Blake Henley, and brothers, Bryce Henley, Spencer Norris, Christopher Norris and Jeremy Hunley. Cherished by extended family Steven Norris, grandmothers, Charlotte Dolezal and Mim Henley, adored by her uncles, Doug Dolezal, David Dolezal, Mike (Theresa) Henley and Mark Henley, aunts Denise (Tim) Wilcox, Kathleen Milne and many cousins. She attended Highline High School and was a junior at the University of Washington and a member of the Delta Gamma Sorority. She had a passion for music and was an accomplished singer songwriter who performed her original songs and garnered legions of admirers locally and via YouTube and the Internet. Carly’s beautiful smile, loving, kind nature, filled the hearts of all who came in contact with her. She was constantly seeking new experiences and ideas, a friend to many, ever giving of herself unselfishly. She loved the rain. She loved her family. She loved God. A Celebration of her life will be held on Sunday, October 10 at 3:00 pm in The City Church, University District Campus located at 4740 17th Ave NE in Seattle. Remembrances may be made in Carly’s name to The Hunger Project at www.thp.org.

Photographer Nicholas Johnson took pics at the vigil, and the following Sound Slideshow includes those, set to music recorded on the scene of some of her sorority sisters singing the Leonard Cohen song “Hallelujah.” Other pics in this slideshow include pics of Carly by Photographer Kinsey Gross, and pics of a local makeshift graffiti memorial shot by Scott Schaefer in Burien’s Three Tree Point neighborhood (be sure your speakers are turned on):

Click to Play Our Sound Slideshow Tribute to Carly Henley

Read our previous coverage:

• Memorial Open Mic For Carly Henley At Infusion Tea & Coffee Oct. 23rd
• UPDATE: Highline High Grad Carly Henley Died From Hanging; Vigil Friday

BTB Advertiser Infusion Tea and Coffee will be holding a memorial Open Mic night to honor recently-deceased 2008 Highline High Grad/Musician Carly Henley on Saturday, Oct. 23rd starting at 7pm.

Donations will be accepted, with all proceeds going to her family.

Carly’s CDs will also be on sale.

Infusion Tea and Coffee is located at 15607 First Ave South, Ste 102 in Burien (206-436-8440).

More info on this memorial available at this Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=154156254624556&index=1

A candlelight vigil will be held tonight (Friday, Oct. 8th) for Henley, beginning at 8pm in front of the Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) fraternity house, located at 4520 21st Ave NE in Seattle’s U-District.

Read our previous coverage of this story here.

Longtime Burien resident John McRae Kennelly, Jr., M.D., passed away at the age of 86 on Aug. 29th, and a memorial for him will be held at 2pm this Sunday, Sept. 12th at the Rainier Golf and Country Club, located at 11133 Des Moines Memorial Drive South.

Dr. Kennelly not only served as a urologist in Burien for years, he was also a founding member of the Burien City Council.

He also served on the board of the Highline Medical Center Foundation, and was very involved in the growth and development of the hospital.

Here’s an obituary the family sent us:

John McRae KENNELLY, Jr., MD
John McRae Kennelly, Jr. M.D. was born to John and Clara Kennelly in Delta, Utah on April 10, 1924 and died at the age of 86 on August 29, 2010. John had a long, happy, active and interesting life and he enjoyed most of it. He would claim that his highest achievement was his 63-year happy marriage to his wife, Alberta and his love and enjoyment of his three children and nine grandchildren.

With his parents and two sisters, Jean and Patty, Dad moved to Hillsboro, Oregon in 1932 and his parents began chicken farming and growing renowned Marion berries. As a youth, he was a Boy Scout and became an Eagle Scout. Dad graduated from Hillsboro High in 1941 and attended college at Pacific University and Oregon State University prior to joining the Navy under the V-12 program. John continued his service with the Navy for many years. He was active in the Naval Reserves, retiring at the rank of Commander.

He graduated from Willamette University and received his medical degree from George Washington University in Washington D.C. in 1947. He completed a residency in urology and was a urologist for the remainder of his professional life. John and Alberta married in December 1947 and eventually moved to Seattle where Dad became a member of the faculty at the UW Medical School in the Department of Urology. He remained on the UW faculty for many years and in 1956 began a urology practice at Highline Medical Center in Burien, Washington. He remained active at Highline Medical Center until the last few months of his life and was involved in the growth and development of the hospital.

Dad was a very active and involved citizen in both the medical and political world. He enjoyed serving as the president of the King County Medical Society from 1975 to 1976 and as president of the Western Section of the American Urological society from 1985 to 1986. He was elected as a council member of the newly formed Burien City Council and served several years in this position. From 1982 to 2007 he served as a Board Member of Highline Medical Center and served as Board chair from 1990 to 1992; he was a Foundation Board member of Highline Hospital from 1982 to 2010 and became an Alumni Board member in May 2010. As a member of the Foundation board, he played an active role in the capital campaign for the Cancer Center and Emergency room at Highline Medical Center.

Dad was also an avid golfer and enjoyed the golf and fellowship at the Rainier Golf and Country Club for many years. He was an excellent bridge player and more than anything enjoyed a good meal with his family and friends.

Dad’s most lasting and meaningful legacy is his family and the love and support and welcoming attitude that he always shared with his family and friends. In addition to his wife Alberta, he is survived by his daughter Kathleen (Steve Silver), son Michael (Sue Hott), daughter Maureen (Don DeWeese) and his nine grandchildren – Megan and Elizabeth Bokan, Joe Kennelly, Lisa, Ian, Miriam and Jacob Kennelly and Elena and Mariah DeWeese. He is also survived by his sisters and brothers-in-law Jean and Dick Spees of Oakland, California and Patty and Tom McClintock of Corvallis, Oregon and many nieces and nephews. More than anything else, Dad loved and enjoyed his family and was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. We will dearly miss him.

A celebration of his life will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 12 at the Rainier Golf and Country Club in Seattle, Washington. Donations in his remembrance can be made to either Highline Medical Center or the N.W. Kidney Center.

If you have any memories or want to share your thoughts on Dr. Kennelly, we encourage you to leave a Comment below:

Born out of a mother’s love and in memory of her son, B-Unit #83 from Airport Towing made its first public appearance in Sunday’s 4th of July Parade.

The Storer family, owners of BTB Advertiser Airport Towing and Burien Towing, spent the last two years recovering from the tremendous loss in their family – on July 24, 2008 Mark and Brian Storer were tragically lost in a small plane accident (read our previous coverage here).

The family has found ways to cope with their loss. The greatest of which was most likely an idea that was produced by Lynette Storer, Brian’s mother and Mark’s wife. Lynette is now the President/CEO of Airport Towing and has been helping run the day-to-day operations of the company for nearly 22 years.

According to Lynette’s son Jared:

“Her vision was to restore the ’66 Ford-350 Tow Truck, exactly as her son Brian would have wanted it done.

Even though it has proven to be an expensive and time-consuming project, Lynette has pressed forward with the restoration. Despite a depressed economy, the love she has for her son is far beyond any monetary value.

With the help of Lynette’s staff the project is now complete!”

The antique tow truck emblazoned with Brian’s driver number – #83 – made its inaugural Burien appearance in Sunday’s 4th of July Parade and was driven by Lynette, with some very special people on board – Brian’s wife Christy and their sons Sam and Toby rode ‘shotgun’.

“B-Unit #83 is a tribute to Brian Storer. The lean, mean, Ford racing machine has been restored for one reason: it was Brian Storer’s dream to revive this this truck and make it his own,” said Lynette.

With the help of several employees, antique specialists and paint specialists at local Huddleson’s Auto Color World in White Center, this vintage truck was lovingly re-assembled and restored.

Final touches were put on this week by Roy Dunn and his crew at Dunn Auto Graphics in Des Moines.  The graphics were designed and hand lettered by Roy.

What’s next for B-Unit #83 after Burien’s 4th of July Parade? It will take its place along with 13 other antique tow trucks in the in the Airport Towing Museum as the most powerful truck in the collection. Mark Storer began his collection of exotic and antique tow trucks in 1997.

If you’d like to learn the entire history of B-Unit #83, click here.

Here are some photos of this nicely-restored vehicle that’s a fitting tribute to a life lost too young:

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A memorial will be held Wednesday night, Jan. 27th at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub for Cherisse Luxa, 62, founder of Burien’s “Drinking Liberally” group and community activist, who passed away from stomach cancer in December (

The memorial begins at 7pm on Jan. 27th, and attendees are invited to bring photos and/or stories to share about her.

Known as one of the area’s most spirited Democrats, Cherisse was a well-respected organizer who had a hand in many local causes, including the attempted 2007 save of Burien’s Lora Lake Apartments.

Also, if you know of a home for Cherisse’s much-loved cats Howard and Harris (who are four years old and prefer to be adopted together), please contact Liz Giba at 206-605-3824 as soon as possible.

Here’s a flier with more info:

On the busy 12400 block of Ambaum Blvd., a quiet, makeshift memorial stands as a tribute to Mikarah Nasabreo Sanders, the 15-year old girl who was shot and killed by her 16-year old boyfriend on New Year’s Eve, who later shot himself.

Sadly, Sanders died from her wounds and the male suspect is still being treated (and guarded) at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle (read our previous coverage here). King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg has said that the suspect will likely be charged as an adult with murder in connection with Sanders’ death.

The most recent reports we’ve heard are that the suspect was upset with something he read on Sanders’ MySpace page. Other reports say that the couple argued frequently.

Like most temporary memorials, this one’s got photos protected by plastic sleeves, melted candles and notes, as well as some odd and ironic items like a mysterious, open, black umbrella (we’re not sure of its significance – anyone know? UPDATE: Occam’s Razor called and told us that it was probably placed there to protect the shrine from rain), and an empty peach vodka bottle lying next to stuffed animals – all as a tribute to a life lost way too early.

Scott Schaefer stopped by Thursday morning (Jan. 7th) and shot this Photo Slideshow:

Click to View Scott Schaefer’s Photo Slideshow

On a personal note, we’re getting kinda tired of seeing these memorials all around the Burien area. Let’s get along peeps!

Story and Photos by Jim Branson

Virginia always liked to see my dogs when I visited her at Burien Books or when I helped her around her home on Three Tree Point.

One day, when I brought my dogs over, she said, “I wish I had a picture of them just like that.”

She was amazed when I pulled out my cell phone and snapped the picture. Later that day, I had one printed at Bartell’s and brought the print to her store. Although she greatly enjoyed the picture, she was incredulous of technology and avoided it if at all possible. On her kitchen table, an old radio was her link to the outside world. She kept her rotary phone until it would no longer work with her supplier’s phone system. She never owned a TV.

At the bookstore, she didn’t have a cash register or a calculator, let alone any sort of computer. She would total up your order on a scrap of paper, using a pencil, never a pen. The cash drawer is a work of art (see photo), made of wood, with dished-out coin compartments worn smooth by 50 years of use. The funny old microfiche machine was as high-tech as she would ever get, and when they stopped making new films for it, a couple years back, she did the best she could ordering books by phone.

When I worked at her home, I sometimes borrowed a wonderful old screwdriver with a wooden handle, still in perfect condition and perfectly useful. The screwdriver was probably older than me. Virginia never bought anything new. She loved her garden, as did I. From the street, you can’t even tell there is a house because the rhododendrons and snowberry have grown so thick. The path to her house was overgrown, creating a tunnel Virginia’s height, so I had to bend in half to walk up and down her path, which was just as it should be. Visiting her house or the bookstore seemed like a trip back in time. I’m not sure if the wisteria on her deck was holding the house up or pulling it down. I would ask for explicit instructions on how to prune her holly bushes because I knew she had a particular idea of how they should turn out. I accidentally broke a clematis vine she had trained to climb her Douglas-fir, but I quickly patched it up with some scotch tape, and the next year it was as healthy as ever, the wound no longer visible.

I asked her, just last year, if she would like a hand rail for the uneven brick steps leading up to her front door.

“Oh no. No, no, no,” she said.

Virginia Pearce preferred to use this wooden cash register over any newfangled one.

The idea of using materials to build a handrail seemed way too extravagant to her. She had an Oregon grape bush that she held onto on the way up the stairs, and a cedar tree to steady herself on the way down the stairs, at 96 years old.

I would clean out her gutters, the only wooden gutters I have ever seen, and then oil them, trying to get one more year of use out of them.

When I would clean her windows on the north side of the house, she would give me a squeegee, a cup of water, and one paper towel. I would have approached the job with a bucket of hot water and an entire roll of paper towels, but she was right. I could get the job done with the supplies she gave me.

She had a yellow rose bush at the corner of her house, and she liked to take roses cut from it to have in her house or at the bookstore. She often took cuttings from her garden and arranged them artfully at the bookstore.

I didn’t know Virginia as well as some other people did, but in my impression of her, I would have to say that “Frugal” doesn’t exactly capture her character. It’s true that she didn’t like to spend money, and she didn’t even like for me to spend money. If I came to the bookstore looking to purchase a particular book, before she would order it for me, she would ask, “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather check it out from the library?” Her parsimony was not motivated by greed at all. I have zero knowledge of her finances, or how she magically kept that bookstore open for 50 years when Amazon and Barnes & Noble put most other bookstores out of business, but I feel certain that her thriftiness was not based on the desire for the accumulation of wealth.

Rather, she felt that she and others could enjoy a simple thing, like a yellow rose, a finely crafted old screwdriver, a crooked little old house, or a bookstore with no computers.

Who needs a TV when you can get lost in a book? She savored the simple things, like a visit from my dogs.

I certainly cherished my visits with Virginia, and I will miss her.

Here’s a Photo Slideshow in Virginia’s honor:

Click to View Jim Branson’s Photo Slideshow

Jim also adds:

“Her memorial service is Saturday at 11:00 at Parker’s on 146th, I have been told.”