Thomas William Bill Bushey died in Anacortes, Wash., on March 3, 2007, after a courageous battle with lung cancer.
Bill was born Feb. 2, 1936 in Anacortes to Opal and Russell Bushey. He grew up in Anacortes, Mt. Vernon and Marysville, Wash.
As a teenager, Bill met the love of his life Carolyn Stavney, at Spee-Bi-Dah on the Tulalip Indian Reservation. Their young years were spent playing baseball, fishing, clamming, crabbing and waterskiing at Spee-Bi-Dah, along with plenty of campfires and picnics on the beach. Bill and Carolyn were married May 4, 1956 in Marysville.
Bills work ethic evidenced itself early in his life. Beginning at age 12, he had a weekend job helping a Skagit Valley farmer. At age 16, he began his career with Standard Oil in a service station in Everett, Wash. After graduating from Marysville High School in 1954, he attended and graduated from night school at Everett Junior College while continuing to work at Standard Oil. He also was in the Naval Air Reserve at Sandpoint Air Station. At Standard Oil, Bill transitioned from pumping gas to marketing, becoming a successful marketing rep in Everett and Seattle, Wash.; Fairbanks and Juneau, Alaska; and eventually Standard Oils home office in San Francisco, Calif. He left Standard Oil in 1972 and returned with his family to Fairbanks to form his own business, providing oil products and services during and following construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.
In Alaska, Bill was involved in many community activities including Alaska State Chamber of Commerce as Chairman; Advisory Board member for Alaska Airlines; Board member for Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce; Board member for Totem Ocean Express, Inc TOTE; Life-time member of Ducks Unlimited; and fundraiser and supporter for numerous Alaskan Congressional and Senate campaigns. Bill also owned a charter boat business in Juneau for several years. At age 48, Bill sold his Alaskan businesses and retired to La Conner, purchasing a home about 10 miles from where he was born. While retired, he owned and operated with his brother, Bob Bushey, a fish market in La Conner. He was involved in establishing the Samish Unit of the Skagit Wildlife Area, a bird sanctuary.
Bill is preceded in death by his mother and father and a grandson, Jordan Birch.
Bill is survived by his wife, Carolyn; his three daughters and their husbands, Pam and Chris Birch of Anchorage, Alaska; Becky and Steve Gunderson of Wasilla, Alaska; Jodi Bushey-Chambers and Chris Chambers of La Conner and Fairbanks; and his brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Lynn Bushey of Chandler, Ariz. Bill also leaves four grandchildren, Logan Birch and his wife Heather, Tali Birch, Russell and Katie Chiupka; one great-grandson, Mason Birch; a niece and nephews in Arizona and Washington.
A memorial celebration was held Friday, March 9, 2007, at 2 p.m. at the Shelter Bay Community Center in La Conner.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Skagit Hospice, Mt. Vernon.
Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc., Anacortes.
To share memories of Bill, please sign the online guest register at www.evanschapel.com.