Harry Wayne Mead was born on 24. Aug. 1918 at Lopez Island, San Juan County, Washiington. He was the son of
Harry Glen Mead and
Agnes A. Holleman. Harry Wayne Mead married
Eloise Shotwell on 10. Dec. 1941 at Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washiington. Harry Wayne Mead married
Eloise Shotwell on 12. Dec. 1941. Harry Wayne Mead died on 20. Apr. 2004 at Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington, at age 85.
Harry Wayne Mead
H. Wayne Mead, age 85, passed away Tuesday evening, April 20, 2004, peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family members. He had been in St. Joseph Hospital since April 5th.
Wayne was born on August 24, 1918 to Harry G. and Agnes Mead on Lopez Island, WA, moved to Bellingham at the age of 10, and graduated from Bellingham High School in 1936. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1941 and fought in WWII on the USS Nevada at Normandy and many other battles in the European theater and all throughout the Pacific theater, earning a Boatswain's Mate First Class rating with many harrowing battle experiences. He owned the troller, Olive, and commercial fished in Alaska for eight years with his family on board. In 1955, he moved to Anacortes and went to work at the new Shell Oil Refinery as a pipe insulator, eventually becoming Director of Training. He retired in 1980 and returned to Bellingham in 1988. His early hobbies were hunting and fishing and in his later years, he was renowned for his fabulous tomato growing system and also as a great cook and exquisitely detailed story teller. He loved the outdoors, his family, his friends, kids, and the members of Cornerstone Family Church. He was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons of Washington, raised in the Bellingham Bay Lodge #44 in 1954, and was Past Master of Fidalgo Lodge #77 in Anacortes.
Wayne married Eloise Shotwell in Bellingham on December 10, 1941. They were married for 60 years until she passed away in 2002. Wayne is survived by his daughter Freddi Ann Moore and husband Ken; his son George Mead and wife Diana; grandchildren Tammy, Mike, Jamie, Andy, Joe, and Daniel; and great grandchildren Tyler, Natayia, Jonathon, Taylor, Taijhama, Dawson, Clayton, and Coralyn. He is also survived by his brother, Estyn, and many nieces and nephews and many, many good friends and neighbors. He will be greatly missed by all.
A graveside service will be held on Monday, April 26, 2004 at 1:00 pm at Greenacres|Moles Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at 2:00 pm at Cornerstone Family Church on the corner of Horton Road and the Guide Meridian. Pastor George Mead will be officiating.