Clarence C. ‘Pinky’ Cummings, 95, a longtime Skagit County resident, passed away on October 5, 2018 at Ashley Gardens in Mount Vernon, WA.
Pinky was born on October 19, 1922 in Newcastle, Wyoming, the youngest of seven boys to Chris & Pearl (Elliott) Cummings. (His only sister died in infancy). The family moved to Skagit County in the mid 1920’s settling near Burlington and Pinky attended school in Burlington where he was remembered for his athletic skills in track and football.
Pinky briefly attended Western Washington State College before being inducted into the U.S. Navy during WW II, serving as an Aviation Machinist Mate, spending most of his enlistment in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska.
In 1948 he was united in marriage to Joan Meece and they made their home and raised their family in Sedro-Woolley. Pinky worked as a building contractor and land developer, building many homes throughout Skagit Valley, including developing the Rolling Ridge Estates.
Pinky was a member of the Trinity United Presbyterian Church in Sedro-Woolley and of the Elks Lodge in Mount Vernon. He was an AVID fisherman and loved the outdoors, making many road trips with his camper.
Pinky is survived by his children, Jerry Cummings of Sedro-Woolley and Vicky Yarcho and husband Bill of Big Lake; two grandchildren, Wendy Belanger and husband Chris and Aaron Yarcho and wife Janet; two great-grandchildren, Noelle and Bodee Belanger; sister-in-law, Sarah Cummings; special nieces, Susan Morton and Connie Hall and numerous other nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his six brothers, Burton, Howard, Glen, Ralph, Lewis and Delmer and in 2016 his wife Joan.
The Cummings family wish to thank the staff at Country Meadow Village in Sedro-Woolley and at Ashley Gardens in Mount Vernon for their loving care during Pinky’s stay. Memorials to the Trinity United Presbyterian Church or Alzheimer’s research are suggested in honor of Pinky.
Graveside Services will be held on Friday, October 12, 2018 at 10:30AM at the Greenhills Cemetery in Burlington with Pastor Jim Cannon officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.
Pinky was like a father to me, I remember going salmon fishing with him and the good times we had. He will be missed, but I have my memories and smile when I think of them.