David E. Larrabee, 85, passed away peacefully in his sleep at Birchview Memory Care Center on February 1, 2007. Born on April 8, 1921 in Sedro-Woolley, Washington, he was the fourth child of Earl & Lilly Larrabee.
After graduating from Sedro-Woolley High School in 1942, Dave joined the United States Coast Guard servicing his country during WWII. After being discharged from the Coast Guard, he worked for the federal government until 1950. He then began working for WSU-Mount Vernon Research and Extension Center until his retirement in December of 1975. Dave was very proud of his 25 years of work at the extension center where he took care of the grounds making sure that the lawns were mowed to perfection and the flower gardens were free of weeds and always very colorful.
On September 17, 1965, Dave married Fern Prater, a former classmate whom he had gone to high school with. With the words ‘I do’ he not only gained a wife but also inherited three daughters and a granddaughter. He moved from his childhood home in Sedro-Woolley to the Francis Road in Mount Vernon. He and Fern were married for almost 20 years when she passed away from cancer in 1984.
He eventually moved back to Sedro-Woolley where he could be closer to his friends. For the past ten years, he had a very close and loving relationship with Kathryn Harris, also of Sedro-Woolley.
In March 2004, he became a resident of Birchview Memory Care Center in Sedro-Woolley where he resided until his death on February 1, 2007.
Dave was an avid hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed spending time in the woods or sitting on the bank of the Skagit River fishing with his buddies. Another favorite outdoor activity was camping with his immediate and extended family. He spent many a night sitting around the campfire singing western ballads with ‘The Strawberry Roan’ being one of his favorites. He was also a member of the American Legion Post No. 43 in Sedro-Woolley for many years.
Dave is survived by his longtime companion, Kathryn Harris of Sedro-Woolley, his children; Barbara Hughes and her husband, Floyd of Gardendale, TX, Shari Slape of Odessa, TX, and Gloria Wolslegel and her husband, Alan of Rochester, WA. 7 grandchildren; Gene Hughes and his wife, Gina of Oklahoma, Stephen Hughes and Jason Sutton of Odessa, TX, Jamie Merrell and his wife Debbie of Vandalia, MO, Brandon Wolslegel and his wife, Jennifer of Black Diamond, WA, Evan Wolslegel of Renton, WA and Colin Wolslegel of Lewiston, Idaho and 12 great-grandchildren. Sisters-in-laws; Ellen Prater of Mount Vernon, Alicia Prater, Pauline Rickert, and June Humann and her husband Glenn all of Everett and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife Fern Larrabee, his parents; Earl & Lilly Larrabee, his brother; Theron Larrabee, his sister; Mildred Butler, and his brothers-in-law; Stanley Butler and Rick Rickert. He has recently been followed in death by his granddaughter; Darcy Babcock on February 17, 2007 and his brothers-in-law; Thomas Prater on March 28, 2007 and Harold Prater on April 9, 2007.
Graveside Inurnment Services will be Friday, May 11, 2007 at 3:30 PM at the Sedro-Woolley Union Cemetery with Military Honors provided by George Baldridge Post #43 American Legion. Memorials are suggested to a charity of your choice. Arrangements and Services under the care of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.
This was my Uncle who I only meet a couple of times, probably in 1969. His sister, Edith Lillian Larrabee Scheele was not memtioned in the obituary. She was born in 1914, the 3rd child. of Earl and Lillie Larrabee. She currently resides in El Cajon, Ca. near San Diego. Rest in Peace Uncle David, I am sorry I never knew you better.
June, 6, 2013