Eddie Dean Fernando, of Sedro-Woolley, Fisheries Police Chief for the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe, died Sunday October 16, 2005 in a Bellingham hospital. He was 59.
Eddie was born in Seattle on May 22, 1946, grew up on the Fernando family produce farm in Kent, Wash., and attended Kent-Meridian High School. He served as a U.S. Marine Corps corporal in the Vietnam War during a period of heavy fighting, and was honorably discharged in 1967. Eddie was an enrolled member of the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe.
After working at Boeing and in the steel industry in Seattle, Eddie moved to Skagit County in 1977 to become a fisheries patrol officer for the three Skagit River Indian tribes. He worked for the Columbia River Intertribal Fisheries patrol in Oregon in 1985-86, then in 1987 returned to Skagit County become fisheries patrol chief for the three-tribe Skagit System Cooperative. Eddie had fond memories of his past and present co-workers.
From childhood, Eddie enjoyed hunting and fishing, at least once bringing fresh-caught live trout home to swim in the bathtub. He was an incurable prankster, and a mischievous fibber. But Eddie never hesitated to help his parents and family members tow a car, haul firewood, or fix a boat motor. But mostly, he loved camping with his children and being on the Skagit River. His children believed Eddie knew everything, and that he was invincible.
In 1981 Eddie married Anita M. Taylor of Sedro-Woolley, and together they raised six children: sons Duane, 24, and Jason, 23, both of Bellingham; sons Craig, 20, Chayse, 14, and daughter Kayla, 13, all at the family home in Glenhaven; and son-at-heart Carlos Garcia, 23, of Mount Vernon. Eddie also leaves a son, Eddie Duane, 39, of Georgia, and daughter, Dina, 34, of Sedro-Woolley, from previous marriages. He also had seven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Eddie’s father, Fred R. Fernando, passed away in 1995. His mother, Violet I. Fernando, 83, lives on the Upper Skagit Reservation near Sedro-Woolley. He is survived by sisters Linnette, Doreen, and Carmella, all in Sedro-Woolley, Beverly in Burien, Wash., and Rosie in Kent; brothers Harold and Jim in Sedro-Woolley, David in LaConner, Dennis and Vic in Kent, Andy in Yelm, Wash. and brothers- and sisters-in-law; and many, many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. He is also survived by father- and mother-in-law Dan and Dorothy Taylor, and brothers-in-law Al and Steven, all of Sedro-Woolley. We apologize for not mentioning everyone by name, or if we have forgotten anyone.
A viewing will be from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. October 21 at the tribal gymnasium on the Upper Skagit Reservation near Sedro-Woolley, and a Celebration of Life will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. the same day, also at the gymnasium. Funeral services with military honors will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, October 22 in the Upper Skagit Tribal Gymnasium. At Eddie’s request, there will not be a graveside service with cremation to follow the services. Arrangements and Services under the care of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.
My darling uncle Eddie i did as you requested it is now 14 yrs later and you are doing as you promised ty
I’ll always love you my dear love of my life uncle. Ty for asking uncle Melvin to look after me. He’s doing a wonderful he kinda spoils me like you almost