Herbert W. Dye, age 98, passed away on Thursday, October 2, 2008 at the Life Care Center of Skagit Valley in Sedro-Woolley, Washington with his family at his side.
He was born at home on August 15, 1910 in Alger, WA the son of W. Albert and Grace Larabee Dye.
Herb worked all his life from picking Logan berries for one cent a pound in grade school, digging ties out of a railroad grade on the Fruitdale Road at thirteen, to picking apples in Eastern Washington to buy his first car, a 1923 Ford Coupe, at the age of fifteen.
Herb worked for the WPA and was a saw filer, logger and carpenter, and retired from the Northern State Hospital in 1972 as a gardener.
He was united in marriage to Helen Vlahovich on June 23, 1934 in Everett and they celebrated 55 years together until her passing in 1990.
Every year Herbert grew a big garden to share with his family until his late nineties. He most enjoyed hunting and fishing, first with his dad and brother, then his son and grandsons.
Herb was very proud of the fact his grandmother, Mary Dye, and his father came out here in 1888 to homestead along side the South Fork of the Nooksack River. He lived in his own home until he was 95 and for the past three years he has resided at Country Meadows Village in Sedro-Woolley.
Herb is survived by his son, Larry Dye of Sedro-Woolley and his daughter, Loreen Brinson and her husband, Alan of Sedro-Woolley. 4 grandchildren, Duane Brinson and his wife Terri of Maple Falls, Mark Dye and his wife Angel of Burlington, Dan Brinson and his wife Kathy of Olympia and Kim Carroll of Olympia. 8 great-grandchildren, Donald Brinson and his wife Margretta of Newport, VA, William Brinson of Bremerton, Chloe’ and Madeleine Dye of Burlington, Nicole and Edward ‘Eddie’ Carroll of Olympia and Jacob and Emilie Brinson of Olympia. A sister, Florence Goode of Clear Lake and a sister-in-law, Bernice Dye of Everett. One special niece, Judy Fair and her husband Tom and three nephews, Joe Goode and his wife JoAnn, Richard Dye and his wife JoAnn, and Robert Dye and his wife Alice.
Graveside Services will be held on Tuesday, October 7, 2008 at 11:00AM at the Saxon Cemetery near Acme with Herb’s grandson Mark Dye officiating. A Celebration of Life reception will follow the graveside at Noon at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church Parish Hall in Sedro-Woolley. Visitation will be on Monday, October 6th from 9AM to 5PM at Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley. Memorials may be made in Herbert Dye’s name to the Sedro-Woolley Senior Center, 724 State Street, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284.