RICHARD J. ‘DICK’ SURYAN, 77, a longtime Sedro-Woolley resident passed away at his home surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday November 23, 2005.
Dick was born on September 8, 1928 in Sedro-Woolley, one of ten children of Peter & Minnie Zortovich Suryan. He was raised and attended school in Sedro-Woolley.
During the Korean Conflict Dick served his country in the U.S. Army. After his discharge in 1953 Dick worked in the Tri-Cities area of eastern Washington for several years. He returned to Sedro-Woolley in the late 1950’s, purchasing the Four Aces Tavern, which he operated for a few years. After that Dick worked in construction for a while, working on the North Cascade Highway and at Skagit Steel. In 1973 he began working for the City of Sedro-Woolley in the street department; he later transferred to the parks department, becoming its supervisor in 1976, a position he held until his retirement in 1991.
On April 25, 1967 he was united in marriage to Joy Staniford in Coeur D Alene, Idaho and together they have made their home in Sedro-Woolley for the past 38 years.
Dick was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Burlington United Lodge #93 F&AM. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, tending to his fruit trees, cooking and baking, especially breads. He was also a ‘fix-it’ type of guy who liked tinkering and carpentry work.
He is survived by his wife, Joy at the family home in Sedro-Woolley. His children, Beverly Lee Suryan of Anchorage, Alaska, Tamara Suryan of Bothell, Washington, Joy Kreuger and her husband, Bob of Salem, Oregon, Emmett Staniford of La Grande, Oregon and Alan Staniford and his wife, Jeannie of Burlington. 7 grandchildren, Sean, Katrina, Matthew and Jared Staniford, Alicia Kreuger and Jana & Jeremy Frye. 1 sister, Mamie Nordine and 1 brother, Gus Suryan and his wife, Peggy. Also 6 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; 3 sisters, Helen, Martha and Jeannette and 4 brothers, Mitchell, Martin, Peter and Reno.
Memorials are suggested to North Puget Oncology or to Skagit Hospice.
A Life Celebration Fellowship gathering will be held at the family home in Sedro-Woolley on Saturday December 10, 2005 from 1 to 4 PM.
Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.