Lemley Chapel
Serving Sedro-Woolley &
All of Skagit County Since 1935
1008 Third Street
Sedro-Woolley, WA
360-855-1288
www.LemleyChapel.com
Dean Hamilton Memorial
Dean Hamilton Memorial

Dean Hamilton

Dean Hamilton

Sunday, May 30th, 2021

Dean Russell Hamilton, age 78, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on May 30, 2021.  He was born January 15, 1943 to Donald and Lucy (Martinson) Hamilton in Bellingham, WA.  Dean grew up in Whatcom County graduating from Mount Baker High School in 1961.  He married his high school sweetheart, DeEtta Needham on September 21, 1962; they made their first home and started their family in Bellingham WA.

Dean worked as a long haul truck driver.  In 1977, they moved to Skagit County and in 1978, Dean and his brother, Denny started Hamilton Brother’s Logging, until their retirement in 1988.  Then in 1996, he started Advanced Septic Treatment Systems Inc, with his longtime friend John Tucker.

Finally in 2010, he retired again and started tinkering in his wood shop becoming very skilled at making planters, furniture, wishing wells etc. for family and friends.  Then Dean went back to his roots of logging and started building log trucks, skidders, towers (anything to do with logging, Dean was building out of wood.)  Dean took pride in the love he had for his wife, children and grandchildren; he was a family man.  He loved his dog Tigger, Skipbo, country music and spending time with his family. He was a caring and compassionate man and was loved by all who knew him.

Dean is survived by his wife of 58 years, De Etta Hamilton; children, Cary (Halee) Hamilton, Kevin (Denise) Hamilton, Kim Chapman, Deana (Rodney) Cook and Shane (Trish) Hamilton; grandchildren, Calvin, Braelyn, Taylen, Rylan, Matt, Kaylene, Kassie, Kyle, Kayla, Travis, Kolten, Kylie, Colton, Brenton, Cody, Kytel, Fawntana and Keizer; 13 great grandchildren and one great great grandson; sisters, Darlene, Diane, Dixie, Donna, Doreen and brother, Donald Jr.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Lucy; brothers, David and Denny; brother in laws, Cliff Russell, Jack Little, Jerry Brooks and Marc Van Ditto; nephew, Rick Hamilton; son in law, Ian Chapman.

A Celebration of Life will be held June 20, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. at the Deming Log Show Grounds, 3295 Cedarville Road, Bellingham, WA (Deming).  Please share your memories of Dean and sign the online guest register.

 

 

 

Guestbook

  • John

    Rest In Peace Dean & sorry for everyone’s loss (everyone is a lot … huge family). Many of my best childhood memories had Dean in them as the massive Hamilton family gathered what now no seems like every Sunday of my youth. Besides being a great family man there is no higher honor in this community than earning the title of “Bull of the woods” …. Let alone being a entrepreneur who alongside his brother Denny started one of the largest logging operations around.
    I thank Dean and DeEtta for the time spent with you and all of my cousins you blessed us with.
    I and others can only hope that when our time comes we can be loved and accomplish near what Dean Hamilton has.

  • Jackie Lund Kowalenko

    I send my condolences to the Hamilton family. I had the honor of living across the field from this family as a child and and have fond memories of Dean. As Diane said to me, “you grew up with Dean too”, and that is true. Dean accomplished so much in his life and what a talent he had making many complicated and beautiful wood carvings. He will be missed by all, and remembered for what a great man he was.

  • gary lohman

    travis and i have known dean since 1996 when he and john tucker invented a new kind of septic system.what a treat to watch dean think and talk about the septic system and life in general.we were and are Blessed to call him our friend and in many ways even a mentor in our line of work.gary and travis lohman/happyfacefarms,inc.