Raymond Verduin of Sedro-Woolley passed away Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at the age of 79.
He was born May 18, 1930 in Snoqualmie, WA. On his 50th birthday Mount St. Helens erupted, which Raymond always thought was most appropriate. Raymond grew up in the Lynden area graduating from Lynden High School in 1948. He lived most of his life in Lynnwood where he worked for the Cudahy Company in Seattle.
Raymond would have been the first to admit that chickens had been his life from the day he received his first pair of Banty chickens for his fourth birthday, as a boy living on a farm on the Double Ditch Road north of Lynden.
He won his first blue ribbon at the Northwest Washington fair at the age of 11 and took over the position of Superintendent of the poultry department at the fair at the age of 18, a position he held for 20 years. During that time, the poultry show in Lynden was the second largest show in the state, one year the show totaled 935 birds.
He not only raised and showed chickens, he became a highly respected judge, judging every major show from Pomona, California to Vancouver, BC. By intensive breeding, Raymond brought back a type of chicken Chamois Sebright that died out in Europe during World War II for this. For this achievement, he won a Master Breeders Award from the American Poultry Association. He also developed the Frizzle Bantam for which he was asked to write the standard for perfection for the American Bantam Assoication.
In his retirement, Raymond donated much of his time working with 4-H youth giving seminars and judging shows and contests in Snohomish County.
Raymond was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Leoda Verduin. He is survived by his siblings; Lee and Mary Lu Verdin of Renton, Diane Frauenholtz of Everett, Victoria and Ron Smith of Marysville, Noel Verduin of Blaine and Marcia Verduin of Bellingham, also many nieces and nephews.
Cremation arrangements under the care of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.