Spencer Hall ‘Shorty’ Bryson, age 94, passed away on Monday, November 2, 2009 at a care facility in Mount Vernon, Washington.
Dad was born in Atlanta, Georgia on April 29, 1915. He was the son of Maude Bryson and Spencer Francis McJunkin. He was raised in Franklin, North Carolina until the age of sixteen when he traveled to Detroit, Michigan and spent 10 years working for General Motors. There he met Barbara Ethel Kidd whom he later married and had three children. Together they and three of her children moved to Clear Lake in 1949 and then to Lyman in 1950.
Dad worked as a drill press operator while living in Michigan. Locally he worked as a road builder and logger for the Scott Paper Company, for Cunningham Logging and Hornbeck Logging. He retired from P.M. Northwest in 1982 after 18 years as an oil refinery maintenance worker.
Dad’s pastimes were multi-faceted. He loved the three farms he owned in Lyman. His first was 12 acres, his second was 53 acres and his third was 4 acres in Punkin Center. He loved raising beef cattle and Holstein replacement heifers. Dad’s hobbies were hound dog hunting, fishing, and the occasional impromptu musical get together of local musicians at his home.
He is survived by his wife, Juanita ‘Babe’ Bryson of Hamilton. His daughter, Bonnie Shriner of Visalia, CA. His sons, Ron Bryson and his companion Diane of Gilligan Creek and Paul Bryson of Mount Vernon. Three step-children, Lorene Allen of Burlington, Jerry Ashley of Clear Lake and Bill Ashley of Centralia. Grandchildren, Zach and Carmen Bryson of Tacoma, Dan Bryson of Gilligan Creek, Joy and Ryan Madison of Gilligan Creek and Carl Sorenson Jr. and Amanda Shriner of Visalia, CA. Great-grandchildren, Sierra and Tanner Sorenson of Visalia, CA and Tyler and Adam Bryson of Gilligan Creek. A sister, Olivia Russell of Sedro-Woolley and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, November 6, 2009 at 1:00PM at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley with Pastor Rick Miles of the Day Creek Chapel officiating. Interment will follow at the Hamilton Cemetery. The Bryson family would like to thank the Doctors and Nursing Staff at United General Hospital for all of their kindness and consideration during this trying time.
To view a live webcast of the funeral service, go to www.lemleychapel.com, click onto Spencer’s obituary, and click on view webcast at end of obituary.
