Gary Gene Burke was born in Iowa on August 30, 1939, and passed away on December 12, 2009. His family moved to Tacoma during his early years. He attended Sherman, Mason and Stadium. He lived in Sumner and worked as a custodian for the Puyallup School District. Gary was a member of Amvets and a regular visitor at the VFW in Puyallup. He was preceded in death by his parents Bob and Freda Burke. He is survived by his brother Gayle (Charlotte) of Gig Harbor; nephew David Burke of Everett; niece Barbara Mussig (Mike) and their daughters Amanda, Sarah and Hailey Mussig, all of Tacoma; cousins and friends. No services will be held. Please sign online guestbook at www.mountainviewtacoma.com.
Elof A. Jacobson was born on November 15, 1914 in New Castle, WA, and passed away on December 15, 2009 in Tacoma, WA. He graduated from Lincoln High School and served in the US Navy during WWII and retired as Battalion Chief from the Tacoma Fire Department. Elof is survived by two brothers, Roy (Pat) and Stan (Jerry) Jacobson, his daughter Mary (Craig) Winkelman, three grandchildren, Michael Elof Winkelman, Christa L. Chumbley, and Heather (David) Kerr-Willis, five great-grandchildren, one great-great-granddaughter, and a loving extended family. He was preceded in death by his wife Edith Jacobson, and a brother, Agner Jacobson. Services will be held at 1:00 PM Tuesday, December 29, 2009 in the Mountain View Valley Chapel. Arrangements by Mountain View Funeral Home. 584-0252. Please sign online guestbook at www.mountainviewtacoma.com .
Moaten Franklin Morris Left this world on Dec. 13, 2009 at age 73 after a difficult battle with cancer. His dignity and sense of humor were with him until the final moment. He was preceded in death by his son Scott, his wife Darleen, his brother Jim, and his grandson Jered. He is survived by his daughters Beth and Donne, his sisters Ida and Barbara, 6 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. To honor Frank’s wishes, there will not be a funeral, but an open house is planned for January 9, 2010 at his home from 10:30 am to 2:30pm. Please be in attendance before 11:35am for the final farewell, and contact Beth in advance by email: beth.rumage@yahoo.com if you would like to share a photo or memory. Donations may be made in Frank’s name to the Virginia Mason Cancer Institute, referencing Dr. Nanette Robinson who was instrumental in his care and comfort. Please sign online guestbook at www.mountainviewtacoma.com.
Mrs. Hattie Louise Murray Denison 29 Jun. 1928 – 16 Dec. 2009 Louise passed to the arms of our Heavenly Father at 1:45, 16 Dec. 09. She joins her loving husband, LTC Allen R. Denison, USA Ret, of 43 years, and parents John Harvie Murray and Maude R. Cory Murray. She is survived by her children, Raymond H. Denison, H. Allen Denison, Linda M. Kirkman, Victoria L. Rickard, 11 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Phyllis Jacobson, and nephews Kent Attwood and Andrew Jacobson. Louise had a very storied and full life. She grew up in Tacoma and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1946. Al Denison, who also graduated from Lincoln High 3 years earlier and enlisted in the Army, had just returned from Italy where he spent WWII. Shortly after returning, he met and married Louise. The next year was spent in Idaho while Al was in school. The next year Al re-enlisted in the Army, and both were stationed at Ft. Belvoir, VA. The first of 4 kids was born in October, and by February they were off to Ft. Lewis, WA. Al went to OCS that year, and in January the next year the second of 4 kids was born and shortly after Al became a “Butter Bar”, 2nd Lt. Then off to Ft. Monmouth, NJ for more training. Shortly after the four of us were off by prop plane to Germany, where we spent 3.5 years. The 3rd child was born in Heidelberg in O51. While there, Mom and Dad vacationed in Switzerland and Italy while the kids stayed home. This was the honeymoon they never had. Orders again, this time to Ft. Bliss, TX, where the 4th and final child was born in ’55. After this 2-year tour we were off to Tacoma, WA for a year. Al was going to be assigned to an unaccompanied tour with KMAG in Teagu, Korea, so we rented a house within walking distance of Al’s parents. After Al’s return, we were off to Ft. Monmouth, NJ again, this time for 3 years, then again, orders. This time to Paris, France for 3 years. While there, we visited the Normandy coast, Switzerland, where we lived in Heidelberg and visited Garmish. Again, orders. This time to Ft. Leavenworth, KS for one year and C&GSC, command and general staff college. Then orders again, this time back to Ft. Lewis, WA. One year posting in ’64-’65, then orders again. This time to Tehran, Iran for two years. From there, back to Ft. Leavenworth, KS for two years. Al received orders to Vietnam and moved the family to Tacoma, WA for a year while he was in Saigon with the MAG group. Next set of orders were for 3 years in Hawaii. Mom could finally relax for a bit. And after this tour she would relax even more. Dad retired from Hawaii after 33 some odd years of active military service. Mom and Dad bought a house on Mercer Island on Wembley Lane for retirement. This was about ’75 and loved being back home in Washington for good. She stayed there for a couple of years after Dad passed in O89 and moved to a house behind Mercer Island High School on 91st Ave. that was single level that was easier for her to get around in with no stairs. She stayed there till about ’97 or ’98, when it started getting too crowded and busy for her and needed to get back to the woods. So she packed up, bag and baggage to Camano Island. A cute little house on Bartl Dr., where she lived with Otis till her passing. Graveside services will be held at 1:30 PM Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at Mountain View Memorial Park. Arrangements by Mountain View Funeral Home. 584-0252. Please sign online guestbook at www.mountainviewtacoma.com .