Native American Proverb
There is no death, only a change of worlds. - Duwamish Tribe
DAWN DAHLQUIST ELDRIDGE (1967 ~ OCTOBER 14?, 2018)
Dawn, pictured above on the left (with Sally Vail in the middle and Lori Estep on the right), loved to have a good time. She was always taking photos of the wonderful meals she would prepare by hand, often inviting friends over to share in the homemade goodness. Dawn fought a recurring battle with Leukemia, to which she eventually succumbed. Dawn leaves behind two sons.
Dawn, pictured above on the left (with Sally Vail in the middle and Lori Estep on the right), loved to have a good time. She was always taking photos of the wonderful meals she would prepare by hand, often inviting friends over to share in the homemade goodness. Dawn fought a recurring battle with Leukemia, to which she eventually succumbed. Dawn leaves behind two sons.
JEFFREY TODD JONES (APRIL 18, 1967 ~ OCTOBER 2, 2018)
Jeff was one of the smartest, most generous, handsome, and athletic people who ever graced the halls of West Seattle High. He always had time to say hello and ask how you were doing and he always loved a party. As someone noted on our Facebook post earlier this week, "Jonesy would tell you that he was having a little get-together at his place and 300 people would show up." He was loved by many, and even worshipped by a few (I think :-). Click here to view a tribute page pulled together by Jeff's daughter, Melissa, at Everdays.com.
Jeff was one of the smartest, most generous, handsome, and athletic people who ever graced the halls of West Seattle High. He always had time to say hello and ask how you were doing and he always loved a party. As someone noted on our Facebook post earlier this week, "Jonesy would tell you that he was having a little get-together at his place and 300 people would show up." He was loved by many, and even worshipped by a few (I think :-). Click here to view a tribute page pulled together by Jeff's daughter, Melissa, at Everdays.com.
EDWARD ROY BILLODUE, 93, of SEATTLE, JULY 20, 2018
Mr. Billodue was (literally) everyone's favorite teacher at WSHS, as referenced by the comments left on our WSHS Classes of the 80's post:
Mr. Billodue was (literally) everyone's favorite teacher at WSHS, as referenced by the comments left on our WSHS Classes of the 80's post:
- "Mr. B, taught me the Constitution. Never forget walking into class and sat in the back. He announced that grades typically are front row A, and back of the class F. I received an A."
- "Mr. Billodue was by far my fav. Thinking of his family. What a great guy."
- "Never forget one of his tag lines, “B.S. - Billodue Story” he proudly proclaimed especially the first day of class. He was good at engaging especially the most resistant."
- "He was big on chalkboard acronyms. I recall "B.S.", along with "O.P.M." (Other People's Money) and "H.O.T.S" (Heard on the Street)."
- "Not only one of my favorite teachers, but served as our class advisor. He was always professional and classy, and never treated us like children- even though we were just babies- because he wanted us to reach our full potential. Pleasant journey Mister B."
- "Ed (he told me once that I could call him that after I graduated) was not only my favorite teacher, but I later found out that he was also my dad's favorite teacher when he taught at Queen Anne High."
MORGAN SIMONDS (??? 1967 ~ MARCH 5, 2015)
One of the funniest, quirkiest guys any of us have ever known, Morgan passed away suddenly due to complications with Type I Diabetes in March 2015. Morgan, your sarcasm and original wit will be remembered.
One of the funniest, quirkiest guys any of us have ever known, Morgan passed away suddenly due to complications with Type I Diabetes in March 2015. Morgan, your sarcasm and original wit will be remembered.
LORI JEAN ESTEP WILLSON (JULY 1, 1967 ~ JUNE 16, 2012)
Lived her life as a passionate advocate for all-things Orca, Lori Estep passed suddenly from heart complications in June 2012. Lori was very involved in WSHS right to the very end. Click here for her Seattle Time Obituary publication.
Lived her life as a passionate advocate for all-things Orca, Lori Estep passed suddenly from heart complications in June 2012. Lori was very involved in WSHS right to the very end. Click here for her Seattle Time Obituary publication.
LARA KARENA BITENIEKS KELLOG (~1968 ~ APRIL 23, 2007)
Known by most of us as Lara Bitenieks, Lara passed in a tragic mountain climbing accident on the NE Ridge of Mount Wake in Alaska on April 23, 2007. Click here for the final photos from Lara's abbreviated, yet abounding, life and for a summary of the events on her final climb. If there's one thing that I learned from Lara's passing, it's not to let childhood circumstances keep you from associating with those whom you are drawn to... Life is too short.
Known by most of us as Lara Bitenieks, Lara passed in a tragic mountain climbing accident on the NE Ridge of Mount Wake in Alaska on April 23, 2007. Click here for the final photos from Lara's abbreviated, yet abounding, life and for a summary of the events on her final climb. If there's one thing that I learned from Lara's passing, it's not to let childhood circumstances keep you from associating with those whom you are drawn to... Life is too short.
MELANIE STEWART (~1967 ~ JANUARY 15, 2005)
Melanie Stewart passed away on January 15, 2005 after a six year battle with breast cancer. She lived in Georgia the last few years of her life and did not have any children. Donations may be made to the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in Melanie's name.
Melanie Stewart passed away on January 15, 2005 after a six year battle with breast cancer. She lived in Georgia the last few years of her life and did not have any children. Donations may be made to the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in Melanie's name.
BRUCE DU VALL (MAY 18, 1967 ~ MAY 18, 1989)
Bruce Du Vall was killed on his 22nd birthday, May 18, 1989.
He was a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps and was participating in a routine ship-to-shore training exercise off the coast of Australia when adverse weather hindered the operation. Bruce drowned because his unit was not aware that his pack had gotten caught underneath the raft after it had capsized. The autopsy report showed that he lived several hours after he was discovered pinned underneath the raft, but a severe blow to the neck played a significant part to his death. It was concluded that drowning was the main cause of his demise.
High school sweethearts, Bruce and Isabel Sanidad (now Simmons) were married in 1987 and had an 18-month-old daughter at the time of his death. Additionally, Isabel was seven months pregnant with their son, Bruce Du Vall Jr. (they call him BJ).
As of July 2005, Jaclyn Du Vall is now 17 years old and will graduate from Raymore-Peculiar High School (Peculiar, Missouri) next year. She plans to attend Missouri University and pursue a law degree. BJ Du Vall will turn 16 on July 24th, 2005 and will be a sophomore in the fall of this year. Both children are extremely athletic (a tribute to Bruce, not Isabel :-) and both are 4.0 students (Isabel may have contributed a tad bit more to that trait :-).
Isabel remarried a wonderful man, Steve Simmons, in 1991 and their son Dalton Simmons turned 13 in July 2005. Isabel also has two step-children, Brandon Simmons (age 23, married, in the Air Force, and stationed in New Mexico) and Kaysie Sanders (age 20, married, mother of two, and residing in Illinois.)
Below is a photo of Bruce's Memorial Brick from the WSHS Courtyard. The photo was taken by Isabel on Saturday, July 16, 2005 when she was visiting Seattle for our 20-Year Reunion.
Bruce Du Vall was killed on his 22nd birthday, May 18, 1989.
He was a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps and was participating in a routine ship-to-shore training exercise off the coast of Australia when adverse weather hindered the operation. Bruce drowned because his unit was not aware that his pack had gotten caught underneath the raft after it had capsized. The autopsy report showed that he lived several hours after he was discovered pinned underneath the raft, but a severe blow to the neck played a significant part to his death. It was concluded that drowning was the main cause of his demise.
High school sweethearts, Bruce and Isabel Sanidad (now Simmons) were married in 1987 and had an 18-month-old daughter at the time of his death. Additionally, Isabel was seven months pregnant with their son, Bruce Du Vall Jr. (they call him BJ).
As of July 2005, Jaclyn Du Vall is now 17 years old and will graduate from Raymore-Peculiar High School (Peculiar, Missouri) next year. She plans to attend Missouri University and pursue a law degree. BJ Du Vall will turn 16 on July 24th, 2005 and will be a sophomore in the fall of this year. Both children are extremely athletic (a tribute to Bruce, not Isabel :-) and both are 4.0 students (Isabel may have contributed a tad bit more to that trait :-).
Isabel remarried a wonderful man, Steve Simmons, in 1991 and their son Dalton Simmons turned 13 in July 2005. Isabel also has two step-children, Brandon Simmons (age 23, married, in the Air Force, and stationed in New Mexico) and Kaysie Sanders (age 20, married, mother of two, and residing in Illinois.)
Below is a photo of Bruce's Memorial Brick from the WSHS Courtyard. The photo was taken by Isabel on Saturday, July 16, 2005 when she was visiting Seattle for our 20-Year Reunion.
