Travis Pelfrey, 81, of Freeland, died on June 6, 2002, four years to the day after the death of his wife.

According to his family, “Mother came down and got Pop” after four years of waiting. Family members said that after a long life of adventure, travel, difficulties and incredible joy, their father “kicked the bucket.”

“I lived a good long full life and my body is plumb wore out,” Mr. Pelfrey said prior to his death.

He and “Mother” had two children, Francis and Kate, plus Roger and Marie, their children of the heart. He had countless grandchildren and great-grandchildren, with who knows how many more on the way. Pop and Mother also welcomed with love and open arms their sons and daughters-in-law.

Mr. Pelfrey was a real Okie, born in Altus, Okla., on October 24, 1921. He left home at the age of 11 during the Dust Bowl, traveling across the country by himself, and from there continued a life of full loving and outrageous adventure. His greatest source of passion and pleasure, other than family and friends, and friends to be made, was his love of nature.

After his wife died in Spokane, Mr. Pelfrey traipsed off to Whidbey Island and started a new life. He quickly made many new and close friendships at the Mutiny Bay Resort. He developed a wonderful and endearing relationship with Winnie Wheeler. He was a member of St. Hubert’s parish in Langley and the Knights of Columbus in Spokane.

His unique mark was left from Florida to California, from Alaska to Europe and Japan, and many places in between. He was a veteran, a tinker and trader, a dancer, magician, humorist, a fisherman, a farmer, an engineer and carpenter, and that is just the beginning. By those who knew him closely, to the stranded motorist and grocery clerk, Pop will be remembered and deeply missed. The family encourages that in lieu of flowers or donations, those who knew Pop take time to be kind, to help one another and cherish the Earth.