Eleanor P. Mirau

Eleanor P. Mirau passed away April 10, 2002, at Careage House in Coupeville. She had loved ones at her side.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Michael Mirau, and her mother and father, John and Mary Nelson. She is survived by three daughters, Mary Underwood, Anne Bowls and Sue Ferguson; and a sister, Helen Handley. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother of eight, great-grandmother of 13 and great-great grandmother of two.

She was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses on May 4, 1941, and was faithful to the end. A memorial service will be held at the Langley Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 2061 E. Millman Road, near Freeland, at 1 p.m. today, April 20. All are invited.

Gary Edmund Hezel

Long-time Camano Island resident Gary Edmund Hezel died peacefully at his home on April 11, 2002.

He was born Oct. 10, 1938, in Seattle to Edmund and Arlene Hezel. He lived in Seattle during his childhood, but spent much time on Camano Island at his parents’ Indian Beach cabin, which they purchased in the early 1940s. He attended Lincoln High School, where he was quarterback for the football team, and was captain of the first-team all-city basketball squad, among a host of other sports-related achievements.

He graduated from Lincoln in 1957 and attended the University of Washington, where he played basketball. He continued to play football until the age of 42 as a tight end or quarterback for the original Seattle Ramblers, the Edmonds Warriors, the Kirkland Bulldogs and the Snohomish Ramblers semi-pro teams.

Gary’s first job was with Kenworth Trucking, where his father had worked for many years. He joined the Army in 1961. He did his basic training at Fort Ord and was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. His plumbing career started with Massart Plumbing and Heating upon his discharge in 1963. In 1979, he started his own company, Hezel Plumbing, on Camano Island and was still working until his death.

Gary was married to the former Judith Stevenson Anderson from 1962 until 1979. Judy brought to the family two children, Robert and Rebecca, from previous marriages. Gary and Judy had three sons, Brent, Blake and Blane.

As Gary’s children grew, his involvement in sports was more often as a coach than a player. He coached numerous football, basketball and baseball teams, many to championship seasons, all the while creating wonderful friendships along the way. He was always on the sidelines of the Stanwood High School games helping out in any way he could, enjoying supporting all of the kids. One of his true joys was watching and coaching his own sons and their friends in various sports, and working with them to help them improve.

Gary continued to play intramural basketball at least once a week until a heart attack felled him on Feb. 11, 2002. He also enjoyed golfing and spending vacations in Palm Desert, Calif., with his closest friends, Barbara and Larry Sparks. Special times were also enjoyed at Gary’s condo in Maui, Hawaii.

Gary loved living on Indian Beach, Camano Island. He enjoyed throwing big beach get-togethers with family and friends and cooking crab, clams and salmon he’d dug or caught himself. The perfect ending to a day on Indian Beach for Gary was just sitting by a beach fire with friends and family, sharing stories and watching the sunset.

Gary will be deeply missed. Surviviors include son Brent E. Hezel and wife Dana and their daughter, MacKenzie, of Whidbey Island; son Blake G. Hezel and wife Kristelle and their son, Kaiser, of Camano Island; son Blane J. Hezel and wife Michelle and their children, Mikayla and Karyna, of Bellingham; son Robert W. Hezel and wife Cheryl and their children, BJ, Christopher, and Sara of Whidbey Island; and daughter Rebecca Moore and husband Fred and his son, Dustin, of Everett; as well as many special friends.

Gary requested his remains be scattered on Puget Sound in front of his home at Indian Beach. Please join his family today, April 20, at 1 p.m. in the Camano Chapel, 867 SW Camano Drive, on Camano Island. There will be a celebration of Gary’s life and his friendships at a time of sharing at 3 p.m. at the Camano Country Club, on Camano Island. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Stanwood High School for a sports-related memorial or scholarship. Memory cards for this will be available at the service and the time of sharing.

Costan A. Bushin

Costan A. Bushin, 87, passed away April 17, 2002, in Seattle.

Bushin is survived by Victor Goncharoff of Greenbank and Geri Williams, and grandchildren Victoria and Victor Jr.

Panikhida will be held at 6 p.m. on April 23. A funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. April 24 at St. Spiridon Orthodox Cathedral, 400 Yale Ave. N., Seattle. Interment will follow at Washelli Cemetery.

Arrangements are being handled by Wiggen and Sons Funeral Home.

H. Darwin Morrison

H. Darwin Morrison, 83, died April 15, 2002, at his home in Freeland.

A graveside service will be held today, April 20 at 2 p.m. at Langley Cemetery. A celebration of a life well lived will follow at 3 p.m. at the home of Joanna Snow Cruse, 554 E. Shipping View Drive, Freeland.

A complete obituary will appear in Wednesday’s South Whidbey Record.