Richard M. “Dick” Beers died on Monday, April 12 at age 74, of complications from surgery.

He was born March 26, 1936, in Seattle, where he was raised. He attended Cleveland High School, where he earned All City honors in basketball and football.

After high school he joined the Army, served in the 82nd Airborne Division and earned an honorable discharge. He then enrolled at the University of Washington and studied accounting. Academic success led to a Boeing scholarship and an invitation to membership in Beta Gamma Sigma, a national business administration honorary.

While in college he married his high school sweetheart, Jean Smith.

Dick’s career was as an accountant and he continued working in that capacity until he became ill in February of this year. For 27 years he worked for Bellevue land developer Jack Willing.

Dick and Jean raised five children, and a strong family was always their focus. They moved their family to Whidbey Island in 1966.

While developing an accounting practice on South Whidbey he continued to commute to his accounting job in town. He was offered a partnership in a Bellevue accounting firm, but he turned it down in preference for the quality of life on Whidbey Island.

In the course of his long accounting and tax preparation career, Dick provided service to numerous private clients. He served as the Langley town clerk, treasurer of the fair board, and once briefly was the mayor of Langley. For three years in the early 1970s, he and Jean were in a partnership that owned and operated the Glendale resort.

Dick loved South Whidbey, its quiet rural life and abundant recreational opportunities, especially fishing. He was a great fisherman; some said the best in his Bell’s Beach community. Besides fishing Saratoga, Fox’s Spit, Baby Island and Holmes Harbor, Dick crossed over to Elger Bay on Camano and on the west side fished Mutiny Bay, Bush Point and Lagoon Point. He knew where the salmon were most likely to be and was usually successful in bringing fish home. He would fish with family members or by himself if no one were available.

Dick also liked to compete in pinochle, cards, Scrabble, pool and HORSE. He loved reading, particularly mysteries, and he was also a writer. Although not published, he wrote two complete novels and received praise for his writing skills.

Dick was a beloved husband and father, and at the end, a great teacher of grace and the value of faith in the face of death. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Jean Beers, of Langley; three sons, Steven Beers, Russell Beers (Marlene), and Donald Beers; two daughters, Barbara Beers (known as Leah Michal), and Dolores Marshall (Roger); six grandchildren, Krista, Nick, Reuben, Samuel, Nathan and Jamie; and two great-grandchildren, Paige and Amira. He is also survived by a brother, Mike Beers (Ruth), and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.

His parents Millie and Roger Beers, a brother, Dave Beers, and a sister, Barbara Cronin preceded him in death.

Funeral mass to be held at Saint Hubert Catholic Church in Langley at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 21.

Cremation and burial in the care of Visser Funeral Home. Memorials in Dick’s name may be made to Swedish Medical Center Foundation.

Friends and family may view and sign online obtiuary and guest book at www.visserfuneralhome.com.