Footnotes: In Memoriam
JAMES “JIM” BOUGHAL ’95 died unexpectedly October 9, 2014, at the age of 44. Born in Pocatello, Idaho, Jim moved with his family to Florence, Oregon, in 1984, where he completed high school. After graduation from SPU, he worked in the telecommunications and Internet technology industries, even starting his own online company. Jim is survived by a son; a daughter; both parents; a brother; and a sister.
JOHN BRAWNER ’04 died October 5, 2014, at the age of 34. Born in Lodi, California, John settled with his family in Tehachapi, California. The electrical engineering major was hired by Edwards Air Force Base. Six years ago, he proposed to his fiancée in front of the wishing well at Disneyland. Dad to two boys, John enjoyed playing the piano and collecting coins. He fell ill in 2013. He is survived by his wife, Aimee; his sons, Micah and Cameron; his mother; a brother; and a sister.
Man of Faith and Vision
Steve Hayner Practiced “Living Into Eternal Life”
A man marked by authenticity, compassion, and intellectual brilliance, Steve Hayner died on January 31, 2015, at 66 years of age. The president emeritus of Columbia Theological Seminary and former president of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship was widely considered one of the boomer generation’s most influential evangelical Christian leaders.
Seattle Pacific University enjoyed the strength of that leadership, as Hayner served as SPU vice president of student affairs 1984–88. “In a career that helped shape the lives of thousands of students,” says John Glancy, director of SPU’s 125th Anniversary Celebration, “Steve’s influence went beyond just policies to touch people.”
Seattle Pacific Associate Professor of Reconciliation Studies Brenda Salter McNeil calls Steve “one of the finest men I have ever known. He led with a humble, servant’s heart and his deep commitment to reconciliation and multiethnic ministry changed the course of IVCF forever.”
Following a 13-year tenure at InterVarsity, Steve passed the helm to friend, and then-SPU dean of the School of Business and Economics, Alec Hill ’75, who says, “Steve brought pastoral care, healing, and hope. When I ran into bumpy situations, I would often call him for advice.”
During a rich and active life, Steve also served at various times as an adjunct professor of Old Testament for a number of seminaries, and was a member of several international boards, including those of World Vision and International Justice Mission.
He is survived by his wife, Sharol; two sons; a daughter; five grandchildren; a brother; and a sister. CLINT KELLY
WENDELL CARLSON ’64 died December 4, 2014, at the age of 72. Born in Burlington, Washington, Wendell was farm-raised in nearby Bow, Washington, the area in which he would choose to farm his own land. A member of the Army Reserves, he served in the Army Corps of Engineers panel bridge company. Married to his college sweetheart, ELSIE COXSON CARLSON ’65, for more than 48 years, Wendell farmed dairy, seed crops, raspberries, apples, and blueberries. He continued farming blueberries and seed crops until he was stopped in 2012 by Parkinson’s disease. Active in the community, he served on the conservation board, the dike district commission, and 27 years in the District 5 Firefighters. Still, he made time for Bethany Covenant Church where he was financial secretary, a deacon, and a life-long member. A dedicated fisherman, Wendell enjoyed lake fishing in British Columbia and September trips to Alaska to fish among the bears. He supported missionaries, World Vision, and Christian radio for Russia. Wendell is survived by his wife; two daughters, including JULIE CARLSON MCINTOSH ’91; and five grandsons.
E. MARIE WHITENER HINDERY ’97 died December 23, 2014, at the age of 90. Born outside Bellingham, Washington, on the family’s chicken farm, Marie eventually moved to Seattle and married a Navy husband and man from Missouri while he was on leave from the USS Enterprise. Endowed with a feisty spirit, she nevertheless had a heart for others and liked to assist the underserved, especially immigrants and single mothers. An enthusiastic bridge player, who wrote and taught on the game, Marie at the age of 73 fulfilled a life-long dream when she earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from SPU. She is survived by two sons, a daughter, seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and a sister.
MARIAN JOHNSON LEWIS ’41 died December 31, 2014, at the age of 95. Born in Everett, Washington, Marian invested her gifts of knowledge in the elementary school classroom of Cheney Public Schools in Cheney, Washington. Her husband, ROLAND LEWIS (deceased), was a professor at Eastern Washington University. In 1990, Marian moved to the Crista (now Cristwood) Retirement Community in Shoreline, Washington. Known for a life of leadership, love for God, and an encouraging spirit, she is survived by a son, a daughter, two grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
RODNEY “ROD” MARSHALL ’79 died July 14, 2014, at the age of 57. Born in Madras, Oregon, Rod was a farm boy through and through. He worked farms in the area as an adolescent and during summers home from Seattle Pacific. He was a pastor who wore cowboy boots and jeans, and died doing what he loved best helping a neighboring farmer haul hay out of the field. In 1988, Rod, a political science major at SPU, graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary and went to work as the administrative pastor at Seattle’s First Free Methodist Church. He later served as the assistant superintendent of the Free Methodists’ Pacific Northwest Conference before settling into the pulpits of Yakima Free Methodist Church, Opportunity Christian Fellowship in Spokane Valley, and from 2001 until his death, Living Heritage Church in Clarkston, Washington. A generous man who loved to help others, Rod coached his children’s sports teams and took in a number of young adults until they could get back on their feet. He was a member of the Twin River Back Country Horsemen, the Lewis-Clark Saddle Club, and was treasurer for the Asotin County Fair and Rodeo Board. Rod enjoyed fishing and hunting for arrowheads, and, says his wife, “always spoke volumes about his time at SPU, the profs, the many mentors he had, and the lifelong friendships he made there.” Rod is survived by his wife, Judy; two sons; two daughters; a stepson; three grandchildren; his mother; and two brothers.
BEVERLY FRIESEN NEWTON ’53 died April 16, 2014, at the age of 84. Born in Huron, South Dakota, Beverly loved books, cooking, gardening, and the sewing arts. She enjoyed international travel, exploring the United States, and hiking the scenic wonders of Washington state, and came close to summiting Mt. Rainier. A Girl Scout leader and Sunday school teacher, Beverly spent hours playing dominos with her granddaughter and was a staunch supporter of each family member’s educational goals. She traveled in the choir with the Billy Graham Revival Tour in the ’40s and was an employee of Boeing and Montgomery Ward. Hers was a life of generosity, assisting and uplifting those who struggled. Beverly is survived by her Seattle Pacific College sweetheart and husband of nearly 62 years, RONALD NEWTON ’52; a son; a daughter; a granddaughter; a brother; and two sisters.
Mister Biology
Professor Unfolded Island’s Natural Wonders
Ross Shaw ’52 knew every inch of Blakely Island, maybe his favorite getaway spot. He not only directed the Blakely Island Field Station and its Thomas B. Crowley Laboratory for many years, he diligently developed the facility and its programs, such as the popular summer field study courses. He promoted the Station’s continued support through Friends of Blakely Island Field Station, the Ross and Barbara Shaw Endowment, and the Blakely Island Quarterly newsletter, and made close friends of the island’s permanent residents.
The University and the Department of Biology lost a man of heart and distinction when Ross died on November 18, 2014. So did the many who were fortunate to sit under his tutelage. Not only did he teach most courses in the biology curriculum, he partnered with his wife, Barbara (deceased), in making the Field Station an inviting home away from home for the students and faculty members who studied there.
One of seven children of a Free Methodist pastor, Ross soaked up the legendary teaching gifts of professors Burton Dietzman, Clifford Roloff, and Vivian Larson as a Seattle Pacific College student. He went on to the University of South Dakota for a master’s degree in biology and to the University of Iowa for a doctorate. Ross accepted a position teaching biology at Greenville College, where one of his students was Frank Spina, future theology legend at Seattle Pacific.
Ross returned to SPC in 1965 for a distinguished 31-year career. Among his other accomplishments were helping develop and direct Casey Conference Center and, along with Barbara, establishing an endowment to fund the annual Winifred E. Weter Faculty Award Lecture Series. In 2002, he received the SPU Alumni Medallion Award in recognition of his outstanding service to the University, the community, and his profession. Upon his retirement in 1996, he achieved the status of professor emeritus.
Ross is survived by a daughter, Kim Shaw Ward ’80; three sons, including Franklin Shaw ’77; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Gifts in honor of Ross can be made to either the Ross and Barbara Shaw Blakely Island Scholarship Endowment or the Winifred E. Weter Faculty Award Lecture Endowment at SPU. If you wish to contribute, visit spu.edu/give and designate your contribution in the name of the relevant endowment. CLINT KELLY
MICHAEL “MIKE” ROE, MED ’86, died suddenly of a heart attack December 18, 2014, at the age of 61. Born in Seattle, Mike played soccer and football in high school, and club soccer at Washington State University, where he earned an undergraduate degree in history. With a master’s degree in education from SPU, he fashioned a 38-year career at Bainbridge High School as a librarian/learning resources specialist and coach. Mike was the first coach of the girls soccer team, the first coach of the boys soccer team, an assistant football coach for 31 years, and privileged to coach alongside four of his previous students. He enjoyed reading and learning, and possessed a “memory like a trap” for statistics. His positive “can-do” attitude and love for the outdoors served him well when he worked summers in college driving spikes for the Burlington Northern Railroad. Among his hallmarks were an interest in others, a patient spirit, and a quirky sense of humor. Mike is survived by Tanya, his wife of 37 years; and a son.
E. EUGENE “GENE” STEWART ’48 died October 30, 2014, at the age of 93. Born in Daisy, Washington, Gene was raised on his grandfather’s homestead. He went on from SPC to earn a divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary as well as a master’s degree from Southern Illinois University. Ordained in the Free Methodist Church, he took pastorates at four different churches in Idaho and Washington, including Seattle’s Rainier Avenue Free Methodist Church. Gene taught Bible and theology at Central College in Kansas and Greenville College in Illinois, and served on the mission field in India with his first wife, Minerva. After her death, he married again and taught at the Evangelical Seminary of Southern Africa to complete the missionary term of his second wife, Beth. After retirement, the Stewarts moved to Warm Beach Senior Community in 2001. Gene’s life-long ministry included service on a two-person, around-the world-evangelistic journey under the Slavic Gospel Mission, and walking the streets of Seattle for Operation Nightwatch, an outreach to the poor and homeless. He is survived by his wife, Beth; a daughter and son-in-law, JUDITH “JUDI” STEWART FORTUNE ’64, MED ’74 and DANIEL FORTUNE ’63; five grandchildren, including CINDY FORTUNE SPENCER ’87; and many nieces and nephews.
JANET “JAN” LEE MARTINSON WESCHE ’59 died March 31, 2014, at the age of 75. Raised in Bellingham, Washington, Jan was one of four sisters who loved to sing while walking to the Baptist church every Sunday, and take summer bike rides together the six miles from home to Lake Whatcom. Jan married her Seattle Pacific College sweetheart, DAVID WESCHE ’58, two weeks after graduation and lived a life marked by a spirit of fun, encouragement of others, and a knack for hospitality. She lived in Alaska, California, Oregon, and Texas, as well as in Washington state. A career elementary school teacher, she also served as a reading tutor to students with dyslexia, as a docent at the Oregon History Museum, and as a temporary “mom” to exchange students. She enjoyed kayaking, canoeing, and windsurfing, and while living in the Spokane suburb of Liberty Lake, waterskied every morning in the summer with a group of friends dubbed The “B” Team (until the age of 71). For 20 years, until the age of 60, she ran annually in the Spokane Bloomsday run. She loved to travel with David and visit the families of those former exchange students who had enjoyed the warmth of the Wesche household. Jan swam with dolphins in Mexico and went on safari in Kenya. Possessed of a servant’s heart, she volunteered with the American Cancer Society and was a two-term school board president. Jan is survived by her husband of 55 years; two sons, including DANIEL WESCHE ’85; a daughter; 12 grandchildren; and three sisters.