Elbridge Gerry Atwood

E. Gerry Atwood surprised himself and everyone else by dying Friday, October 24 2003. E. Gerry Atwood was born in Springfield, Massachusetts on January 2 1925.

He spent most of his childhood in the Northwest, first in Seattle, then in Ellensburg, Washington. While in Ellensburg, his family lived at High Valley and the Walking T Ranches. From his early years, Gerry was passionate about the outdoors and wildlife.

Gerry served in the US Navy during WWII and the Korean Conflict.

In 1955, he moved his young family to the Columbia Basin, settling in Quincy, Washington. Farming, working for the Boeing Company, and many years as a field man for Quincy Farm Chemicals filled Gerry's professional life.

He and his first wife, Rita Rose Atwood, raised their three daughters in the Quincy Valley. He was always so proud of "his girls." Gerry loved life, enjoyed people and the friendships he established lasted a lifetime. The last several years of his life have been blessed with the love and marriage to his wife, Ruth. According to Gerry, she meant everything to him.

Gerry is survived by Ruth, his sisters and brother, Myrtie Cushing, Frank Atwood and Marjorie Grubbs. He is also survived by his daughters, Colleen, Joan (Wright) and Julie; his sons and daughters-in-law, Tom Wright, Chris Coffin, Patricia and Ryan Kniep, Chuck and Jeanne Kiehn; his grandchildren Tracey and Allen Crist, Charlotte Atwood, Gavin and Bryan Wright, Brenda and Kenny Murray Kacey, Cade, and Allie Kiehn, Tia and Dustin Kniep; and great-grandchildren, Paxton Spence, Triston Crist, and Colton Murray.

He made friends and kept them his entire life. The stories and the laughter they generated will make us smile forever. We will miss his fun spirit, his laugh and his huge heart. Gerry was talking a walk around "the best elk camp I ever had" with a dear friend, when he left us. A perfectly fitting exit--just too soon.

A celebration of Gerry's life will be held at 11:00 a.m.

Saturday, November 1, 2003 at the Free Methodist Church in

Quincy, Washington.

In lieu of flowers, a foundation has been established at the Washington Mutual Bank, 211 E. Yakima Ave., Yakima, WA 98901 for the "Preservation of Elk Habitat." The bank requests all checks payable to Julie Atwood on the foundation's behalf.