Eileen Biles
Sept. 17, 1943 - July 6, 2017
Eileen Biles passed away far too early July 6, 2017, with her family by her side. Eileen (Eckstrom) Biles was born Sept. 17, 1943, in Tacoma, to Charles Thomas Eckstrom II and Catherine Louise (Lagen) Eckstrom. She was the second of three children—her older sister, Carolyn Ann (Eckstrom) Noring and Charles Thomas Eckstrom III.
Eileen was beautiful, dynamic, focused, dedicated and extraordinarily accomplished. Among her many talents exhibited at an early age, Eileen was: a classically trained pianist, an advanced ice skater, an accomplished synchronized swimmer, and a member of her high school debate team. Eileen's true passion, and one to which she was fully committed throughout her life, was working with animals including dogs, cattle, sheep, and especially show horses. Eileen began showing horses at age 10 and by 13 was competing in the horse arena with her future husband of nearly 45 years, Steve Biles. Recognized as an elite horsewoman from an early age, Eileen was invited by Disney to audition for the lead role in an anticipated sequel to National Velvet and was the first rider from the Pacific Northwest to compete at Madison Square Garden for the National Saddle Seat Equitation Championship, where she placed fourth. Eileen attended Marymount College in Terrytown, N.Y.—her studies included piano, math and accounting. Eileen made her debut into society in New York City in 1962.
Eileen married Steve Biles and moved to Sherwood, in 1972. The newly married couple vowed to combine their talents to raise a highly successful family and create an award-winning farm and stables. Eileen's direction and devotion to achievement helped them realize their dreams. Eileen was instrumental in leading Biles Farms & Stables to two world records, six world championships, and 35 national and international championships. Eileen's four children were her pride and joy, Richard Fitz Randolph, Debra Fitz Randolph, Charles Dunham Biles and Dr. Lagen Biles Schulte. First and foremost, Eileen was a mother devoted to helping her children reach their full potential; and to help ensure their success, she was extremely active in supporting their schools—from raising money to serving on committees.
Eileen had many additional interests and passions which she pursued enthusiastically. She was a born leader, including treasurer of the Portland Junior League, a board member of various horse and cattlemen associations, led her children's 4-H clubs, taught classes for formerly incarcerated women, contributed her talents as a treasurer to many organizations, and extensively travelled the world.
Eileen was a force of nature whose will to achieve was admired by all who knew her. She was the proof of the adage that "where there's a will, there's a way." She never met a challenge she would not only accept but would conquer.
Eileen will be greatly missed, especially by her husband, Steve Biles; her children, Fitz Randolph, Debi Randolph, Dunham Biles, Dr. Lagen Schulte; her siblings, Carolyn Noring and Charlie Eckstrom; seven grandchildren; and the 20 foreign exchange students she hosted over the years.
Private family services were held for Eileen July 13, 2017. She was buried in Pleasant View Cemetery. In recognition of devotion to her children and animals, contributions in Eileen's honor may be made to Washington County 4-H Association (which will establish a scholarship in Eileen's memory) and mailed to OSU Extension Service Washington County 4-H, 1815 N.W. 169th Place, Suite 1000, Beaverton, OR 97006, or a  charity of your choice. Eileen's family will host a celebration of her life on the afternoon of Sept. 29, 2017, at Waverly Country Club.
Please sign the online guest book at www.oregonlive.com/obits
Published in The Oregonian from July 14 to July 16, 2017
 
 
 
 
 

Classmate Mark Nesse passed away on October 14, 2018.  According to the Winter 2019 issue of the PLU publication Resolute, Mark was the Everett Public Library's longest serving director, retiring in 2007 after 30 years. He served on the Everett School Board and was active in community organizations.  Mark graduated from PLU in 1965.
 

Peter Thomas Manley Peter (age 76) passed away, May 4, 2020 in Wenatchee, Wahington after a brief illness. Pete was born August 14, 1943 to Art and Jo Manley. Pete graduated from Clover Park High School in 1961 where he met his high school sweetheart, Kathie Irwin. Pete and Kathie married in 1964 at The Little Church on the Prairie. They raised their family in Lakewood where they lived until moving to Entiat, Washington in 2012. Pete was a hardworking man who started in the construction business at 14. He purchased a tractor and worked in the area excavating for contractors as University Place developed into a suburb of Tacoma. He became a carpenter by trade which led him to success in the industrial construction industry and was co-owner of General Mechanical of Tacoma. He formed many friendships from his years in business. When he had the opportunity to retire in 1997 he was able to continue those relationships as he set out to enjoy over 20 years of fishing, hunting, and traveling. Pete and Kathie's home in Entiat served as a home base for their adventures. He had fun driving his Bobcat and landscaping their five acres. Pete loved to have his grandchildren join them at the cabin. He had as much fun as they did building tree forts, shooting targets, riding motorcycles, and thinking up pranks to pull on the children's parents. Pete and Kathie spent over 15 summers traveling to the west side of Vancouver Island to fish for salmon and halibut. Pete took immense pleasure taking friends and family fishing. Sending people home with a cooler full of fish was one of the favorite things he did in his lifetime. Pete was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur George and Josephine Frances Manley. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Kathleen Mary Manley; children, Deborah O'Brien (Todd) and Michael Manley (Beth); his three grandchildren, Tyler O'Brien, Tessa O'Brien, and Talus O'Brien; and his sisters, Dianna Pasco (Bob) and Tina Bruemmer. At a later date, when larger gatherings are allowed, there will be Celebration of Life service in the Tacoma area.
Published in News Tribune (Tacoma) on May 24, 2020

Lakes High School opened up in the fall of 1962.  We knew many of the students there as well as teachers who transferred over to the new high school.  Among them, Gerry Austin.  His story is worth remembering on our 1961 Class pages.

Story behind Lakes burnt orange and royal blue colors

JUNE 1, 2010 BY BEN SCLAIR The Suburban Times
By Tim Marsh, Lakes High School Class of 1966
There are “givens” concerning Lakes High School. Colors for the school are burnt orange and royal blue. Lakes teams are called the Lancers. In fact, even before Lakes opened in September 1962, the school colors were selected. But, when classes began in the 1962-1963 school year, there was not a nickname for Lakes teams. Nor was there a fight song or alma mater. For that matter, there was not a senior class either.
Lakes Colors
Lakes 1965 grad Rick Austin, 63, Kansas City, Mo., has first-hand knowledge of selection of the school colors and in the selection of the Lancers nickname, too. His father, the late Gerry Austin, was Lakes’ first athletic director and head football coach after serving as the successful head football coach at Clover Park High. Rick was starting quarterback for his father’s first three Lakes teams – the 1962, 1963 and 1964 seasons – and also played basketball and was a baseball pitcher for the Lancers.
“Dad was instrumental in the choice of colors at Lakes, with administration approval of course. The main need was to order the football uniforms for the first season,” said Rick.
Why burnt orange? Gerry Austin thought Darrell Royal was a great football coach. Royal gained his fame as coach (1957–1976) of the University of Texas Longhorns. According to the University of Texas at Austin website, Royal chose the burnt orange color for the Longhorns’ football jerseys. (By the way, before Royal joined Texas in 1957 as its coach, he coached one season, 1956, for the University of Washington, Gerry’s alma mater.)
Another reason for burnt orange and royal blue color scheme, said Rick, was because it was not used by other schools in the Puget Sound League or used by many high school teams in the state.
Rick remembers before the football season began when his father brought all the Lakes football jerseys – they were burnt orange with white numerals – to the Austin home not far from the northern shore of American Lake. “We had the jerseys spread out all over the family room floor and I got to pick my own number by ‘coach’s son privilege,’ Rick said. “The jersey manufacturer only put lower numbers on smaller jerseys. I needed a larger jersey, so that’s why I picked number 42,” he said.
Lancers nickname
Lancers was one of the several nicknames names suggested by Lakes students during the 1962-1963 school year. Rick Austin was one of the students casting a vote in favor of the winning “Lancers.” During that first school year, Lakes teams played varsity teams from smaller schools and junior varsity teams from larger schools. Thus, until that vote, those Lakes teams in early games of the first year wore burnt orange and royal blue, but they did not have a nickname. In the 1963-1964 school year, Lakes began playing full varsity schedules as a member of the Puget Sound League. League members included Clover Park, Franklin Pierce, Puyallup, Auburn and others.
An interesting sideline to Lakes not having a senior class in 1962-1963 concerns the classes housed in the then new Lakes High School. Sophomores used the school’s sophomore wing. Juniors used the junior wing. However, seventh graders were housed in the senior wing. Many of those students would return to Lakes in the 1965-1966 school year as sophomores. Consequently, as seniors during the 1967-1968 school year they were in the senior wing for a second time.
Lakes Alma Mater and Lakes Fight Song
During the 1963-1964 season, the Lakes boys’ basketball team, coached by Holly Gee, had an outstanding season and played Renton in the Highline gym for the league championship. Lakes won, 47-46, in an upset. It was announced over the public address system late in the game that the fans of the team winning the game could sing its alma mater at the game’s conclusion. Lakes won. There was momentary silence – no Alma Mater — followed by cheering. At that point, Lakes did not have an Alma Mater or Fight Song. Later that school year student-written music and words for the Alma Mater and Fight Song were composed/written and adopted.
Austin postscripts
Gerry Austin — From Kelso, Gerry Austin, who died at age 70 in 1994, was a quarterback at Kelso High and for the University of Washington during the 1942, 1943, 1946 and 1947 seasons. His career as a Husky included being the UW’s quarterback and punter in the 1944 Rose Bowl football game. A member of the Washington State Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, he coached football at Clover Park from 1949 to 1961, then coached for six years at Lakes. He compiled a 118-53-8 record at Clover Park and Lakes with his Warriors and Lancers football teams winning four Puget Sound League championships. He became the Clover Park School District athletic director in 1975 and retired in 1981. His wife/Rick’s mother, Lillian Austin, died in 2006. Like her husband, she was a Kelso High grad. Prior to retiring in 1986, she was an elementary school secretary for more 20 years in the Clover Park School District.

Roger Egan Brown
A caring husband, father, and grandfather; Army Veteran (23 years) and True Neighbor. He died unexpectedly from a pulmonary embolism on December 26, 2019, at the age of 77 in his home in Kirkland, Washington. He was surrounded by his wife of 52 years, all four children and family members that were visiting for the holidays.
 
Roger was born on December 6, 1942 in Corvallis, Oregon, and spent his childhood in France. He graduated from Clover Park High School in Lakewood where he played many varsity sports. He graduated from St. Martins College in Lacey, Washington with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. Roger was hired at Puget Power immediately upon graduation and worked as a Civil Engineer and Project Manager. Roger worked for Puget Power starting in 1972 and retired in 2014.
 
Roger proudly joined the U.S.Army 82nd and 101st Airborne and was a part of the Special Forces (Green Berets) serving in Vietnam in 1966.After his tour of duty was finished, he married Karin in 1967. Roger brought his young family to Kingsgate in 1972. He was an active Board member of the HOA and regularly committed his time and energy to its upkeep. Roger enjoyed hunting, camping, skiing and loved spending time with his family. He was passionate about genealogy and committed himself to connecting family members.
 
Roger is preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Annie, his brother, Gary Brown, as well as his daughter-in-law Brooke. He is survived by his wife Karin, four children Roger Jr. (Edit), Chris (Rita), Gena Cook (Chris) and Peter and nine grandchildren Jordan, Alex, Nick, Daniel, Ashlyn, Andras, Aron, Connor and Ryan. 
Graveside Services will be held at:  Mountain View Cemetery, 4100 Steilacoom Blvd SW, Lakewood, WA 98499.
His spouse Karin will hold a memorial service January 18, 2020 at 11:30am at the Soldiers Wall at Mountain View Funeral Home.  Her address for cards is:  13512 NE 118th  Kirkland WA 99033



Andris J. Cakarnis
December 26, 2022
St. Pete Beach, Florida –
   Andris Cakarnis-devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, proud Latvian American passed away on December 26, 2022 at home in St. Pete Beach, Fl.
Born in Latvia, he immigrated to Tacoma, Washington at age 8. A graduate of WSU, he lettered in tennis and, while there, played against Arthur Ashe.
Andris will be remembered by many friends and on tennis courts, the WSU campus, his restaurant family, and teaching/coaching high school sports.
He is survived by his wife Marianne, sons David and Collin, stepchildren Natalie and Jason, their spouses and seven wonderful grandchildren.
A memorial will be held in Washington state. In lieu of flowers, donations to Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fl. would be preferred.
 

Andris came to our Steilacoom Grade School when we were in the 2nd grade. Many memories of those wonderful years. Last time I saw him, was a Clover Park High School class of '61Reunion. Must have been our 40th or 50th. He had a brother and a sister that my family also knew. Condolences to his wife and extended family. It is a sad loss. I have a picture or 2, but no way to post them.
           Kay (Foster) Van Valkenburg.
 
Went to grade school in Steilacoom, WA with an Andris Cakarnis. His sister was in our grade, Marita . Could this be the same Andris? Signed Bobbee Bunce and Donna VanDerippe, Class of 56 Steilacoom Grade School.
          Barbara (Bobbee) Bunce-Hotel


There will be a memorial gathering here, in Washington State, but we have been informed that it will be a gathering for 'family only.'  We will respect the family's request.



 

Kathleen Joan “Kathy” Brock Palmer
July 23, 1943 ~ December 7, 2022 (age 79)
   On December 7th, we lost our beloved Kathy Palmer. The daughter of Bob and Marjorie Brock, she was a lifelong Steilacoom resident and a 1961 graduate of Clover Park High School. Kathy was a loving and supportive wife to Tom Palmer for 60+ years and a perfect mom to Kelly and Tiffany. She cherished her grandchildren, Erin and Maddie Freeman, Delaney and Levi Ek, and great-granddaughter Harper Elza, as well as her 5 younger siblings, nieces, nephews, and her wonderful friends.
   Always a happy hostess, Kathy could be found in the kitchen making great food or baking sweet treats for her favorite people. She used her creativity and impeccable eye for beauty in her decorating, gardening and flower arranging.
   We’ll remember her quiet, gentle nature, her generous loving heart, and her nurturing care for family and friends alike. She died peacefully, under the care of Kelly, with the same grace in which she lived her life.
We’ll celebrate her with cake!
Saturday, February 4th, 2pm
In Prairie Hall at Little Church on the Prairie
Lakewood, WA 98338