Carl A. Jonson

Carl A. JONSON Carl Jonson was born on February 8, 1916 in Quincy, Washington. His mother was a school teacher and his father practiced law. They moved to North Seattle when Carl was in the first grade. He and his brother, Ernie, caddied at Seattle Golf Club, starting a lifelong affinity for golf. He played on the Lincoln High School Golf Team, UW Golf Team and the winning US Public Links team at Bethpage Black in 1936. He graduated from the UW Law School in 1939 and began practicing law in Seattle. He married Leanna Murphy, then a budding newspaper reporter, in 1942. After serving in the Navy during World War II, they returned to Seattle to raise a family, and for Carl to resume practicing law. He practiced for years with Ray Johnson and Evan Inslee, and then formed his own firm in 1972. That firm was later named Jonson & Jonson, P.S. and he practiced with two of his sons, Mike and Dick, until retirement. Part of his practice involved serving the trucking industry, where he formed and represented a number of trucking companies, including Oak Harbor Freight Lines and Peninsula Truck Lines. He was general counsel to the Washington Trucking Association for many years. He also formed and represented many water and sewer districts in Western Washington and was a recognized expert in utility law. He was a tough and determined negotiator, a trait that stayed with him in all facets of his life. His avocation was golf. He played on and captained the Hudson Cup Team, won the PNGA Senior Amateur and numerous club championships. He served as President of the Pacific Northwest Golf Association, founded the Pacific Coast Golf Association, and was a member of the USGA Sectional Affairs Committee for twenty years. He was a founder and the first President of Sahalee Country Club. He and others worked for years to bring a "major" to Sahalee and in 1998 Carl was the Honorary Chairman of the PGA Championship held at Sahalee. He was inducted into the PNGA Hall of Fame in 1987 and given the PNGA Distinguished Service Award in 1997. Carl and Leanna, also an avid golfer at Broadmoor Golf Club, traveled the world playing golf with their many friends. Carl was predeceased by his wife Leanna, brother Ernie and sisters Bernice and Corinne. Carl is survived by his sons Jerry (spouse Kathleen), Mike (Candace) and Dick (Noelle); and six grandchildren, Cord, Mac, Kevin, Lindsey, Quinn and Dane. The family gives sincere thanks to Gabriela and Chris Bureriu of the Gentlecare Adult Family Home in Bothell for their loving care of Carl and Leanna. A Celebration of Life will be held at Sahalee Country Club on Friday, May 2, at 4:00 p.m. Remembrances should be made to the Pacific Northwest Golf Association Patrons Program (www.thepnga.org).