GEORGE CORYDON WAGNER III

1925 - 2017

George Corydon Wagner III Cordy Wagner was a man of the world, a born gentleman, astute businessman, loving family man, and a man of extraordinary compassion who, in all things, demonstrated that most difficult and admirable attribute: respect for all people. These qualities, along with a ready smile, graced his success in the corporate as well as private world, his public service, and his philanthropy. On March 30th, 2017, he left this world a better place than when he found it on July 30th, 1925. Born in Seattle, Cordy grew up in the Pacific Northwest but attended high school at the Taft School, whose central motto was "not to be served, but to serve." Upon graduation, at age 17, his first service was to his country. With WWII in full swing, he could have taken a slower path to service through Officer Training School, but, "I didn't want to miss out," he said. He volunteered for the 1st Marine division, proved himself as an expert marksman and was assigned to a forward observer unit which landed in the first wave on the beaches of Peleliu and Okinawa. His experiences, preserved in correspondence to his parents, reveal both the appalling and the humorous and although deeply touched by the violence of war, he never lost his quiet optimism. In later years, in conversation with a fellow Japanese veteran, Cordy remarked that, "We may have found ourselves on opposing sides, but in the end, we have found more in common to make us friends." Discharged in 1945, he attended Yale University where he studied business engineering and rowed varsity crew. After graduation, his sister, Wendy Weyerhaeuser, introduced Cordy to fellow Finch College classmate Mary Rawlings. In 1950, Mary and Cordy married and together they had three beautiful and loving children, Mary Jane, Wendy, and Richard. In 1959, Cordy worked for the US Department of Commerce in Washington, DC. With a secret security clearance, he took part in helping the Department of Defense coordinate with industry to create a plan for continuity of government and Post War Planning. In 1960, Cordy returned to the Pacific Northwest and entered the private sector with the St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Company. In the following years, he founded and grew a series of businesses focused on forest products, including the Pan Pacific and Caribou Pacific. From 1970-1992, he was CEO of the R.D. Merrill Company. Cordy's service to his community included board memberships for US Bank, Charles Wright Academy, Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma General Hospital, Lakewold Gardens, and the YWCA. In 1974, Cordy married the love of his life Judy, who shared in his passions as well as his adventures. Among these: he achieved the rank of 2nd degree Black Belt in Taekwondo, he was a seaplane pilot, scuba diver, ­­­­­skier, and explored the jungles of Papua New Guinea and Micronesia. He was an avid photographer and writer for various publications. Cordy loved life and he loved his fellow man. His smile was winning, delightful, and sincere. He will be warmly remembered by all whose lives he touched. A celebration of Cordy's life will be held on July 30th for family and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations may be made to either Lakewold Gardens or the Tacoma Art Museum. He is preceded in death by his son Richard Wagner, his sister Wendy Weyerhaeuser, and nephew George Weyerhaeuser Jr. He is survived by his wife Judy and his daughters Mary Jane Wagner, Wendy (Bruce) Dunnan and son Cordy Wagner IV, sister Merrill (Robert) Ryman, brother in-law George Weyerhaeuser, granddaughters Adelaide (George) Mueller, Tory (DJ) Amerson, Heartie (Colin) Daddino, and Silvia Wagner, great grandchildren Wolfgang Mueller, Charlotte Mueller, Piper Amerson, and Stuart Amerson, nieces and nephews Leilee Weyerhaeuser, Kathy McGoldrick, Sue Messina, Phyllis (Mark) Griggs, Dave (Sarah) Weyerhaeuser, Merrill (Patrick Welly) Weyerhaeuser, Cordy (Raquel) Ryman, and Will Ryman. Heartfelt thanks are given to caregivers, close friend Margit, Eva, Rachel, Isabel and Kathy.