Julian Dewell

1929 - 2024

Julian (Pete) Correll Dewell, was active, healthy and enjoying life to the end. He passed unexpectantly on March 3, 2025. Pete was a loving husband of 70 years to Alice Jane (Palmer) Dewell (09-19-1929 to 10-23-2024). Their three daughters, Gwen Alice Dewell-Brown (Stan Brown), Jane Hope Dewell (Chris Coiley), and Laura Megan Dewell benefited from their parents' unwavering love and support and learned compassion from their active civic, social, and environmental justice work. "Grandpa-Pete" had five grandchildren: Chris Brown (Michelle Brown), Nick Brown (Sammi Steck), Emily Schlieman, Clara Schlieman (Stephen Gibson), and Salome (Mercy) Dewell-Amiranashvili; and two great-grandchildren: Morgan and Evan Brown.

Born in San Antonio, Texas, to Julian Dewell and Hope Correll Dewell, he had one older brother, William Dewell, many aunts and uncles, and Grandma Correll. As a youth, Pete played trombone, swam and was a summer lifeguard, and a featherweight boxer. He received a bachelor's degree at Trinity College, Texas, studied law for 1 year at St. Mary's University Law School, San Antonio, and became a Naval Officer, stationed on Oahu, Hawaii in the early 1950's. While in the Navy, he developed his passion for legal work defending enlisted men on various charges and realized his love of sailing; both became central to his life.

Pete met Alice at a navy dance in Seattle while stationed in Bremerton, Washington, and they married in 1954 as he began law school at University of Washington. His legal career began with a federal government position in San Francisco, California, and a return to Seattle, Washington, as attorney for Davis Wright Tremaine. Pete, eager to become a trial lawyer, joined Anderson Hunter Law in Everett, Washington, where the family moved in 1963. He was a member of California and Washington State Bar Associations and the American Bar Association and served on Washington's Board of Governors. He received many awards including the Washington Bar's Professionalism Award (1991) and Lifetime Service Award and Award of Merit (1998).

Pete believed strongly in giving back and spent the last 10 years of his legal career on pro bono work. This included harassment and discrimination cases, and legal counsel for land preservation in Snohomish and San Juan counties, and Washington Trails Association (WTA).

Pete received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Cascade Land Conservancy, was a member of the Growth Management Committee, served on the Snohomish County Land Trust, among others. He also served on the Everett School Board and City Council. And for anyone selected for Jury Duty in Washington State, you will see Pete in the short informational video as presenter of jury information.

In addition to his family, Pete's joys included hiking, recreational and race sailing, playing tennis, and world travel (all of which the family participated). Pete and Alice played tennis into their mid-80's. Pete also played the banjo, accompanying Alice on the piano and Ukulele; all singalongs included his Texas drawl!

Once Pete retired, he committed himself to volunteering for WTA beginning in 1998. As he and Alice entered their 80's, they moved into assisted living with Pete supporting Alice as she became frail. WTA was his second family, and on the day Pete passed, he had spent a happy weekend training youth on trail maintenance. We were not ready to say goodbye.

A Celebration of Pete's life is planned for Sunday, June 1, at Rosehill Community Center in Mukilteo, Washington. If you would like to receive an invitation, follow this secure link (RSVP required): https://pp.events/bzRD7Edm In lieu of flowers, we encourage donations to WTA or your favorite human rights or conservation cause.