Edward W. Kuhrau

Edward ("Ted") W. Kuhrau passed from this life on February 11, 2010. He was 74 years old. He was born to Edward and Dolores (Hardman) Kuhrau on April 19, 1935, in Caney, Kansas. He is survived by his wife, Sandy, his children Quentin Kuhrau and Clayton Kuhrau, both of Seattle, Washington, and grandchildren Marissa, Christina, Liesel, Edward ("Teddy"), Molly Ann, Calvin and Emmitt. At the time of his death he resided in Providence Point in Issaquah, Washington, and in Sun City in Georgetown, Texas. Ted graduated from Odessa High School in Odessa, Texas, in 1953. He entered the University of Texas and interrupted his education to serve in the United States Air Force from 1955 to 1958. He was honorably discharged and returned to the University of Texas where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1960 while holding a full time job at the Texas Department of Public Safety. After graduation, he moved to San Francisco, California, where he worked as a salesman for the Underwood Corporation. He later moved to Los Angeles, California, where he worked as a salesman for Proctor and Gamble Company, then for Stuart Pharmaceutical Company. He attended law school at night at the University of Southern California, while working full time during the day. He graduated in 1965 in the top ten percent of the combined day and night class. He was awarded the Order of the Coif and served as a Note and Comment Editor on the Southern California Law Review, the first night law student to have been so selected. After Law School, Ted practiced with the Los Angeles firm of Adams, Duque & Hazletine, and later with the law office of Louis Lee Abbott. He moved to Seattle, Washington in 1968 and joined the firm of Perkins Coie as an associate. He became a partner in 1973 and concentrated his practice in real estate and banking. He organized and chaired the Firm's real estate department for many years preceding his retirement. He also opened the Firm's first branch offices in Anchorage, Alaska and Bellevue, Washington. He served on the Firm's executive committee and as one of its administrative partners. Ted was the Editor-in-Chief of the Washington Real Property Deskbook, a 10-volume treatise on Washington Real Estate Law published by the Washington State Bar Association. He also served as chairman of the State Bar's Real Property, Probate and Trust Section and was active in the King County and Washington State Bar Associations. He wrote extensively on real property law topics and was a frequent speaker at law seminars. He was admitted to the bar in California, Washington and Alaska. He was a member of the American Bar Association, the Washington State Bar Association, the King County Bar Association, the Alaska Bar Association and the California Bar. He was also elected to membership in the American College of Real Estate Lawyers. Ted cruised the coastal waters of Washington and British Columbia extensively in the several boats he owned during his lifetime. After retirement, he enjoyed writing fiction, children's books and poetry. He belonged to several literary organizations, including Field's End, Writers' League of Texas and San Gabriel Writers' League. He was also a member of the American Legion, the Seattle Yacht Club and H.A. McFarland Lodge No. 1338, AF and AM, in Odessa, Texas. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Georgetown, Texas and a member of Sammamish Presbyterian Church in Sammamish, Washington. A memorial service honoring Ted will be held at Sammamish Presbyterian Church (22522 NE Inglewood Hill Road, Sammamish, WA 98074) on Saturday, February 20, 2010 at 11:00 am followed by a lunch reception.