Dwight Ursell Summerlin

Tribal elder Dwight U. Summerlin, walked on January 30th in Tumwater WA
Dwight was born October 20th, 1944, in McMinnville Oregon to Emma (Riggs) Summerlin and Ursell Summerlin.
Much of Dwight's childhood was spent between Oregon and California Often being looked after by family. He started working from the young age of six. He told many stories of picking hops, blueberries and green beans. He worked alongside his cousins, and many of his first friendships were formed. Throughout his schooling he sold sketches for a nickel and worked in the kitchen to pay for his meals. Dwight had a fondness for cars. One the first motors he ever built was after school with the guidance of a man named Mr. Leighton who owned a wrecking yard. He would leave written instructions every night with the motor and Dwight would work diligently completing his first built motor that sparked a lifelong love building motors. Dwight worked through high school and graduated in 1964, from North Salem High.
After graduation Dwight proudly made the decision to serve his country in the United States Air force. After completing his training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio Texas, he was sent to serve in Thailand. During his time in the service, he learned to weld, with that skill he became part of Strategic Air Command (SAC), as well as Studies Observation Group (SOG). Being a part of these groups was a great honor to Dwight.
Dwight told many stories of his time in the service and lots of happy memories of friends he never forgot. Dwight was also stationed in Guam, where he enjoyed cliff diving and attempted to learn scuba diving. That was cut short with his one close encounter with a great white shark. He said he swam the fastest he had ever had in his life back to shore and he walked the 20 miles back to base and that was the end of him and scuba diving. Dwight told this story and endless others in a way that would make you laugh and feel as though it was just the other day.
In 1968, Dwight finished his service and honorably discharged at March AFB near Riverside California where he started a family with his then wife Lenore Coffey. Together they had 3 daughters Maureen, Tracey, and Teresa. In 1977 Dwight moved to Washington state with his family in search of more opportunities. He continued to work within the field of welding and production. In December of 1981 he married his 2nd wife Marjie Olmstead and had three more children. Melanie, Dwight, and Matthew.
Dwight started his career with Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton Washington in the spring of 1985. During his time there Dwight had a very fulfilling career, he had obtained a red badge security clearance and was a foreman of a crew. Dwight worked on many large-scale projects often working overtime for weeks straight. He did this with a sense of pride and the work ethic he developed in his youth.
In 2010 Dwight retired from his career with Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. During his retirement Dwight enjoyed collecting models, knives, and movies. He also spent time working intermittently on various projects and upgrades on his vehicles. Dwight was preceded in death by his parents, and siblings. He is survived by his children, grandchildren, and his beloved dog Jack.