Edwin Livingston Poyfair

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Brigham Young University

Edwin Poyfair Obituary

Name: Memorial service for Edwin Livingston Poyfair
Start: 2025-08-07T13:00:00.000Z
Location: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

EDWIN LIVINGSTON POYFAIR
December 3, 1943 ˜ June 14, 2025

Our loving husband, father and grandfather, Edwin Livingston Poyfair, peacefully left this world on June 14, 2025 at the age of 81.
Edwin, who would go by Ed and Eddie, was born in Portland, OR on Dec. 3, 1943, to Darwin and Etta Poyfair. Ed lived most of his life in the Vancouver area. He attended three years of Hudson Bay High School where he graduated in 1962.
Ed married his high school sweetheart, Sharon Norman on Sept. 14, 1963. The following year, Ed and Sharon welcomed the first of their eight children!
Ed graduated from Brigham Young University in 1967. Ed decided to pursue a degree in Law from Lewis and Clark Law School, where he graduated in 1972.
Ed practiced as a defense attorney in the Vancouver area for over 20 years. In 1992, Ed ran for Superior Court Judge in Clark County. He was elected to a seat on the bench which marked the beginning of his 20-year judicial career. Ed oversaw many cases and eventually moving to family law where he would oversee the finalization of many adoptions and officiate in many civil marriages.
A devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ed served in many callings and capacities. Among some of these were primary and seminary teacher, High Priest group leader, Bishop, and 10 years as Stake President for the Vancouver Washington Stake. Ed also played a role in helping to establish the Portland Oregon Temple for the LDS Church. Ed would later serve as an ordinance worker in the Portland Temple.
In 2001, after his divorce from Sharon, Ed married Peggy Owens and they celebrated 24 years of marriage together. Ed retired from the bench in 2012.
Ed is preceded in death by his father and mother, brother Skip, sisters Cherie and Penelope (Greg) and his eldest son Todd (Danielle). Ed is survived by his wife Peggy, former wife Sharon, his children with Sharon: Rachelle (Rob), Rebecca (Mike), Amy (Jeremy), Marni (Mike), Sarah, Adam (Carissa) and Phillip (Mary) and his step-sons: Timothy (Holly), Mark and his brother Paul (Carol).
A memorial service to celebrate the life of Ed will take place on Thursday, August 7, 2025 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 2223 NW 99th St, Vancouver, WA 98665 at 1 p.m.
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Published by The Columbian on Jun. 24, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for Edwin Poyfair

8 Entries

CAROL A LEVANEN

August 9, 2025

He was a fair and honest judge, and regardless of the political winds, he strived to give fair and honest rulings. In today's world, that kind of judge is hard to find. Clark County Citizens United, Inc. will be forever grateful for his fair and honest 1995 ruling in favor of CCCU, that was upheld in the Court of Appeals.

Carol Levanen, Exec. Secretary - Clark County Citizens United, Inc.

August 9, 2025

In 1995, Judge Poyfair handed down an overarching Washington Growth Management Act land use ruling in favor of Clark County Citizens United, Inc. That ruling set the stage for many good changes to the GMA. CCCU was up against two enviromental attorneys who did their work for free, in opposition to our claims. But because of his honest evaluation of the case, CCCU prevailed. We will be forever grateful for what he did on our behalf. His ruling was appealed to the Court of Appeals, but CCCU continued to prevail with a Published Opinion in CCCU's favor. The Washington Supreme Court refused to take the case when the COA was appealed, which left the ruling in place. Judge Poyfair was going against the environmentalist tide, but he did not let that sway him. Given the facts of the case, the right thing to do was to rule in favor of CCCU. We never got a chance to formally Thank him, but we would like the family to know that thousands of rural landowners would be forever grateful. He did the right thing. May God Bless and keep you all, now and forever.
Sincerely, Carol Levanen, Exec. Secretary, CCCU Incl

Meredith McKell Graff

July 31, 2025

My husband and I moved to Texas last year and we just found out (7/30/25) of Judge Poyfair´s passing. He was one of the best judges I have appeared before in my 27 years as an attorney. We had many things in common and became work friends. I appreciated our many visits when I was at the courthouse to file something or after a hearing in another courtroom. He was kind and thoughtful in his rulings and no matter how he ruled I never felt like he went off track. After his retirement, I enjoyed visiting with him when he came out for his monthly mediations. He was a great judge, a great man, and he will be sorely missed.

Kathy Boehm

June 28, 2025

Judge P, such a special man with a huge heart. We weren´t just co-workers to him, we were people, we were friends. You will be forever missed.

Sandy Silveria

June 27, 2025

Ed was my first boss when I moved here from California. I was young - just married. I worked for him full time, had children and worked part time until he became Judge Poyfair. His children babysat my children. He taught me a lot, supported me when I needed a friend, and constantly made me laugh with his dry sense of humor. Ed was a very good man and was loved and will be missed by many.

Don English

June 25, 2025

Ed was instrumental in helping me establish my legal career in Vancouver. He was a mentor, partner and friend. I am grateful for his influence in my life.
Don English

Lisa

June 24, 2025

I worked for a well known attorney in Vancouver and ran all of his court stuff. Judge Poyfair was always so kind to me and always smiled. I missed seeing him when I left. Sad to hear of his passing. Thoughts to his family.

Devorah Both

June 18, 2025

Judge Poyfair was one of the very few good, honest & caring Judges in Clark County. He presided in my childs custody case. He wasn't interested in being popular, he did what he felt was best for the child and was concerned more for the mental welfare and protection of the child. He was a respected man with great ethics and honor who stayed strong in spite of those who tried to take him down. Because of Judge Poyfair's love for his position, his strong family values and his ruling, my child grew to be a good responsible caring man. My condolences to his entire family. I know Mr. Poyfair will be greatly missed.

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