Raleigh Edward Burr

On October 13, 2025, beloved husband, Raleigh Burr, aka Dad, Daddy-O, Papa, Poppy, Gramp, and Grandpa, made his grace-filled transition, attended by his loving family. He was, first and foremost, a father, full of warmth and compassion, exceedingly patient and generous, quirky in humor – a dad who loved each child, (each grandchild, each great-grandchild) unconditionally, a dad who taught best through the enduring example of his life.

Born in Elma, Washington on December 1, 1937, Raleigh grew up the son of an Oregon logger. He graduated high school in Grants Pass, Oregon, lettering in both basketball and baseball. Raleigh joined the Navy directly out of high school, completing his basic training in San Diego. He was sent to the Great Lakes to train as a gun fire control technician and was assigned to the destroyer, the USS Hailey, in New Port, Rhode Island. Upon discharge, he began his college career at Washington State University in Pullman, WA. He earned his baccalaureate degree from the University of Washington in Political Science and his Masters' degree from Seattle University in Public Administration. He also completed a certification from Seattle University in teaching English as a Second Language.

Raleigh was a gentle giant whose huge hands were the first thing people noticed about him.Whether he was rocking a baby to sleep, coaxing the vegetables in his organic garden, or welcoming people into his home with a big, warm hug, he always channeled the love in his heart through his hands. Over the years, nine cats "owned" him, most of them "found" him, and one of them gave birth to her litter on his bed! Often he could be seen ushering a stranded worm from the sidewalk to the grass or herding a stuck-in-the-tub spider into a glass so he could gently place it back outside in the garden. All life forms he encountered were lovingly tended by his touch.

Throughout his young work life, Raleigh demonstrated his love of adventure. His Navy tour found him cruising both the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Because of the experience he accrued as a draftsman, surveyor, and construction inspector for the Benton County Road Department, Peter Kiewit and Sons hired Raleigh to help develop the main terminal for the SEA-TAC airport. Under Universal Services, a sub-contractor for the Atomic Energy Commission, Raleigh became a survey party chief charged with establishing control for underground nuclear tests on the island of Amchitka in Alaska. His fascination for "what lay beneath" led him to the Divers' Institute of Technology where he graduated top of his class, accepted a job as a deep sea diver for Fluor Ocean Services in Houma, Louisiana, and then as a SCUBA Instructor for New England Divers. He summited Mt. Rainier with Marty Hoey, learned to pilot a Cessna 150, and rode a Kawasaki trail bike – just for kicks.

While working rotating shifts for Consolidated Freightways, Raleigh simultaneously satisfied his dream of earning his baccalaureate degree. Because he believed so strongly that education was the most significant passport to a richer, fuller life, he continued to pursue his Masters' degree becoming an Instructor in Political Science and American Government at South Seattle (Community) College, and from there, a "Foreign Expert" teaching English and American Culture at South West China Teachers' University in Beibei, near Chongqing, in Sichuan Province. (During their year on the mainland, he and his wife and 7-year-old son explored 14 different cities from Beijing and Shanghai to Xian and Wuhan.)

Raleigh served his community as Chair of the 1984 drive to incorporate the Highline area, Chair of the 34th Legislative District Republicans, and President of theHighline Community Council. He was honored to champion newcomers to this country by heading up the refugee program at St. James Cathedral where he taught classes in both literacy and citizenship. He loved reading the latest tomes about the political conditions of the day, and in 2008, he was excited to work for the American Federation of Teachers to support Obama's first election.

Raleigh's five children (and Tiler too) got to enjoy what they would say were some of the best times with him when he was coaching their baseball, softball, basketball, and football games. But if you were watching baseball with him, he'd be studying baseball, so it was best to wait until the game was over if you wanted to talk to him. As his children grew, they discovered that his deft eye-hand coordination. as well as his height (6"6") and reach, made him a formidable challenger not only on the basketball court, but on the ping-pong table as well. He always said a game of Crib was the best way to find out what was really on his children's minds.

For the last 16 years of his varied work life, Raleigh served as a street-use inspector for the City of Seattle, especially valued not only because of his earlier work experience in both drafting and survey, but also because of the way he treated each person – with the utmost dignity and respect. Retirement saw him traveling with his daughter through Italy and with his wife and youngest son through England, France, and Spain.

Raleigh was predeceased by his parents – Marion Franklin Burr and Frances Rachel Lemley Burr; his two sisters – Marian Buzzard (Jim) and Norma Covall (Tony); his two brothers – Barney Burr (Helen) and Donald Burr (Beverly); his son, Mitchell Bender (Tammy); AND his nine cats – Elmrige, Susie, Sugar, Herman, Spike, Scuppers, Boots, Zyzzyva and Mitzi.

We who survive him feel deeply honored that he chose to share his life with us: his wife of 47 years, Bonnie Taschler (aka Bonnie Casey); his daughters – Lori Bender, Linda Brashear, and Lisa Burr; his son, Zach Burr (Kristi); his eight grandchildren – Jason and Jacki Beem, Stephanie Schene (Paul), Tiler Burr (Jamie), Rachel Burr Serrano (Carlos), Harrison, Delano, and Monroe Burr; and his five great-grandchildren – Caleb and Kylie Schene, Isabelle Burr, Carlos Serrano Burr and Camila Serrano Burr, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.