Wallace Richard Edwards

Wallace Richard EDWARDS Former resident of Anacortes, died Dec. 2, 2005. He was 90. He was born Dec. 26, 1914, in Pasadena, Calif. He spent most of his youth in the Seattle area, and he graduated from West Seattle High School. He entered the Civilian Conservation Corps and came out as assistant parks director for the Olympic National Parks. He and his wife, Dorothy, opened a flower shop in Yakima. He ran for mayor unsuccessfully, but not without merit. He then moved his family back to the west side of the mountains and became head of a transportation district for the state of Washington. After retiring, he found himself back in the political arena when Dixie Lee Ray appointed him chairman of the Washington State Gambling Commission. During that tenure, he and Rhoady Lee Sr. came upon the beautiful little city of Anacortes and obtained the land next to the ferry dock known as Ship Harbor. Wally worked for 25 years to obtain the various permits required to build a destination resort at Ship Harbor. During that, time he formed special bonds with various city and Port officials as well as the Samish Tribe. Samish Tribal Chairman Ken Hanson became a good friend, and he and his mother presented Wally with a ceremonial drum. Wally was honored to make the Samish Tribe co-owners of the land through a gifting process. Last year the tribe was bought out by John R. Cox and Associates, which now co-owns the land with the Edwards estate. Wally also had an extreme love for live jazz music. Through this, he came to know and love Trish Hatley. They shared a very special bond. He was preceded in death by his loving and devoted wife Dorothy Edwards as well as his partner in crime, his sister Jane Kay. He is survived by his angel companion, Lynn Hall; five children, Stephen Edwards, Kerry Severtson, David Edwards, Jayne Black and Carol Edwards; and many wonderful grandchildren. A Celebration of Wally's Life will be 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005, at Billy Ray's restaurant on Ferry Terminal Road near the Ship Harbor property. There will be food, wine and music by Trish Hatley.