Henry Brizard Appleton

1947 - 2022

Henry Brizard Appleton
October 26, 1947 - August 18, 2022
Lakebay, Washington - Henry Brizard Appleton passed peacefully on August 18, 2022, surrounded by the love of his family at his home in Lakebay Washington, on the Puget Sound, at the age of 74. He fought a courageous battle against lung cancer with dignity and grace, never losing the twinkle in his eye or his loving generous spirit. He was born in Seattle Washington on October 26, 1947 to Josephine and Wallace Appleton, and soon after moved to Arcata California, where he was raised. He attended High School in Arcata, the San Francisco Bay Area and Santa Barbara, graduating from Santa Barbara High School in 1966.
He served in the United States Air Force (USAF) until 1971, receiving his training at Chanute Air Force Base in Chicago, Illinois, prior to being deployed to U-Tapao Royal Navy Airfield southeast of Bangkok, Thailand, where he served as a Crew Chief on KC-135 Stratotankers, supporting aerial refueling capacity for the USAF. After serving in the Air Force he lived briefly in Hawaii, and then settled in Eureka California, where he attended College of the Redwoods and California State University Humboldt until 1976, majoring in Political Science and Business.
Hanks career path spanned the years between 1966 and 2020, and paralleled his personal passions for being involved in creative, artistic endeavors, traveling the world, making new friends, experiencing new cultures, and learning new languages. The benchmarks of this path include the following: He owned and operated a successful commercial real estate brokerage in Northwest California that specialized in commercial real estate sales, redevelopment, and historic renovation projects. He facilitated and managed the diversification and expansion of the Brizard Company, his family's business in Arcata California, founded in 1863, by his great grandfather. He supported the successful expansion of Carris Reels; an employee owned manufacturing company in Rutland Vermont, into the international marketplace, with implementation of successful manufacturing businesses in Mexico and Brazil. In addition he developed and operated Joe's Bay Construction LLC, in the Puget Sound Region of Washington, specializing in the craftsmanship involved in building and remodeling high quality custom homes; fulfilling a lifetime dream of providing special environments for his clients. Joes Bay Construction LLC was the crowning piece to the integrity of his life's work.
Hank enjoyed a variety of interests and had a tremendous passion for life. He had a great appreciation for music and art from around the world. He loved family, friends, dancing, golfing, fishing, woodworking, bicycling, hunting, river rafting, sailing, cooking, hiking, boating in the Puget Sound, traveling to foreign lands, building a cocktail class hydroplane boat, building and remodeling homes he loved, building and racing kinetic sculptures, sketching, and painting with watercolors, and building metal sculptures. At the end of the day, he loved most to be sitting by a fire sharing stories with family and friends.
He was committed to developing and supporting his community wherever he lived. He served on multiple boards and committees supporting community development efforts and families in need: Rebuilding Together, City and County Planning Committees, Board of Realtors, Special Olympics, Substance Abuse and Prevention, Domestic Violence Prevention, and Rotary. He was happiest when working collaboratively to accomplish a shared mission or objective.
He is survived by Debra, his wife of 44 years, and his children who he loved dearly: Samantha Escamilla (Eric), and Maxwell Appleton; and grandchildren who called him Papa: Mathew, Joshua, and Nicholas. Hank is also survived by his sister Lynn Hartley, brothers Cameron Appleton (Lisa), Peter Appleton (Patricia); and nieces and nephews, Ian Hartley, Thea Appleton, Chris Appleton, Dane Appleton, and Perry Appleton. He cherished the time he spent surrounded by his family. He was preceded in death by his father, Wallace Appleton and mother Josephine Brizard Appleton, father -in-law Charles Williams, and mother-in-law Marcella Dorsey.
The family wishes to extend their sincere appreciation and gratitude to the providers at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, MultiCare Regional Cancer Center, Envision Hospice, the Home and Longbranch Fire Departments, and the private home health care providers who cared for Hank. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society, and the Home Fire Department. There will be a private Celebration of Hanks Life at Fircrest Golf Club September 17, 2022, in the afternoon.