Leon Waite

Leon “Jack” Waite, age 93, passed away on Jan. 6, 2015 at his home. He was born on May 7, 1921 to Rex and Leona (Huven) Waite in Oconomowoc, Wis. As an infant, the family moved to Grays Harbor s e t t l i n g i n the Wishkah Valley. Jack graduated from Wishkah High School in 1939, where he played football and basketball. After graduation, he went to work at Harbor Plywood. In 1942, he married Florence Sermonti, they were married for 62 years until Florence passed in 2004. In 1942, he entered the Army serving during WWII. After the end of the war, he went back to work at Harbor Plywood until 1963. He then worked for ITT Rayonier as a boom man/boat operator until retiring in 1983. He was an outdoorsmen, enjoying hunting, fishing, clam digging and wild blackberry picking. He took great pride in his garden and spending time with his family and friends. He was a life member of the Grays Harbor Poggie and was very active in fish enhancement projects in the Grays Harbor area. In 1996, he was awarded the WA State Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Volunteer Fisheries Enhancement for years of volunteer service. Also, he had the Coho rearing pond at Mayr’s Hatchery on the Wishkah River dedicated in his name funded by the G.H. Poggie Club and WA State Dept. of Fish & Wildlife. Jack is survived by a son Bob (Kathy), a sister Doris (Sidney) Pierog, four grandchildren; Brian, Morgan, Tracy and Travis; six great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife. A viewing will be held on Thursday, Jan. 15th from 1-8 p.m. and again on Friday, Jan. 16th from 9-10:30 a.m. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 16th at Fern Hill Funeral Home. A potluck Celebration of Life will follow from 1-4 p.m. at the Hoquiam Elks, 624 K. Street in Hoquiam. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the George Powers Sr. Scholarship Fund in c/o the Grays Harbor Poggie Club, PO Box 741, Aberdeen, WA 98520, or a cancer organization of your choice. A message of condolence or a memory can be sent to the family at www.fernhillfuneral.com.