Marvin Lee Zillyett

Marvin Zillyett of Montesano passed away at his daughter’s home in Montesano on Friday, July 7, 2017, following an almost two-year courageous battle with cancer. Marv was born to Clarence Otto and Delia Ellen (Baker) Zillyett September 25, 1940 in Elma, WA.

Marv began his education in Oakville, WA, then moved with his family to Schafer’s Camp just above Grisdale, where he attended school. His family moved to Schafer’s Roundhouse (current location of Vaughan Chopper Pumps), and he attended Olympic View School in Brady through eighth grade. He graduated from Montesano High School with the Class of 1958. He married Betty West in 1961, and they had three children; they later divorced.

In high school, Marv excelled as an athlete in football, basketball and baseball and was inducted into the Montesano High School Hall of Fame for his athletic accomplishments. Before graduating from high school, Marv joined the Army Reserves and served 7 ½ years.

After high school, Marv was employed with Weyerhaeuser in the truck shop; he later took a job as a mechanic at Whitney’s, where he worked until he became a self-employed log truck driver. After several years of driving his own truck, he became a partner in Tagman & Zillyett Logging Company. He later purchased a shovel and did some contract shovel logging, mainly for the Weyerhaeuser Company. In “retirement,” he continued to dabble in business and was a partner in Winter’s Tavern, and he built and operated Montesano Mini Storage.

Marv was a member of the Oaksridge Golf Course Men’s Club, the Montesano VFW, the Montesano Moose Lodge and the Aberdeen Elks Lodge and was a lifetime member of both the Montesano High School Booster Club and the AmVets. He was also a volunteer fireman with the Montesano Volunteer Fire Department for 25 years. He umpired Little League Baseball and coached both Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball. Marv was one of many volunteers who helped build Nelson Field for Little League Baseball. He was definitely a champion for and supporter of anything that had to do with youth sports.

Marv was an avid golfer, who golfed in tournaments almost every weekend from spring through the fall. He enjoyed building/restoring classic cars, fishing, digging clams, and in his younger years, hunting. He loved following Montesano Bulldog athletics as well as college and professional sports. His greatest love however, was attending his grandchildren’s activities and games, regardless of how far away they may have been. He was most definitely their “A-#1 Fan!”

Marvin is survived by his children Teri Zillyett, Tonya (Roger) Ashlock, Jay (Michelle) Zillyett, and Steve (Michelle) Alderman all of Montesano, WA; a sister, Carolyn Randall of Olympia, WA; a brother, Edwin (Sharon) Zillyett of Montesano, WA; grandchildren Taylor and Teegan Zillyett, Maguire and Carlee Cavanaugh, Cora Ashlock, Ashley (Cody) Sample and Natasha Armstrong; and two great grandchildren, Treycen and Chase Sample.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Vern Zillyett.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, July 14, at 11:00 AM at the Montesano Church of God with a reception following at the Montesano Moose Lodge. Memorial donations may be made to the Montesano Volunteer Fire Department, 310 East Pioneer, Montesano, WA 98563; Harbor’s Home Health and Hospice, 201 7th Street, Hoquiam, WA 98550, or the charity of one’s choice.

Arrangements are by Harrison Family Mortuary of Montesano, WA.