Larry MacDuff, 63, died on Oct 14, 2009, of cancer, at his home in Port Ludlow, WA.

Born on July 24,1946, to Frank Selby and Mary Elizabeth (Mueller) MacDuff in Indianapolis, IN, he was raised in the cities of Anderson and Indianapolis. He graduated from Scecina Memorial High School in Indianapolis in 1964, and in 1966 joined the U.S. Army, in which he served as a Spc. 5. He then served in the Army Reserves from 1969 to 1972, with a tour in Korea.

Larry attended Indiana University School of Business in Bloomington, IN., graduating in 1974with a batchelor's degree. He then became an employee of Dupont Corp., a position that took him to Chicago; Wilmington, DE.; Aurora, CO.; and Aptos, CA.

On Jan. 13, 1984, he married Karen Michael Tovik in Santa Cruz, CA. He retired in 2002, and the MacDuffs moved to Port Ludlow in 2004.

According to his family, Larry loved the Lord, his family and friends, and the wilderness. He was proud of his service in the Army as well as his Scottish and German heritage.

He was a member of St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church, the Veterans Association, the Scottish-American Military Society, the Washington Trails Association, the Port Ludlow Hiking Club, the Clan MacDuff Society and the Sierra Club.

Survivors include wife Karen; son Anthony Leso; daughter Roseanne Leso; grandson Giovonn Leso; brother Chris MacDuff; and sisters Anne Hall, Gail McDonald (Steve), Eileen Wall (Kirk), Theresa Johnson (Phill) and Catherine Wyler.

A memorial Mass of Christian burial took place at 12:05 p.m. on Thursday, Oct 22 at St. Mary's in Port Townsend. The Rev. John Topal, S.J., officiated. A bagpiper performed beginning at 1130 a.m. A reception followed at Port Ludlow Bay Club, 120 Spinnaker Place.

Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 1335 Blaine St., Port Townsend, WA. 98368, or the American Cancer Society, 2120 First Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98109.

 

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Born in Ayr, Scotland on November 12, 1923, After 2 years in Glasgow University, he joined the Royal Navy serving in the Atlantic Fleet to Africa and India.

Married on October 16, 1944, to his wife Lois, Rick served until discharged from active duty in 1945.  Rick returned to Ayr, Scotland, with his family (Lois and their infant son, John Roderick).  He became ice manager of the Ayr Ice Rink where he was the announcer and scorekeeper for professional hockey matches.   He created his own choreography performing comedy skating routines for the annual ice carnival.   Rick and Lois had two more children, Lyn Muriel and Carol Ann before emigrating to Canada in 1951, Settling in Quesnal, British Columbia.

Rick worked as an office manager for Patchett Lumber Company, later becoming a Federal government auditor.  After having their fourth child, Craig Stuart, Rick became very involved in community life.  He joined the local Royal Canadian Legion and participated in the annual Burn's Night celebration. 

Teaching Highland and Scottish Country Dancing, curling, swimming, diving and he was also a 4-H leader with his children.  Together with daughter, Lyn, he would also participate in Highland Dance competitions.  At the local ice arena, Rick taught figure skating, ice dancing and produced the annual ice carnival by preparing choreography for the individual routines, performing comedy skating and doing pairs numbers.  For 8 years, Rick was a radio announcer once a week for a 30-minute program "Highland Echoes" where he played Scottish songs, gave news reports, and shared items of Scottish heritage.

In 1966, the Murcie family moved to Surrey, B.C.  Rick continued his membership in the Royal Canadian Legion, Cloverdale Branch #6, where he first became Sergeant-at-Arms participating in many local parades.

Rick moved to Seattle, Washington in 1973 where he entered into Scottish activities beginning as the Master of Ceremonies of the Highland dance competitions.  During the last 25 years, he became very well known for his authentic recitation of Robert Burns "Address to the Haggis" at many local dinners.

As a member of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, he has participated in the Advanced Demonstration Team, served as Master of Ceremonies at their annual ball, and executive board for planning the weekend dance workshops at Fort Worden.

Rick was a member of the Caledonian & St. Andrews Society for 19 years, Rick was President for 7 years, Master of Ceremonies and Toastmaster for the annual ball and Burn's Suppers, participated in annual plays, and teacher of Scottish Country Dancing where he formed a demonstration team which performed at the Pacific Northwest Scottish Highland games.

Rick has been a member of the Royal Canadian Legion for 48 years.  During this time he has been Post Commander, Entertainment Chairman, and Sergeant-at-Arms for parades and meetings.  The Legion provided "Guard of Honour" for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, on March 7, 1983.

As a member of the Seattle Scottish Highland Games Association, Rick lead the Royal Canadian Legion Color Guard for opening and closing ceremonies, assisted with the Friday night Saltire and sing-a-long, presided over the Friday and Saturday Night Ceilidh, particpated in the Kirkin O' The Tartan service on Sunday, distributed SSHGA brochures and posters to greater Enumclaw Plateau and served on the set-up and take-down committee.

Since 1996, Rick has been a member of the Board of Directors for the Clan McIntyre and most recently is the Mount Rainier Post #1889 SAMS Color Guard Sergeant Major.  Rick has been the leader of the Plateau Scottish Country Dancers for the last 5 years.

Rick past away February 2003 in Enumclaw, Washington, leaving his loving wife, Cherie.

 

 Joe MacIntyre said:
 
 "Rick Murchie was without any doubt a very integral part of every aspect of
 our Scottish community and will be missed by all, most especially by this Scot."
 
 I can only echo his words and wish Rick
 "Fair Winds and Following Seas".

 

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Philip Nolan Williamson died of lung cancer at his home in Coupeville on May 4.   He was born August 15, 1927 in Tacoma to Thurman and Madeleine Katzenberger Williamson.    Following his mother's death when he was one, his father moved Phil and his sister Virginia to Yakima. He was raised by his father and step-mother in Yakima, where he got his first job as a newsboy at the age of 10.

   After the death of his father in 1942, when he was nearly 15, he lied about his age and joined the Navy.    He served in one of the first underwater demolition teams that cleared a number of beachheads in the South Pacific.
This was at a time when scuba gear hadn't been invented, and the UDT teams wore tennis shoes instead of fins.    He also served with underwater demolition teams during the Korean War.    In addition he served on a number of surface vessels and two deisel fleet submarines, ending his career as an ETC on the Polaris nuclear submarine the Thomas Edison.    He met and married his wife, the former Rowena Leach, while serving on the Edison in Groton, CT.

He received a degree in engineering at Healds College in San Francisco and at graduation was hired by Varian Associates, where he was an international liaison officer and export manager until he retired in 1991.    During the years he lived in San Jose, California, he was active in civic and environmental groups, and developed a love of bridge that lasted the rest of his life.

   At the time of his death, Phil was a member of the Oak Harbor Duplicate Bridge Club and was a Regional Master.   After moving to Coupeville in December of 1990 Phil became involved in various civic volunteer groups and was serving his second term as Town Councilman when he died.    He took his position very seriously and tried to do what he thought best for the town.    He was a member of Coupeville Lions Club, and VFW.   He enjoyed making furniture and the Williamson home has book cases and a Shaker dresser and bench he built.   He made each of his sons a dovetailed chest.

    He began work on his genealogy which led to the discovery of his long-lost sister and her family.
    Phil joined the Scottish American Military Society, where one of his great thrills was carrying the American flag through massed pipe bands, dressed in his Clan Gunn kilt.    He will be remembered by his many friends and relations for his wicked sense of humor and the ridiculous, his willingness to speak out for what he believed in, his sensible patriotism, his love of western movies, and "all that Scottish stuff".    He liked music, especially Baroque, Scottish and bluegrass.
He delighted in engaging in verbal duels and skewering over-inflated egos.

    He leaves behind Rowena, his wife of 42 years, his sons Philip II of Coupeville and Andrew of Seattle, and many loving friends and relatives.   He also leaves us with a host of wonderful memories.   
    Donations may be made to Town of Coupeville Memorial Fund or Friends of Home Health and Hospice.

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