Gary L. Barrett's Obituary
Gary L Barrett
Gary Lee “Bud” Barrett passed away in Tacoma, WA, on May 16th, 2015, with his wife Jackie and close family by his side. Bud was born on September 11th, 1936 in Yakima, WA, to Pleasant Jack Barrett and Clara Mae Krischke Barrett, the middle of five children. He moved with his family to Tacoma as a young boy, and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1954, lettering in baseball. It was at Lincoln that he began dating the love of his life, Jaqueline Mary “Jackie” Readel.
Bud joined the United States Navy in the summer of 1954, and was stationed in Alaska and the Philippines as a Seabee, working with heavy construction machinery. He was honorably discharged in the summer of 1956, and would then marry his “Sugar Babe” Jackie on May 4th, 1957 at Visitation Church in Tacoma. Bud worked at a sawmill in the Tacoma tide flats and for Mayflower Transit Movers before being hired by the Tacoma Fire Department in 1959.
By 1961, Bud and Jackie had welcomed three children to their family, Julie Ann, David Scott, and Susan Kathleen. Bud was appointed to Fire Alarm Dispatcher in 1970, promoted to Lieutenant in 1973, and promoted to Captain Fire Alarm Dispatcher in 1979. He retired from TFD in 1987 after 28 years of faithful service. He remained active with TFD as the President of the Tacoma Retired Firefighters Association and could always be seen in his ‘retirement uniform’ of some trusty shorts paired with a TFD t-shirt.
Bud’s hobbies and interests included woodworking in his “Wood Weavel” backyard shop where he made pieces of furniture and toys from his signature ‘knotty pine’ wood. A keen baseball player and fan, he enjoyed trips to see Spring Training in Scottsdale, AZ, as well as being a season ticket holder at Cheney Stadium. An avid cyclist, Bud loved long distance rides, completing the Seattle to Portland multiple times. Bud was very active with the Tacoma and Gig Harbor Elks Lodges over the years, investing his time in multiple charity events and holding various leadership roles. He and Jackie also traveled extensively with their circle of friends, and had seen the world.
Bud shined as a grandfather, as “Papa” to his six grandchildren Claire Elizabeth, Chloe Rose, Lesley Nicole, Meghan Kathleen, Shannon Colleen, and Joseph Scott. He spoiled them with summers full of oyster shucking and swimming at the family beach house on Hood Canal. Bud also loved to play with his two great grandsons born to Lesley and Chloe, Lincoln Kent and Keller James.
Bud is preceded in death by his parents, and his sister Betty. He is survived by his siblings Jack, Carol, and Joan, his beloved wife of 58 years, Jackie, his three children Julie (Brian Ziegler), David (Tracy Barrett), and Susan (Dan O’Leary), six grandchildren Claire Barrett, Chloe (James Kadel), Lesley (Jason Clearman), Meghan O’Leary, Shannon O’Leary, Joseph Barrett, his two great grandsons Lincoln Clearman and Keller Kadel.
Graveside service will be held at 11:30 AM on June 6th, 2015, at Mountain View Memorial Park located at 4100 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood, WA, with a celebration of life held following the service at the Tacoma Fire Fighters Union Hall, located at 1109 S. 50th St. Tacoma, WA.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial C/O Local 31 1109 So. 50th St. Tacoma Wa. 98408
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