Maris Ungurs' Obituary
Maris Ungurs, who went by Morrie, passed away at his home in Fircrest, Washington, on March 29, 2026. He was 83 years old.
Morrie was born in Riga, Latvia, on November 16, 1942, to Arvids and Elizabeth (Fadejeva) Ungurs. In 1944, the family, including his infant sister Inta, fled Latvia when the Soviet Union invaded the country, and they lived in displaced persons camps in Germany until 1949, when the family emigrated to the United States, settling in Bellevue, Washington, He became a naturalized citizen on November 21, 1955, at the age of 13. Morrie grew up in Bellevue, and was a member of the first graduating class of Sammamish High School in 1961. He attended the University of Washington and Western Washington State College where he met his wife Janet Ellingson in 1964.
Morrie was a carpenter by trade, building houses in the early years of his career and eventually retiring as a project manager for Hilger Construction Company of Tacoma.
Besides the love for his family, Morrie enjoyed the outdoors, hunting and fishing, playing golf, and especially tending to his bird feeders and caring for his feathered friends who visited daily.
Morrie was preceded in death by his parents and sister. He is survived by his wife of 61 1/2 years, Janet, his three children, son Duane (Mark Franco), of Bellevue, Washington, twin daughters Denise Castillo (Paul) of University Place, Washington, and Diane LeBleu (Tom) of Suwanee, Georgia, and his six beloved grandchildren, Danielle Snell (Schuyler), Lauren Castillo, Travis LeBleu, Isabel Castillo, Sabrina LeBleu, and Caroline LeBleu, as well as several cousins in both the US and Latvia.
Morrie lived in Fircrest the past 48 years in the house he built for his family, It was his wish to pass away there. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date when all of the grandchildren can gather.
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