June 12, 1918 - May 16, 2016

Maurice, or "Wilkie" as he was commonly known, was born June 12, 1918 and died May 16, 2016. His mother died in his early years, and Maurice was raised with three half-brothers in Seattle. He attended Broadway High School until his sophomore year when he had to drop out to help the family deal with the economic realities of the Great Depression.

Maurice spent time in the Civilian Conservation Corps working on Orcas Island and other localities nearby. He married Jeanne Wiesen in 1941. They would eventually have three children together, but their early marriage years were interrupted by World War II. Maurice spent four years in the United States Navy as a machinist mate serving in the Aleutian Islands during the Japanese occupation of that area and later in the South Pacific where the jeep carrier he served on was bombed off of Saipan.

Upon leaving the Navy, Maurice settled in to work as a mechanic for the City of Seattle. He worked at the Seattle Police Garage repairing police cars before moving on to mechanic's duty with Seattle Transit/Metro, the job from which he ultimately would retire.

After raising his three children, Maurice married Doris Christman in 1973. Maurice became Dad to her five children as he and Doris raised her family together. He will be specially remembered for his sense of humor, his love of cars and his penchant for silly puns. The family resided for years in St. Matthew's Catholic Church parish and presently belong to the parish at St. Thomas More.

"Wilkie" is survived by Doris, his wife of 43 years, and his children: Mike (Nancy), Terry (Marilyn), Linda (Dell), Shannon, Shawn (Barbara), Karalee, Mary Jeane and JoAnn (Doug). He also leaves behind 17 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

FUNERAL INFORMATION

Services will be held at the St. Thomas More Parish church, 6511 - 176th St. in Lynnwood on Friday, May 27 at 11:00 AM. Mass at 11:00 will be followed immediately by a reception at the church and will conclude with interment at Holyrood Cemetery, 205 NE 205th St. in Shoreline.

Memorial

There's a Reason

For every burden that we bear,
For every sorrow, every care,
There's a reason
For every grief that bows the head,
For every tear-drop that is shed,
There's a reason
For every hurt, for every plight,
For every lonely pain racked night,
There's a reason
But if we trust God as we should,
All must work out for our good,
He knows the reason.

Author Unknown

For Those I Loved and Who Loved Me

When I am gone, release me, let me go,
I have so many things to see and do.
You mustn't tie yourself to me with tears...
Be happy that we had so many years.
I gave to you my love.
You can only guess how much
you gave to me in happiness.
I thank you for the love you each have shown,
but now it is time I traveled on alone.
So grieve awhile for me if grieve you must.
Then let your grief be comforted by trust.
It is only for awhile that we must part,
so bless the memories within your heart.
I won't be far away.
For life goes on.
So if you need me, call and I will come.
Though you can't see me or touch me, I'll be near...
And if you listen with your heart you'll hear...
All of my love around you soft and clear.
And then, when you must come this way alone,
I'll greet you with a smile and
"Welcome Home."

Author Unknown