Leland Stanford Larrick Jr.
November 05, 1927 - May 11, 2013
Active To The Very End
Lee was born November 5, 1927, passed away at home in Bothell, Wash., on May 11, 2013.
Lee liked saying he was born in Pysht, Wash., because of the reactions he would get to the town’s name. He was actually born in nearby Port Angeles, Wash., to Eliza May Hopf Larrick and Leland Stanford Larrick, Sr. Lee had the distinguished honor of being Leland Stanford Larrick, Jr. and was proud to carry on his father’s name. Lee’s younger brother, Donald Earl Larrick, was born in 1929.
Donald and Lee’s early years were on the Olympic Peninsula, while their father cooked in the logging camps. The family then moved into Port Angeles to enroll the boys in school. Lee graduated from Port Angeles’ Roosevelt High School in 1944, claiming the right to be called a Teddy in honor of Teddy Roosevelt. After high school, Lee was inducted into the United States Army during World War II. He was honorably discharged from the Army in May 1947. Using the GI Bill, Lee obtained a bachelor’s and a master’s of education degree from Western Washington University.
Lee began his career on Whidbey Island in Langley in 1950, as a teacher and principal of Langley Elementary School. He married Beverly Carlson and they began their family on the island. In 1962, Lee moved to Bothell, as the principal of Lockwood Elementary. In 1970, he was honored as Outstanding Administrator of the Year for the Northshore School District. Lee retired from Northshore in 1986 as the principal of Maywood Elementary. One of the most memorable of Lee’s 35 years of service to education was 1984, as an exchange principal through the Victoria Teacher Exchange of Victoria, Australia.
A great passion of Lee’s life was the cabin at Fish Lake, Wash. He purchased a partially constructed A-frame cabin that he finished over several years with the help of his children—pounding nails, digging ditches and much more. There are many memories of everyone working on the cabin and playing in the summer sun and winter snow.
After his marriage to Beverly ended, he met Ella Johnson Colson, who happily became Ella Larrick in 1985. They enjoyed traveling and joyful hours at Fish Lake. The greatest joy and happiest memories are of the hours on Fish Lake in a small row boat catching trout that would be sizzling in a frying pan within an hour of being caught. Lee also enjoyed woodworking, particularly creating beautiful grandmother clocks for his family, and playing pinochle with the “jolly boys.”
Parkinson’s and heart disease took Lee out, but did NOT TAKE HIM DOWN! He was active to the very end. Lee is survived by his wife, Ella Larrick; children Margaret Elise (Eric Dickman), John Larrick (Dolores), James Earl Larrick (Lisa), and Mary Carlson; step-children, Kim Bodnar (Paul), Kathryn Unruh (Loren), Sara Ahola, (Jason); six grandchildren Gregory, Mitchell, Sydni, Rachel, Evan, and Nicole; seven step-grandchildren Emily, Meaghan, Anna, Evan, Dean, Bryan, Henry, and Samuel.
FUNERAL INFORMATION
A celebration of Lee's life will be held Monday June 17th from 5-8pm at the Hollywood School House, 14810 NE 145th St. Woodinville, WA 98072. All who knew and loved him are invited.
DONATIONS
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charities below.