My call to the Diaconate began as a young adult. Being in my teens, I had not identified that the call was diaconal in nature and so I continued with my education as that was what was expected in our family. I graduated from Sammamish High School. After graduation I attended Central Washington University and later graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in education. I am a true Washingtonian being born in Seattle, baptized at the Church of Ascension and confirmed at Grace Episcopal Church in Ellensburg. I grew up in Seattle and Bellevue and I am the oldest of three girls.
I am married and have been with my wife for over 45 years. We have a daughter and live in Everett. As a longtime member of Trinity Everett, I was raised up and sponsored by the people of Trinity for Holy Orders. After many years of discernment, I was ordained to the Diaconate on 10/28/2017 and assigned by Bishop Rickel to be the Deacon at St. Dunstan’s Shoreline. My wife and I have been and are involved with various feeding ministries both at Trinity Everett and St. Dunstan’s.
I am retired now, but the majority of my working career was in the education and medical fields. My training in both fields helped and equipped me for mission work in both Haiti and Belize, providing healthcare and nutrition education while learning, observing and addressing what we saw as social inequities. I believe that we are called to love and serve all God’s people and to respect the dignity of every human being.
In my spare time, I find great peace and solitude in the sport of golf where God’s creation is abundant. Golf also provides me with the opportunity to laugh at myself and not take the game or life too seriously. When the game doesn’t go as planned, my wife reminds me that there is another opportunity just around the corner. Additionally, we find great joy and laughter in the fostering of cats and kittens as volunteers for the Everett Animal Shelter. Here too, as in golf, we see God’s creation and give Him thanks for all His creation and His creatures.