Merle A. Lewis
Merle A. Lewis was born January 29, 1921, in Tacoma, Pierce Co., WA, and died October 2, 2007, in Bremerton, Kitsap Co., WA, at age 86. Buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Bremerton, Kitsap Co., WA. He is the son of Hjalmer Lewis of Waupaca, Waupaca Co., WI, and Grace Lulu Rand of Royalton Twp., Waupaca Co., WI.
Betty Jean Besancon was born July 28, 1924, in Yakima, Yakima Co., WA, and died July 31, 1990, in Bremerton, Kitsap Co., WA, at age 66. Buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Bremerton, Kitsap Co., WA. She is the daughter of John Lawrence Besancon of Stephen, Marshall Co., MN, and Gertrude Abby Draper of Staples, Todd Co., MN.
Merle A. Lewis and Betty Jean Besancon were married in Sumner, Pierce Co., WA.
Merle A. Lewis and Betty Jean (Besancon) Lewis had two children:
TIMELINE
Merle A. Lewis and Betty Jean (Besancon) Lewis are buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Bremerton, Kitsap Co., WA.
The WWI Draft Registration Form taken on September 12, 1918, shows John Lawrence Besancon shows he is a Rancher born February 2, 1900, and living at RFD 2, Selah, Yakima Co., WA. He is living with Irma Besancon.
The 1920 U. S. Census taken on January 3, 1920, shows Elmer Lewis (age 36) born in Wisconsin of Swedish and Danish-born parents is a cigar maker owning his home and living in 6519 Tacoma Ave., Ward 5, Tacoma, Pierce Co., WA. Living with him is his wife Grace Lewis (age 34) born in Wisconsin of Wisconsin-born parents. Also living there is their son Eugene Lewis (age 6) born in Washington of Wisconsin-born parents.
John Lawrence Besancon and Gertrude Abby Draper were married August 11, 1920, in Yakima, Yakima Co., WA.
The 1921 Tacoma City Directory shows Lewis, Elmer (Grace L) cigar mkr h 4633 S Park av.
Merle A. Lewis was born January 29, 1921, in Tacoma, Pierce Co., WA.
Betty Jean Besancon was born July 28, 1924, in Yakima, Yakima Co., WA.
Betty's father, John Lawrence Besancon, died January 26, 1925, in Yakima, Yakima Co., WA. He is buried in Yelm Cemetery, Yelm, Thurston Co., WA.
The Lewis family moved to Sumner, Pierce Co., WA, in 1927.
The 1930 U. S. Census taken on May 10, 1930, shows Elmer Lewis (age 45) born in Wisconsin of Swedish and Norwegian-born parents and married at age 21 is a cigar manufacturer at a cigar company owning his home and living on Stewart Road, Webstone Precinct, Pierce Co., WA. Living with him is his wife Grace L. Lewis (age 43) born in Wisconsin of Wisconsin-born parents and married at age 19. Also living there are their sons: Eugene E. Lewis (age 17); and Merle A. Lewis (age 9). Both children were born in Washington of Wisconsin-born parents.
Betty is shown in the Spartan Yearbook for Sumner High School, Sumner, Pierce Co., WA where she was a Senior in 1942. Her picture appears on page 13, and her name also is indexed to pages 23 and 24. Betty was also Advertising Manager for the 1942 yearbook.
Betty Jean (Besancon) Lewis died July 31, 1990, in Bremerton, Kitsap Co., WA, at age 66.
Merle A. Lewis died October 2, 2007, in Bremerton, Kitsap Co., WA, at age 86.
The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA, October 9, 2007
Merle Lewis of Bremerton
Jan. 30, 1921 to Oct. 3, 2007
Veteran
Merle Lewis, 86, passed away October 3 in Bremerton. He was born January 30, 1921 in Tacoma to Grace and Elmer Lewis. He graduated from Sumner High School in 1939. Merle married Betty Jean (Besancon) in Sumner, WA. He served in the US Navy as a Machinery Repairman 1st Class in 1944-1946 (WWII) and 1950-1952 (Korea); he achieved the World War II Victory Medal. For 35 years, he was employed at PSNS as a Machinist Planner & Estimator; he retired in 1976. After moving to Gilberton in 1949, he became a very dedicated volunteer member of the Brownsville Fire Dept. (Dist. 15), serving 29 years and 18 as Fire Chief. He was very instrumental in the early development and success of the Kitsap Co. Volunteer Fire Program serving as a member of the Kitsap-Mason Co. Firefighters Assn., Kitsap Co. Fire Chiefs Assn., and the WA State Fire Chiefs Assn. and also volunteered at the CK Food Bank for many years. Merle enjoyed boating, camping, and cruising. He was a lifetime member of the Bremerton Elks No. 1181 and a longtime member of the Elk's Travel 'Fun Rv Club. He is preceded in death by his wife in 1990 and brother, Eugene Lewis. Merle will missed by his special companion, Lorene Brannan of Bremerton; son, Gary (Sherie) Lewis of Poulsbo; daughter, Joyce (Wes) Tallman of Bocas Del Toro, Panama; 5 grandchildren, Duane (Andrea) Barraugh, Dawn (Chris) Tift, Brenda (Dave) Lott, Eileen (Brad) Bogle, and Pam (Mark) Amundson; and 5 great-grandchildren, Brady Lott, Ashley Barraugh, Collin Barraugh, Riley Lott, and Clayton Amundson. Memorial donations may be made to the Central Kitsap Medic I Foundation, 5300 NW Newbury Hill Rd., Silverdale, WA 98383 or Central Kitsap Food Bank, 3790 NW Anderson Hill Rd., Silverdale, WA 98383. Memorial Service will be held at the Bremerton Elks Lodge No. 4131 Pine Rd. NE Bremerton on Fri., Oct 12, at 1 p.m. followed by a celebration of Merle's life.
Merle A. Lewis, Jan. 30, 1921 - Oct. 3, 2007
The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA, January 12, 2006
ROSE SIGNAL C
Dec. 1, 1922 To Jan. 8, 2006
Rose Marie Signal, 83, of Poulsbo died Sunday at Martha & Mary nursing home. She was born in Anaconda, Mont., to Thomas and Mary (Patch) Dire. She attended high school there and married Clayton Signal in 1949. Mrs. Signal worked as a nurse’s aide at Martha & Mary for 25 years. She also was a devoted homemaker, wife and mother. She enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and eating Snickers. Her husband; and her siblings, Virginia, Dominic and Frances, preceded her in death. She is survived by her sons, William Signal (Dorothy) of Palo Alto, Calif., and Thomas Signal (Anne) of Keyport; her daughter, Sherie Signal Lewis (Gary) of Poulsbo; her sister, Alice MacDonald of Ripon, Calif.; her grandchildren, Brenda, Eileen, Pamela and Tommy; her three great-grandchildren; her co-workers at Martha & Mary, especially Denise and Joannie. Memorial service: 2:15 p.m. Jan. 20 at Martha & Mary.