Derek Prescott Wood

Obituary Derek Prescott Wood, age 53, of Mercer Island, WA, passed away on Saturday, July 7, 2018. Derek was born on November 18, 1964, in Seattle, WA, to Stearns John Wood and Emily June (Vylasek) Wood, and is survived by his parents; his sister, Dana (Wood) Erickson (Steve) of Kirkland, WA; his brothers, Darren Wood (Amy) of Tacoma; and Darryl Wood (Lynne) of Tacoma. He has five nieces, Emily and Ashley Wood; Katie Erickson; and Isabella and Autumn Wood; two nephews, Jason Wood, and Shane Erickson. Derek moved to Tacoma with his family in May 1965 and settled in University Place, WA in October 1967. Derek graduated from Curtis High School in University Place in 1983. He then attended the University of Puget Sound, graduating with a BA in computer science/business in June 1987. Upon graduation he joined the Boeing Company where he worked for 14+ years as a senior computer engineer on military airplane projects. He also worked as a computer engineer consultant for 7+ years. He married Sally Mei-Ling Chan on October 18, 2003 in Seattle, WA, and they settled in Mercer Island, WA, where he resided until his death. Derek enjoyed hiking, kayaking, travel, gemology & astronomy He and Sally traveled to Scandinavia, Iceland, Tahiti, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Alaska, and the United States. Derek took several gemology classes from Gemological Institute of America in CA and received a GIA certificate. A Catholic Requiem Mass for Derek will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, July 20, 2018, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Tacoma, WA. A Rosary will be said at 10:30 am before Mass. He will be interred at Calvary Cemetery in Tacoma, at approximately 2:00 pm. Memorial donations may be made in Derek's name to Providence St. Vincent's Care Center, 4831 35th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98126 Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home