James Mclean

Obituary James K. McLean of Anderson Island, WA, passed peacefully at home on September 5, 2010, surrounded by family. He was 77 years old. Born in Aberdeen, Washington to Neil Alexander McLean and Aileen Kenney McLean, Jim graduated high school from Bellarmine Preparatory School in Tacoma, where he excelled in the classics, including Greek, Latin, French, and Truancy. He remained lifelong friends with many of his classmates (hail class of 1950!), who met regularly, laughed, planned for the future, and celebrated the lives of those who had gone before them. Now we celebrate his life. He served our country (U.S. Army) in Tokyo and Seoul and worked for the National Security Agency. After an honorable discharge, he began work in Seattle in the insurance industry. After working in San Francisco (where he met Lorraine (Lorrie) Ward), Chicago, and Houston (where he married Lorrie in 1960), he returned to Seattle and developed into one of the top specialty risk insurance underwriters in the nation. He was a 44-year friend of Bill W. He remained active throughout his life in volunteer civic work, serving as a board member on several organizations including Residence XII, CYO, Surplus Line Association of Washington, City of Hope, the Anderson Island Association, and the Anderson Island Citizens Advisory Board. He was an avid tennis player, squash player, and loved to bicycle. In 1993, six months after open-heart surgery, Jim completed the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic. Jim excelled most at being a devoted husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, brother, uncle, family member, and friend. Jim and Lorrie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in April of this year. Jim is survived by Lorrie and their five children, Patricia of DuPont, WA, Brian (and Julie) of Bellevue, WA, Joseph (and Yoko) of Tsuruoka, Yamagata, JAPAN, Joan of Lake Stevens, WA, and Andrew of New York, NY, ten grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, Jim's sister Jane McKay, his many nieces and nephews, and his close friend Kendel (McLean) Lyman. He was preceded in death by his brother Neil. He would want us to mention everyone who touched his life. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. John Bosco in Lakewood, WA, at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, September 11, preceded at 10:15 A.M. by a Rosary devotion. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be sent to GRACE (cancergrace.org), Bellarmine Preparatory School (as we understand his tuition may be delinquent) (bellarmineprep.org), and St. John Bosco (stjbosco.org). Online condolences may be left at www.GaffneyCares.com. Jim, may the roads continue to rise to meet you.