Margaret and Edwin East

Edwin passed away at Swedish Medical Center in Edmonds, Washington due to complications of Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 87 on August 18, 2017. Margaret passed away the following Monday August 21, 2017 at Quail Park of Lynnwood Memory Care due to complications of Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 88 less than 72 hours after her beloved husband.

Edwin Harris East

Ed is survived by his two sons Patrick (Julie) Bothell, Washington and Christopher (Janell) McFarland, Wisconsin and six grandchildren Jennifer, Laura (Trevor), Patrick, Allison, Ashley and Kyle. He is predeceased by his brother Gordon (Clair). Ed was born November 1, 1929 in Glendive, Montana to Albert and Charlotte East. He attended school in Montana and Washington graduating from Powell County High School in Deer Lodge, Montana class of ‘47. He attended the University of Washington receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology class of ’51 and was a member of the University of Washington Chapter of the Society of the Sigma Xi fraternity.

He met Margaret Reidy on a blind date, they fell in love and were married on October 20, 1951. Ed enlisted into the Army and went to Fort Ord, California for basic training. He was transferred to Fort Lee, Virginia where Margaret joined him and was assigned to the Quartermaster Training Command, being discharged in 1953. Buying a second-hand car from another soldier, they made their way back to Washington state and found an apartment in Wallingford.

Ed attended graduate school at the University of Washington obtaining a Master’s Degree of Science Geology in 1956. He was hired by Union Oil of California (Unocal) as an oil exploration geologist that year and transferred the family to Los Angeles to the corporate headquarters. After a short stint in Los Angeles, Ed was transferred to Denver and then to Anchorage. The family survived the great Alaskan earthquake of 1964. In 1969 Ed took a managerial job with Unocal in Houston. After 5 years he was promoted to Vice President of North Sea Operations and moved to London, England. His work also involved oil exploration off the coast of Thailand and the Middle East. After 11 years overseas, Ed was transferred back to Los Angeles and became Chief Geologist. His retirement came in 1992 after 35 years of outstanding service with the company.

Ed and Margaret moved to Bellevue, Washington and bought a house in Sky Mountain, then moved to Providence Point in Issaquah, The Chateau at Bothell Landing Assisted Living and Quail Park of Lynnwood Memory Care.

Ed was a season ticket holder for UW Husky Football. He was donor to the UW Foundation designated to the College of Arts and Science Earth and Space Department and contributed 20 years as a volunteer to the Burke Museum classifying fossils and participating in the annual Dino day. Ed sponsored a contribution from former employer, Unocal Corporation, to the College of Arts and Science Peter Misch Fellowship Fund.

Margaret Louise East

She is survived by her two sons Patrick (Julie) Bothell, Washington and Christopher (Janell) McFarland, Wisconsin and six grandchildren Jennifer, Laura (Trevor), Patrick, Allison, Ashley and Kyle and her sisters Rosemary, Eloise and Martha. She is predeceased by her brothers Jack and Bob and sisters Janette and Pat.

Born to Thomas and Helen Reidy on November 26, 1928 in Akron, Ohio, she graduated from Central High School class of ’46. She attended Akron University and Kent State.. Her brother Jack asked her if she wanted to head west to Seattle where other relatives were living and she said yes. She met Ed East on a blind date arranged by a friend, fell in love and were married on October 20, 1951. Ed enlisted into the Army and after basic training, Margaret joined Ed at Fort Lee, Virginia. After Ed was discharged they returned to Seattle and Margaret’s brother-in-law Dave got her a job at Peoples National Bank on 4th and Pike in Seattle. She supported Ed through graduate school and always remarked on how much time it took and how many copies of Ed’s thesis she worked on. She resigned once their first son Patrick was born and Ed took a job with Union Oil of California in 1956. Christopher was born in Anchorage in 1968.

Margaret was a devoted loving wife and mother raising her two sons and supporting Ed with his career and the six moves from state to state and overseas. She loved playing bridge, hosting many bridge parties and company get-togethers. Margaret and Ed traveled around Europe, the Middle East and the Far East. She would visit her family in Ohio and Wisconsin as well. Planting flowers (especially pansies) were her passion as well as hosting and cooking fantastic holiday meals. Both Ed and Margaret enjoyed countless hours in their garden and loved watching the Seattle Mariners together.

Married almost 66 years, Ed and Margaret’s loving marriage set a wonderful example for their sons, Patrick and Christopher, their daughter’s-in-law, and their grandchildren.

Funeral Mass will be held September 1, 2017 at 11:00 am at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 1121 228th Ave SE. Sammamish, WA 98075. Interment will be following at Tahoma National Cemetery 18600 SE 240th St. Kent, WA 98042 at 1:30 pm.

The family would like to thank the staff at Quail Park of Lynnwood Memory Care, Evergreen Hospice Care and Dr. Andy Lai for their care of Ed and Margaret.