Frank Wall McDermott Jr.

Our dear father, Frank Wall McDermott, Jr. passed away peacefully on September 27, at 99 years old, just a month shy of his 100th birthday. He resided independently and was beautifully cared for at the Wyatt House on Bainbridge Island, WA. His mind was sharp and his health was remarkably good. He was surrounded by family and dear friends at the Wyatt House.

Frank was born to Frank Wall McDermott, Sr. and Edna Inglis of Seattle, WA on October 27, 1916. His only brother, John Inglis ‘Cappy’ McDermott passed away at age 21. Frank, who was fondly known as ‘Junie’, was married to our mother Patricia McCarthy of Los Angeles, CA for 58 years. Patricia passed away in 2008 in Issaquah, WA. Frank is survived by his five children and their spouses, fourteen grandchildren and a great grandson. His eldest, Janie McDermott resides in Seattle and has 3 daughters; Molly, Cathy and Carrie Biell. Carrie is married to Meg Cummins and has a son Jackson. Frank’s eldest son John Inglis McDermott and wife Elizabeth Johns reside on Bainbridge Island. John’s children are Devin, Max and Dugan. Dugan and his wife Samantha live in Moorseville, NC. Frank’s daughter Molly and her husband David Evans reside in Laguna Beach, CA with daughters Megan and Nia. Frank’s son Thomas Hull McDermott and wife Edelyn reside in Kirkland, WA. Tom’s children are Elise, Evan and Tess. Frank’s youngest son Frank W. ‘Chip’ McDermott III and his wife Danis reside on Bainbridge Island with their children Sol, Isabel and June.

Frank attended Garfield High School and the University of Washington in Seattle. His Uncle Frank Hull, married to Jenny Inglis, managed the Olympic Hotel in downtown Seattle for years during which time Frank Jr. was a frequent visitor in his youth. Some of our father’s Olympic Hotel memories include dancing with Jean Harlow in the Grand Ballroom as a teenager and meeting President Theodore Roosevelt and Clark Gable.

Frank was in the US Army Air Corp as a control tower operator in Chico, CA and at Sky Harbor in Phoenix, AZ. He took great pride in his service. From 1946 – 48 he worked for Nash Kelvinator which later merged with Hudson to become American Motors. Dad was a distributor for Chrysler Motors until he left to join Edsel, a special products division of Ford. He finished out his career doing automobile fleet leasing in Southern CA.

Frank’s happiest times were traveling with our family to most of the National Parks in the Western US with our travel trailer in tow. With his lifelong love for the water we also enjoyed many boating outings in Big Bear Lake, Newport Beach and Catalina, CA. When he and our mother retired in 1989 they returned to Bellevue and then Issaquah, WA where he continued to enjoy boating in ‘God’s Country’. He was an avid tennis, golf, baseball and football fan and never missed a major tournament or Mariners/Seahawks game.

Frank is laid to rest with his beloved wife Patricia at Acacia Memorial Park in Seattle, WA.

Arrangements under the direction of Acacia Memorial Park & Funeral Home, Seattle, Washington.