Guy Dean Roberts

Guy Dean Roberts was born in Idaho Falls, ID on December 16, 1933, to Guy Ariel Roberts and Minnie Williams. Guy's father, a World War I veteran had met Minnie Williams in Rigby, ID and after marriage moved to an 80 acre farm that had been given to them as a wedding present by Guy Sr.'s mother.

Guy or Dean, as he was called by his mother and father, was a happy child. He spent hours climbing a rock pile in the field and pretending he was an explorer on the great pyramids or the tallest mountain in the world. Walking along the canal and ditch banks he pretended to be walking the banks of the Amazon. On cold days he would lay on a chair with his feet in the oven of the wood stove to eliminate the chill. Reading comic books on cold winter nights by lamp light was a way to get through the long snowy winters. During spring, summer, and fall months, he watched his father work the family farm while his mother tended the home the way rural mothers did in the 1930s.

The death of Guy's father in 1941 was difficult for the whole family, but Minnie's marriage to Guy Ariel's brother Vernon Merle Roberts in 1943 helped fill a void in young Guy's life. 'Uncle Vern' as Guy called him, helped out at the farm when he could and when he took on the role of stepfather, Guy could not have been happier. Uncle Vern had become 'Pa'. Pa's western lifestyle left a long and lasting impression on guy. Riding horses, reading Louie Lamoure and Zane Grey, and grabbing a shot gun and hunting pheasants in the fields for hours were favorite past times.

The birth of Guy's brother, Vernon Dale, and sister, Sharon Kay, a few years later were happy times, as he had always wanted siblings. Guy had vivid recollections of World War II and actually tried to enlist at age 12. The recruiter told him he was a good American and to come back in a few years and he said he would. At school, Guy loved drama and wrote, as well as, directed plays and dreamed of becoming a playwright someday. Enjoying school more for the extra curricular activities kept him busy and kept Minnie & Vern busy in their attempts to keep him focused on his school-work, however Guy was always happy doing his own thing.

After high school, Guy worked at some local jobs and traveled to California where he kept his promise to enlist in the United States Army. It was 1953 and America was in the Korean War. After basic training, he was sent to Korea. The war was near its end, but still active enough for guy to recollect years later, that it was one of the most horrendous things he had ever seen. After his tour, he returned to the States and was discharged, but only remained out of the service for a year.

He then re-enlisted. He was sent back to Korea where the United States maintained a Peace Keeping Force. It was during this time that he met his future wife, Jin S. Moon. Guy always said he was impressed the first time he met her and they were married in 1959.

In the spring, the couple was made aware that Jin was with child and their baby would be born in December sometime. They were excited and started preparing for the new addition to the family. But this happiness was soon overshadowed by the notification that his Pa 'Uncle Vern' had passed away; he would later say that it was one of the most difficult times of his life. Much had not been said prior to Pa's passing and Guy carried this with him until his own death. He returned to Idaho for the funeral and to help his mother, brother and sister as best he could, and attend the funeral.

After his return to Korea, their Son Terry Lee Roberts was born in December of 1959. Guy being an avid comic book reader named his son after the strip 'Terry and the Pirates', with a considerable amount of objection from Jin the name stuck.

The family moved from Korea in 1960 to Monterey, CA where Guy was discharged.

Not long after, he was contacted by his cousin, Archie Roberts, who was now living in Seattle, WA. Archie told him there was much opportunity in Seattle as it was a growing city; the decision was made to move the family to Seattle.

Arriving in Seattle, they found a city on the move and decided this would be their home. Guy took a job as a hotel clerk and attended accounting classes. They made new friends almost immediately and these friendships, would last for 40 + years. He worked in the hotel business until 1967; he was then offered a job in the Alaskan Fishing Industry where he could use his newly acquired accounting skills. Working for Northern Processors until their close in the late 70's, Guy had found a business he enjoyed, but again experienced heartache that he would later describe as the biggest in his life. His 13 year marriage to Jin had suffered many set backs and in 1972, they divorced. He never re-married, but as time went on the wounds of this event healed and Jin and Guy remained best friends; attending family functions together, visiting life long friends and spending time kibitzing just like a married couple.

In early 1980, Guy was offered a position at Wards Cove Packing, one of the largest Alaskan fish processing companies in Seattle. For the next 12 years, he worked in both Seattle and Alaska and often said this was the happiest he had ever been professionally. He truly enjoyed the company, its ownership team and the employees. He retired from Wards Cove Packing in 1991.

Guy Dean Roberts spent his retirement years enjoying his family, friends and 3 favorite past times; watching Seattle Mariners Baseball, reading and completing crossword puzzles.

He will be missed by all that knew him.