Timothy Irish

Timothy S. Irish, 60, died unexpectedly at home on March 12, 2013. Tim was born in Portland on July 10, 1952, and moved to Ellensburg in 1958 with his parents, where he attended Hebeler Elementary School and graduated from Ellensburg High School in 1971.

Tim volunteered for the Kittitas County Search and Rescue for approximately 15 years, leading into his early 30s. In 1975, Tim met the love of his life, Linda McNeil, and her two children. They were married Jan. 1, 1977, in Ellensburg, and had two more children in the following years.

As a young boy, Tim's mother taught him how to fish, which became his lifelong passion. He was an avid fly-fisherman and became the very first licensed guide on the Yakima River in the early '80s with his business, Irish's Guide Service which operated for many years. Tim also looked forward to his annual elk hunting trip with his close friends up until his final year of life.

During Tim's working career, he wore many hats. In his 20s, he worked for a couple of years in Lake Tahoe, Nev., as a key man at the Cal Neva Casino during the filming of "The Godfather II." In the mid '80s Tim and his wife managed Irish's Charburger on Main Street in Ellensburg. He then began working at the Royal Coachman Fly Shop in Renton, until they closed their doors. Tim also managed the North Cascades Stehekin Lodge in Stehekin for 12 years where he found himself a second home, many good friends and a broadened love for the outdoors.

Upon his return home from Stehekin, he began working for Worley Bugger Fly Co., where he sold retail, shared his basic underwater knowledge, and instructed many fly-fishers how to cast and tie flies. Tim had also written many articles for various magazines/newspapers which he thoroughly enjoyed.

In February 2013, Tim experienced a life-changing event, which he was overjoyed and honored by until his last moments. He was reunited with his birth mother, grandmother, three siblings as well as many other new family members. Tim had never in his life been happier than he was in his final month.

Tim was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Everett and Margaret Irish of Ellensburg. He was survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Linda Irish of Ellensburg; two sons, Jeremy (Diane) Irish of Brockton, Mass., and Erin "Sam" Irish of Ellensburg; two beautiful daughters, Zalyna (Gary) Huss, and Elyse Snyder, both of Ellensburg; mother Bonnie Lafrenz of Post Falls, Idaho; brother, Alan (Beverly) Lafrenz, of Cincinnati, Ohio; sisters, Betti (Bryan) Gieser, and Cari Lafrenz both of Spokane Valley; and grandmother Nadine Driggs of Moses Lake. He was blessed with nine grandchildren, Allie and Kane Huss, Calei and Connor Nocivelli, Jayson and Audrey Irish, Lizzy Snyder and Michael and Patrick Warner. Tim was survived by many other family members, numerous close friends and his beloved dog, Dakota.

He will be remembered by his love and passion for fly fishing, his dry and witty sense of humor, and his appreciation for nature.

There will be a memorial held at the Sue Lombard Dining Hall on University Way in Ellensburg, on Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 2 p.m. Pictures, memorabilia and/or stories welcomed and appreciated.