Ralph Hugh Minor

Ralph Hugh Minor, age 98, passed away peacefully on January 5, 2024, at his home on Tulalip Bay after enjoying Christmas festivities with his extended family and celebrating his 72nd wedding anniversary on December 28th with Jackie and their three children.

The eldest of five children, Hugh was born in Everett on February 22, 1925, to Ralph and Hazel (Sorensen) Minor. He attended Jackson and Jefferson Elementary Schools and South Junior High School. The family then moved to a 3 acre “farm” near Snohomish but remained active in the Everett First Baptist Church. His most important daily home task was milking his cow and feeding the goats before catching the bus to school. While attending Snohomish High School, Hugh became an Eagle Scout, senior class president and valedictorian for the class of 1942.

After graduating, he enrolled at the UW in engineering and joined the Naval ROTC. Hugh received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, where he graduated with distinction with the class of 1947. He then served as a line officer for 3 years on the Light Cruiser Astoria (CL 90), making cruises to Alaska, China, Japan, Korea and Guam.

Following his Naval service, Hugh completed a year of pre-med at the UW and became a member of Delta Tau Delta before he was accepted to the UW Medical School, class of 1954. Highlights during med school were his marriage to Jackie Carpenter of Everett in 1951 and the birth of their first child, Karen, in 1953.

After medical school, Hugh, Jackie, and Karen moved to Philadelphia for his general internship. Ralph was born there in 1954. Next stop was a 3-year ophthalmology residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Deane was born in 1956. His first year of practice in ophthalmology was in Kennewick, WA. Although the practice flourished, both Jackie and Hugh wanted to be nearer their large families and closer to Puget Sound, so they moved back to Everett in September 1959 where he went into private practice. Hugh had the Physicians Eye Clinic built in 1968. In addition to a busy ophthalmology practice, Hugh was an active member and served as President of the Washington State Academy of Ophthalmology, the Snohomish County Physicians Corporation, and the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmology.

Upon their return to Everett, Jackie and Hugh bought a summer beach cabin on Tulalip Bay. When the three children were in their early teens, Hugh bought 3 C-Larks and a 505 and organized a sailing school on Tulalip Bay. In 1988 Chuck Shigley designed a year-round house to replace their small cabin. The “new” house has been an idyllic place to live and to host scores of family functions and community events.

Boating and especially sailing was central to Hugh’s life. Notable were the many family cruises north into Canada, first via sailboat, and later with their power boat, Mentor. The 1978 Victoria-Maui race with sons Ralph and Deane as crewmembers, sailing to Tahiti with Chuck and Charlie Guildner, and his summer cruise to S.E. Alaska with Jackie aboard Mentor in 2001 were especially memorable. The Cruising Club of America was one of his favorite organizations.

Sun Valley was a home away from home beginning in 1968. Jackie and Hugh spent most of each winter there following retirement in 1991. Hugh often skied six days a week with Bob Romano and others, into his early eighties. For 20 years Hugh enjoyed being a volunteer with Jackie at the annual Sun Valley Jazz Festival.

Hugh had many other interests as well. He was an avid gardener, growing tomatoes from seed into his 90’s. After Jackie and Hugh moved to Priest Point from Everett, Hugh found an empty city lot behind them. He bought it and created a fantastic garden of fruits, vegetables, and beehives. The focus was the pumpkin patch. Every fall, the grandchildren came with friends for a pumpkin patch party, a highlight of Hugh’s year! Hugh loved photography and stayed abreast of this rapidly changing medium for decades. He was a digital pioneer and left behind a treasure trove of photos. He enjoyed HAM radio: WB7POK out. Hugh also loved to tinker with his boats and spent untold hours changing oil and applying bottom paint to the hulls of his boats, amongst other tasks.

Hugh supported many charitable groups and was a dedicated member of the Everett First Presbyterian Church. He was an active member of the Republican party.

Hugh is predeceased by his brothers Jack and Don and sister Doris.

Hugh is survived by his wife of 72 years, Jackie Carpenter Minor; brother Dean; daughter Karen Jones; sons Ralph (Mary) and Deane (Leslie); grandchildren Heather Jones (Jonathon Ebnet), Bridget Cressman (Kyle), Chloe Luce (Ricky), Matthew Minor, Emmett Minor, Paul Minor; and Charlotte Minor plus 8 great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the First Presbyterian Church of Everett, 2936 Rockefeller Ave, Everett 98201; Providence Foundation, 916 Pacific Ave, Everett 98201; Providence Hospice, 1615 75th St SW Suite 210, Everett 98203; Everett Gospel Mission, 3711 Smith Ave, Everett 98201; or a charity of your choice.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, March 3rd at 2:00pm at the First Presbyterian Church of Everett. A reception will follow at the church.