Gary Berdeen

Gary Arthur Berdeen
AKA Seymour Butts
15 Dec 1946 - 13 Apr 2006

Clubs & Associations

Obituary

Gary Arthur Berdeen<bɾ Gary Arthur Berdeen Gary Berdeen, 59, of Kent, Washington, passed away at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, Washington, on April 13, 2006, after a short battle with cancer. Gary was born to Harold B. and Alvina Veilleux Berdeen on December 15, 1946, in Portland, Maine. He attended area schools and graduated from Waterville High School in 1965. He relocated to Culver City, California, after his discharge from the Air Force, where he owned and operated several award-winning flower shops while attending Pierce College. He became general manager of the Charles E. Sullivan Florist Shop, in Bellevue, shortly after moving to the Seattle area, in 1980. He later settled in Lynnwood and drove buses for both Greyhound and Journey Lines for many years. He had recently moved to his present home in Kent. A devout Catholic, he was a long-time member of St. Thomas More Parish in Lynnwood, Washington, and, at the time of his death, a member of St. Barbara's Parish in Black Diamond. He devoted much of his free time to volunteering at the church as a floral designer and served as a Eucharistic Minister. He headed a local project to get the AIDS Quilt to Everett Community College last December, for a display there on World AIDS Day. He was an accomplished dancer, talented artist, gifted garment maker, great cook and enjoyed community theater involvement with the Northwest Savoyards and the Driftwood Players. He loved to travel and meet new people, but the art of hospitality and welcome was truly his greatest gift. He is survived by his partner, William S. Hawkins, of Kent; son, Joseph Berdeen; sister, Linda Berdeen; and brother, Maurice Labbe, both of Maine. He was preceeded in death by his parents. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Friday, April 28, 2006, at St. Thomas More Parish, 6511-176th St. SW, in Lynnwood, with Father Jim Dalton officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Lifelong AIDS Alliance, Attn: Development Department, 1002 E. Seneca Street, Seattle, WA, 98122, or to Good Samaritan Home Health and Hospice Care, P.O. Box 1247, Puyallup, WA 98371. ^[1]

Remembrances

One of our original Puddletown members (and an original Crinoline), Gary Berdeen passed away last week Thursday.<bɾ He was diagnosed with an in-operable brain tumor right before Christmas. His partner, Will Hawkins was by his side.

We will be adding Gary's and Maxcy's Badges to the memorial panels in Anaheim this July.

Peace,
— Keith
Puddletown ^[2]