Beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather Clarence Robert Wayt, a long-time Arlington resident, passed away in his sleep on Feb. 14, 2009. He was 87.

Clarence was born Sept. 3, 1921 in Auburn, Wash., the son of Charles and May Wayt. He moved with his family to Arlington at a young age and spent most of the rest of his life in the community, making scores of lifelong friends and acquaintances. He graduated from Arlington High School in 1939 and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, including two years in the South Pacific.

He married Ruth Eleanor Westby of Arlington on June 17, 1944, beginning a union that lasted more than 64 years and produced four children, nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren (with another on the way). Clarence was a dedicated family man above all.

Much of Clarence’s working life was spent as a carpenter. He had masterful woodworking and construction skills that are still in evidence today in many homes and businesses in the Arlington area.

After World War II, he opened his own cabinet shop on Olympic Avenue in Arlington. In 1948, he was hired as a carpenter at U.S. Naval Radio Station at Jim Creek, near Arlington. In 1967, he was promoted to planner-estimator at Jim Creek, a position he held until retirement in 1982.

Clarence and Ruth enjoyed an active retirement for many years. As part-time commercial fishermen, they took their pleasure boat to southeastern Alaska 11 times. For 10 years, they owned a second residence in Mesa, Ariz., a blessed getaway from the Northwest’s winter rains where they enjoyed hosting family members and friends. They also traveled coast to coast and to Alaska in their motor home.

Clarence’s many personal interests included woodworking, fishing, hunting, boating and gardening. He was an extraordinary do-it-yourselfer, capable of building and fixing almost anything. He took enormous pride in sharing his vast array of wood creations with family members and friends.

Also never to be forgotten are the wonderfully entertaining stories he told of his life and times. And many of the tales that can be told about his trademark temper are simply hilarious.

In addition to his devoted wife, Ruth, he leaves his children and their spouses: Sharon Cook and her husband, Ron, of Arlington; Shirley Thompson and her husband, Bill, also of Arlington; Sandy Moore and her husband, David, of Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; and Bob Wayt and his wife, Karen, of Beaverton, Ore.

His father, mother and sister (Lena “Peg” Brown) preceded him in death in 1963, 1982 and 1975, respectively.

A memorial service celebrating the life of Clarence Wayt will be held Saturday, Feb. 21, at Magnolia Hall, 225 East Third Street, Arlington. His grateful family will be available to receive guests beginning at 1 p.m. The service will start at 1:30 with a reception to follow at the same location.

The family wishes to extend its deep appreciation to Dr. Christian Schmitt and the Puget Sound Kidney Center at Smokey Point for their care and kindness.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Neptune Society. Private interment will be completed in a family plot in Arlington Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Puget Sound Kidney Center at Smokey Point.