Many of you knew my husband Bob. He was always so supportive, and by my side, especially in recent years; while I served first as State Committeewoman and currently as Chair. Before he retired, and was less able to work, he could be found putting up candidates’ signs for every race going all the way back to Jim Buck’s race for the State Legislature.
He fought valiantly against the Critical Areas Ordinance, going so far as to represent himself in court against a lawsuit brought to stop him, by then-commissioner, Steve Tharinger, et al. (The Building Industry of Washington, a couple of other counties, and other organizations came alongside him in that suit with Amicus Briefs, making its way to the Superior Court, where it was rejected by the State Supreme Court.) He also ran for county commissioner, and was elected as Clallam Conservation Board Supervisor.
We pushed back for many years, calling our friends and neighbors to show up for the Ecology meetings, against the metering of the wells. He would stand up to testify at county commissioners’ meetings on a variety of subjects, from taxes to regulation, always citing Article I Section I of the Washington State Constitution, and then asking, “which of our individual rights are you protecting with this ordinance, or action?” He let his voice be heard.
He was always available to work for the Party where and when needed, including pulling the hay wagon in the 4th of July parade, and we often called politics our “hobby” as it took so much of our time!
Bob was my best friend, as well as a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. He never failed to encourage me in whatever I set out to do, and always told and showed me he loved me. We loved to take rides together, as one of the things he enjoyed most was driving. Over the past few years, we were driving a lot, back and forth to southern Nevada where my mother and stepdad lived, to help them do projects that they could no longer do. When my mother passed a few years ago, we continued to drive there to help out my stepfather, until he passed.
Bob was a friend and counselor to so many, as is witnessed by the outpouring on Facebook. He was a great guy – one of the few really good ones. He went quietly about helping people and not talking about it – just doing. He was a good Christian man, and a role model to his children, grandchildren and many, many friends. When he worked at the car lot in Sequim, the owner (brother-in-law Jerry Levesque) used to joke that it was “Bob’s meeting place”, as so many came by to visit with him.
On Bob’s last day here on the earth, he did two of his favorite things: In the morning, he was out riding his lawnmower – which he loved doing. In the afternoon, he picked up our grandson Steven, and went out to put up some of my big signs that had come in for my campaign. When I arrived home, he was all excited about getting that project done, and asked if I’d seen them on my way home from P.A. – which of course, I had! 🙂 That evening, after I had gone to bed, he stayed up to watch TV in his favorite chair, closed his eyes in sleep, and the Lord came to take him home. He was 75. He is now in Heaven, having been greeted by his dear friends Dan Perry and Dave Cummins, among many many others – and rejoicing in being with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am happy for him; he is no longer in any pain. I miss him greatly, and that sadness will be with me for the rest of my life. We know we are here for only a short time. We were married for more than 31 years, and I have those precious memories of our times together to cherish. I feel blessed that we did have that time. And, I know I’ll see him again one day.
We’re having a small family burial at this time, due to the governor’s restrictions on the number of people who can get together. We will hold a celebration of his life in November, after the restrictions for gatherings have been lifted, and will keep you advised as to the date, in the event you’d like to join us.
I will be continuing to run my race for the State Legislature. Bob would want that; he was so supportive of the race and campaign, and looking forward to being a part of making a positive change in our state government.
Thank you all for your support and prayers during this time. I am very thankful.
Sue
______
Sue Forde, Chair
Clallam County Republican Party
and candidate for Washington State Representative, Dist. 24, Pos. 1
