John S. Hartt

John S. Hartt

John S. Hartt, 85, passed away on July 4, 2013. John was born February 8, 1928, in Centralia, Washington, to Harold Bruce and Emma Grace Hartt. He attended school in Seattle and graduated from Garfield High school, after attending Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills, BC, Alberta, Canada for 18 months in his sophomore and junior years. John served in the Army. John was married in Seattle on October 2, 1951 (for 61 years) to Peggy Lou (Herron) Hartt. He worked for 33 years as a welder, diver, & yard foreman for Manson Construction. He loved his job and shared memories of it with family & friends often. He retired in 1990.

In 1991, John suffered a massive stroke and lost the use of his right side and speech. He worked very hard with Peggy faithfully at his side, always as his coach and helper. He relearned to walk and some limited speech but his independent spirit pushed him on to accomplish most things others are able to do. He inspired many people by his "can do" attitude and upbeat nature. No one was a stranger to John; all were friends after the first introduction.

He was a Boy Scout master [Troop 125]  for over 10 years and enjoyed the outdoors fishing, camping, hiking & backpacking, with his son, Randi, and the scouts he led and trained.

He loved time with the family going rock hounding and being at the ocean out surf or deep sea fishing. John enjoyed growing a vegetable garden,. He also loved to travel and saw much of Europe and New Zealand, & took many cruises with Peggy.

He was a member of Woodland Park Presbyterian Church and served as a deacon. John and Peggy were devoted to serving at the church's 'soup kitchen' one day each week for many years. John and Peggy raised their family, of three children, in Seattle in the house they bought at 6722 Sycamore NW and lived there for 51 years. They made the move to Ida Culver House Broadview over 5 years ago and they have many friends and fond memories of their time at ICHB. His beloved, Peggy Lou, passed on January, 10, 2013 and he missed her so much. He is survived by their daughter Kari A. Davenport and husband Dennis of Spokane Valley, WA and son, Randi S. Hartt and wife Marina of Seattle and son in law Dale Crum and wife Terri also of Spokane Valley, WA. He has eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by their youngest daughter Heidi Hartt-Crum in 1996. He also is survived by his sister Jane Hassell of Portland, OR and Isobel McCoy of Woodinville, WA, and many nieces, nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 27th 2013 at 11 am, at Woodland Park Presbyterian Church 225 N. 70th St., Seattle, WA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center of Seattle, Campus Crusade for Christ, Providence Hospice of Seattle, Union Gospel Mission of Seattle, or Prairie Bible Institute of Three Hills Alberta, BC, Canada.

Published in The Seattle Times on July 21, 2013