Gordon Carlyle Mueller

Gordon Carlyle Mueller died at Whidbey General Hospital on Sept. 23, 2008 following a lengthy illness. He was born Oct. 29, 1926 in Seattle to Joy (Archambeault) and Clarence Carlyle Mueller. Gordie attended Queen Anne High School and in 1943, at the age of 16, he graduated. He worked for Pan American Airways and Alaska Communications learning telegraphy before enlisting in the U.S. Navy on April 25, 1944 near the end of the war.

He received his basic training at the Great Lakes Training Center and then attended Gonzaga University under the B12 program (Officer Candidate Program) before being sent to Guam where he facilitated the movements of American service men and women returning home after fighting in Europe. He was given permission to use his telegraphy skills to enable military members to send messages to their families giving the approximate time of their return home.

Discharged from the Navy in June 1946, he transferred to the U.S. Navy Reserves and worked for Navy communications in Seattle while attending Seattle University.

He married Nancy Cole in Bellingham in 1947; nine children were born of that marriage.

After graduating from Seattle University, Gordie followed his love of scouting and took the position of Chief Executive in Pocatello, Idaho. In his youth, he had achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.

He and Nancy moved back to Seattle and he drove cab while attending the University of Washington to receive his bachelor’s degree in mathematics. He applied at Boeing Aircraft Company where they declared him an engineer and he worked for five years before moving on to Montreal, Quebec then to New York to work for Thiokol Aerospace. He worked for a time in Brigham City, Utah and San Jose, Calif., with Philco Ford and finally back to Seattle and Boeing. His wife Nancy preceded him in death.

He married Irene Kellar Fuller. For five years, he worked for Boeing, had his own real estate brokerage firm, Mueller Associates, worked as a financial planner and was a builder and developer in the Des Moines area.

Gordon and Irene made Coupeville their retirement home in 1985. Gordon retired from Boeing in 1988. Gordon had been active in his church in Des Moines, St. Philomena’s, and that continued at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Coupeville. He also was active with Concerts on the Cove, serving as president; the Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce as vice president; Citizens Against Domestic Abuse (CADA), served as a 4th Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus in Utah, but only as 3rd Degree in Coupeville and was an original member of the Shifty Sailors of Coupeville.

Gordon enjoyed his camping trips with his scout troops and with his family. He loved his church, singing, hiking, especially climbing the tallest mountain in the Olympic range, golfing, reading, especially Tom Clancy novels and mystery stories, skiing, crabbing, spending time on his deck and being a Republican. He enjoyed smoking his pipe and pontificating. He was a master at Trivial Pursuit with his vast wealth of information.

In December 1997, Gordon suffered a stroke which took away his singing voice and his ability to swallow food. He was cared for by his loving wife Irene and by the loving care and devotion of his daughter Jennifer, spending much of her time with him during this long illness.

Gordon is survived by his wife Irene at the family home in Teronda West, and by 13 children and their spouses: Gordon Carlyle Mueller, Jr. (Krystyne) of San Jose; Larry R. Mueller (Pam) of Paduka, KY; Bruce C. Mueller (Terri) of Marysville, WA; John H. Mueller (Eileen) San Jose, CA; Kathleen Tedford (Ed) of San Jose, CA; Michael A. Mueller of Seattle; Paul Mueller of Seattle; Jennifer R. Grant of Seattle; Shellie M. Johnson (Randy) of Coupeville; Valerie K. Howe (Clyde) of Vashon Island; Beckie L. Riecks (Fred) of Chelsea, MI; Richard D. Fuller of Seattle and Gary M. Fuller (Laura) of Auburn, WA. Twenty grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren also survive. One daughter, Chris Clark, preceded him in death.

Rosary was recited Sept. 26 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Coupeville. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Church on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 11 p.m. with Rev. Michael O’Neil as Celebrant. Private family committal services will be held at Sunnyside Cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.