Emil “Lee” Rose, 79, died peacefully on Monday, Dec. 19, 2011, at Home Place after a five-year struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Born Feb. 10, 1932, in Glenwood, Iowa, he entered the Navy at age 17 after graduating from Oregon City High School. He became a longtime resident of Oak Harbor while on active duty, retiring as a master chief after 30 years naval service and began working at Flower’s Marine. He attended Skagit Valley College, earning an associates degree in marine mechanics and served on the Penn Cove Water & Sewer Commission.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Dolores J. Rose; his children, Crystal A. Wilkerson, Ginger L. Richard, Russell J. Rose and Col. Christina M. Morris, USAF; their spouses, nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren along with his sister, Francis Hales of Eugene, Ore.

As he requested, he will be cremated with his ashes being scattered at sea with full military honors. A celebration of his life will be held this spring, May 5, 2012, at Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor. Memories of Lee are encouraged to be shared with family and friends online at www.burleyfuneralchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the Alzheimer’s Association be made in Lee’s name in care of Home Place, 171 SW Sixth Ave., Oak Harbor, WA 98277; or Disabled American Veterans at DAV Memorial Program, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301.