Myrtle Allgire

Myrtle Allgire, longtime Oak Harbor resident and business woman, was born Jan. 12, 1924 in Bow, Wash., to Pedar and Ellen (Martinson) Peterson. She was one of eight children raised on the family farm. Her parents were emigrants from Norway, entering the U.S. through Ellis Island and settling in Skagit County.

Myrtle graduated from Edison High School and then went to Seattle to attend business college. With the start of World War II, she went to work in the supply department at Sand Point Naval Station and then was transferred to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.

In 1943, Myrtle attended a Valentine’s Day dance and met a young Navy man, John Allgire. Four months later, Myrtle and John were married, a marriage which lasted 67 years. The Navy transferred the Allgires to New York and Myrtle went to work as a bank teller on Wall Street. Myrtle literally went from the farm to the big city. Their next stop was to Richmond, Va., on to Japan and then NAS Whidbey where John retired from the Navy.

John started a second career with NAS Civil Service and Myrtle began working for Norm Oldenburg at Oak Harbor Furniture Store as a bookkeeper, a job which lasted eight years. Norm was the first president of the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce and Myrtle became the unofficial chamber secretary.

In 1963, John and Myrtle co-founded the Casual House on Pioneer Way and in 1973, they built the current location. John and Myrtle were very strong supporters of many of the activities of Oak Harbor. For the past three years, Myrtle and John were residents of Regency on Whidbey. Myrtle died Sept. 30, 2011, at the age of 87, surrounded by family.

Myrtle was a member of the Oak Harbor First United Methodist Church and participated in the church choir, Soroptimist International of Oak Harbor, the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce, P.E.O. and was a charter member of the Polly Harpole Hospital Guild for Whidbey General Hospital. She was also a member of the original Holland Happening Committee and often marched in the parade as a Street Sweeper. She loved to fill the Casual House windows with fresh tulips every year. She was an unselfish spirit, always concerned for others first.

Myrtle was an excellent cook and enjoyed entertaining. She loved having parties at the family beach house. She was always interested in making sure everyone was taken care of. She also had a “green thumb” and took great pride in her beautiful flowers and garden.

Myrtle leaves behind her children, Steven Allgire and wife Sandy and daughter Jill Schacht, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Her husband, John, son-in-law Bill Schacht and four brothers, Martin, Palmer, Minor and Ernie Peterson and three sisters, Tilda Anderson, Esther Boe and Marie Geiger preceded her in death.

Graveside funeral services for Myrtle will be held Thursday, Oct. 6, at Maple Leaf Cemetery at 11 a.m. Memorial services will follow at noon at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Dave Johnson officiating and a reception for family and friends in Centennial Hall.

Friends and family are encouraged to share memories and condolences at www.wallinfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home & Cremation, Oak Harbor.