Obituary

Ferndale, WA

Emilio “Emil Joseph Quinones was born in Brooklyn, NY on July 30, 1925 to Joseph “Joe” and Adelina Quinones.

Emils parents immigrated to Brooklyn in 1923 from Almeria, Spain, and he was the oldest of 4 children. At the age of 17, after being told he would have to attend summer school to graduate, Emil shook hands with his school counselor, then enlisted in the US Navy with his mothers written permission. After 3 years in the Navy, he transferred to the Army Air Core (currently Air Force) because Dramamine had not been invented.

While in the Air Core, he worked in the Motor Pool, but there were too many enlisted men trained for that career, so he was re-trained to become one of the first Air Traffic Control men (before and during the invention of radar). Emil served his country for 25 years, including service in WWII, Vietnam, and Korea. He received several medals, and retired with honors.

While in the military, Emil fell in love and married Joan Carol (Carol Quinones) in 1954. They had three sons; Douglas, Scott, and Jefferey. After their marriage ended in 1977, Emil met Barbara Jean Gasaway through the Mormon Temple, and they were married in 1983. Prior to their marriage, Barbara had two children; Jeffrey Keilman (21), and Cynthia Keilman (5). In 1985, Emil and Barbara gave birth to their daughter Kristy. Even though they divorced in 1986, they both moved to Bellingham, WA to raise their family together.

With his GI bill, Emil was able to finish high school and earn a masters degree in physical education from Pullman, WA. He worked for Tracyton Elementary in Silverdale, WA for 25 years, retiring from in 1992. Following his career as a teacher, Emil spent 13 years working for Eagle Hardware & Garden (currently Lowes) in Mt. Vernon, WA. He retired at the age of 81 because he could no longer drive, and spent the rest of his years raising his youngest daughter, and later getting to know his grandson Xander, with whom he had a very special relationship. They read stories, told jokes, and spent every waking moment together. Xander will be 6 in November 2013. Despite a heart attack in 2007, as well as other medical issues, we were so grateful that his mind remained clear and that we were blessed with him for the last 5+ years. Just recently, in June 2013, he was able to give Kristys hand to Jeremy M. Bryan, in holy matrimony, at Whatcom Falls Park in Bellingham.

Emil is preceded in death by his parents, and his sisters Julia (2003) and Matilda (2012). He is survived by his sons Doug (Peggy) Kent, Scott Quinones, and Jeff Quinones, daughter Kristy (Jeremy) Quinones-Bryan, grandson Xander T. Strong, youngest sister Dolores Incorvia and her children, and several nieces and nephews on the east coast. Emil had a large extended family of step-children and step-grandchildren (and their spouses), and honorary family members who were dearly loved, but cannot all be mentioned in this small space.

My father’s last words were as follows: I had a long run, Kristy. I love you and your brothers, I love Xander, and I am so PROUD of ALL OF YOU! What I learned most in LIFE is that FAMILY is all that is IMPORTANT. No matter what happens, TRY TO FORGIVE. LOVE and LIVE. I don’t regret a day of my life, but I wish I would have told my family how much I love them and how proud I am of them more often. I did the best I could with what I had.

Our beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend died surrounded by love, memories, family, and knowing that his second grandchild was on the way.

Farewell Tribute Information

There will be a graveside committal service for Emil on Friday, November 8th at 2:30pm at Greenacres Memorial Park, 5700 Northwest Dr, Ferndale, WA 98248.