Peter Fred Harksell Sr
January 28, 1936 - March 21, 2015
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Peter Fred Harksell Sr
January 28, 1936 - March 21, 2015
Obituary
Peter Fred Harksell Sr. passed away March 21st from complications following a brain hemorrhage he suffered on February 14th.
Born January 28, 1936, Pete was a lifetime resident of Ferndale, growing up on the family farm on Harksell Rd. He graduated from Ferndale High School in 1954 and married Kathleen Brown in July of 1955. They made their home on Portal Way.
Pete was a true family man and enjoyed his children and grandchildren. Pete worked in the automotive service industry, retiring in 1992 after owning Pete’s Exxon for 23 years. He was a lifetime member and an active participant at St. Joseph Church in Ferndale.
He was very civic minded and active in the community through Boy Scouts, Jaycees, Jet Oldsters, Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, Whatcom County Old Settlers, Ferndale City Council and the Ferndale City Planning Commission. He was a member of Washington Good Roads Association and had been appointed to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. He was the first recipient of the Thomas George Man of the Year award.
He was preceded in death by his parents Fred and Carrie (Janitscheck) Harksell.
Pete is survived by his wife of 60 years, Kathleen, and their five children: Peter Jr. (Nita) Harksell, Marie Andrews (John) both of Ferndale; Dwayne Harksell, Arizona; Scott (Amy) Harksell, Lynden; Michael (Susan) Harksell, Arizona. He is further survived by Karl Hepler, Ferndale, thought of as a son; former daughter-in-law Kim, Bellingham; six grandchildren: Peter III (Shelby) Harksell, California; Robbie (Corey) Andrews, California; Christopher Andrews, New York; Shannon Andrews (fiancé Parker Mathews), Bellingham; Eric Harksell, Bellingham; Chloe Harksell, Lynden; brother-in-laws Allen (Gwen) Brown & Terry Brown; sister-in-law Patsey (Bill) Blunt; former sister-in-law Judy Brown; a special cousin Joan Boettcher; and many other cousins, nieces, nephews and many, many friends.
Services will be held Wednesday April 1, 2015 at 10:30am at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ferndale. Viewing will be Tuesday March 31st, 5:pm- 7:pm at Moles Funeral Home in Ferndale.
In memory of Pete donations may be made to the Ferndale Senior Center or Whatcom Hospice House.
Funeral Mass
- Date & Time: April 1, 2015 (12:00 AM)
- Venue: St Josephs Catholic Church
- Location: 5781 Hendrickson Avenue Ferndale, WA 98248 - (Get Directions)
- Phone Number: (360) 38-4-3651
Visitation
- Date & Time: March 31, 2015 (12:00 AM)
- Venue: Moles Farewell Tributes - Ferndale
- Location: 2039 Main St Ferndale, WA 98248 - (Get Directions)
3 responses to Peter Fred Harksell Sr
Debra Blondheim/Tom Dambly says:
March 21, 2015
We are so shocked and saddened to hear of Pete’s passing. He (and you Kathleen) have been such good friends to our family over the years. He will be deeply deeply missed.
Dianne Janise says:
March 21, 2015
Dear Kathleen and family, I was so very sorry to receive the news about Pete. How blessed you were to have such a kind, loving husband for almost 60 years. I am so grateful that I was able to visit with all of you last summer. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Love, Cliff and Dianne
Anita Hammes Phagan says:
March 21, 2015
Dear Kathleen and family, My family and I join in sending you our deepest sympathy on the passing of Pete, a sweet and much-loved member of our family. I am always happy to remember how he unexpectedly met my dad at the airport up in Alaska, and I smile when I see photos of him at our salmon barbecues from years gone by at Cherry Point and Gooseberry Point. Please know you have the love of family and friends to help sustain you through this hard time of loss.
Much love, Anita