Obituary

Philip L. Clarkson Sr., age 84, passed away peacefully on June 2, 2016 at The Washington State Soldiers Home in Orting, WA. He was born on July 9, 1931 in Bellingham, WA to James A. Clarkson and Gwendolyn (Fitzgerald) Clarkson.
Phil was a graduate of Bellingham High School, where he met Bertha Lou, his wife to be. Following high school, Phil served in the United States Air Force as a tailgunner during the Korean War. After his service, Phil married Bertha Lou in 1952 and together had nine children. He worked for Georgia Pacific in Bellingham for 15 years, later taking a job with Boeing, moving his family to Kent, WA. Changing his career in the mid 70’s, he earned a degree in Forestry, to work for the Department of Natural Resources. He then went on to working for the State Parks during the building of Nolte State Park.
Phil was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing. He loved photography, in which one of his photographs of a doe at Mount Baker was featured in the American Rifleman. Phil was also known for his beard, which won him the “The Blackest Beard” award in the early 1950’s. In his later years he enjoyed painting both nature and wildlife.
Philip is preceded in death by his loving wife Bertha Lou, his brother Vic Clarkson, sister Margaret “Peggy” Gammon, sisters-in-law Esther Clarkson and Carol Clarkson, brother-in-law William “Billy” Glander, and daughter-in-law Tamara Clarkson.
Philip is survived by his nine children; Jeannette Hutchinson, Kathryn Rice (Jeff), Barbara Clarkson, Philip L. Clarkson Jr. (wife), Peg L. Zahler (Bob), Brian Clarkson (Graciela), Ruth Allan, Diane Fry (Ben), and Kevin Clarkson; 31 grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday July, 9, 1:00 pm at Greenacres Memorial Park, 5700 Northwest Dr, Ferndale, WA.