Remembering Howard Pellett

Howard Arthur Pellett

May 27, 1939 - April 12, 2022

Passed away comfortably after several debilitating strokes.

His family grieves the loss of a husband, father and true humanitarian. He loved and cared not only for his wife and five sons, but for the local community, the country and our fragile planet earth, acting upon his convictions, beliefs and profound sense of what is right.

He was born, grew up, married his wife, Carol Lynn Underhill and had two sons while in California. He moved wherever work took him, from Washington to Alaska and finally, back to Washington in Bothell and Guemes Island. Three more sons were born during that time. He devotedly helped raise his sons and was deeply involved in their lives. 

An accounting college graduate, his longest career path was as a Revenue Officer for the Internal Revenue Service until his retirement at age 60. During his working years he also pursued the betterment of local communities through service in Bothell as a planning commissioner and city councilman. He never actually retired, actively continuing participation in political, environmental and human rights causes locally and nationally up until recently. While at Guemes he volunteered to be president and treasurer of several groups, spearheading projects that benefited all islanders. He not only motivated many like-minded individuals to get involved, he contributed financially to several island success stories and events, notably the Guemes Island library, Dog Island Run, the stage and many solar powered projects including the fire station and the Guemes Island Community Church.

He was a volunteer facilitator for Smart Recovery at the Monroe Correctional Complex for 20 years, educating and mentoring inmates on how to beat their addictions and ultimately, reintegrate as productive members of society.

A lover of nature and animals, he fought for and supported many environmental causes with funding and activism, deeply concerned by the human-caused damage to our planet, yet hopeful that we still have the capacity to fix it.  He zealously championed human rights and women’s rights and was a voracious writer of letters to politicians, corporations and newspapers, vehemently defending the rights so many of us take for granted that were being threatened by unsound ideology.  He was a vehement and vocal anti-war protestor, both in letter and on the front lines.

An avowed atheist, no service is planned and he will be quietly interred in the Guemes Island Cemetery.

The family kindly requests that you follow your heart and support those organizations you feel best represent your values and beliefs. Those who knew him well, know what he supported. 

Howard is survived by his wife of 62 years, Carol, and five sons, William, Michael, Stephen, Douglas and Matthew, along with seven grandchildren.

 

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