This “In Remembrance” section lists WSBA members by bar number and date of death. The list is not complete and contains only those notices of which the WSBA has learned through correspondence from members. Please email notices to wabarnews@wsba.org.
Find the latest obituaries from Bar News here.
J. Scott Bougher
#16893, 4/16/2024
J. Scott Bougher was born on Dec. 11, 1952, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Bougher worked as an attorney for 36 years in Kitsap County. He is described as caring, warm, and generous. Outside of work, Bougher was a talented artist and musician, with a particular talent for fingerpicking guitar. He also loved bluegrass music, cooking, baking, and pickling. Bougher died at age 71 in Port Orchard and is survived by his son, Quinn Bougher; grandchildren, Charlise and Micah; siblings, Barbara Endicott-Popovsky, George Bougher, and Ruth Ann Bougher.
James Christnacht
#14726, 12/6/2024
James Christnacht was born on June 30, 1955, in Spokane to parents George and Joan Christnacht. He grew up in Tacoma, the oldest of four siblings, and attended Bellarmine Preparatory High School and then the University of Washington. After college, he worked in real estate before deciding to attend law school at the University of Puget Sound, graduating in 1984. He practiced before state and federal courts and the Puyallup Tribal Court, in the areas of personal injury, probate, guardianship, wills and estate planning, real estate, business, and misdemeanor criminal defense. Christnacht met and married his wife, Debra, in 1988. The couple were married for 37 years and raised three children: Elizabeth, Jessica, and Andrew. In addition to running a law practice, they also ran a farm in Graham. Christnacht loved spending time with his family, being around animals, working on his farm, and helping others. He was a lifelong Catholic for 25 years at Saint Patrick’s and St. Francis Cabrini churches, and he volunteered in many roles, including as treasurer to the Tacoma Dominican Sisters, as a member of the WSBA’s Pro Bono and Legal Aid Committee, and at other church and school events. Christnacht is survived by his wife; his children; his grandchildren, Layla and Cyrus; his mother, Joan; and many other family members.
Lee Corkrum
#6585, 1/5/2025
Lee Corkrum was born on May 12, 1947, in Yakima to parents Duane Lance and Angeline Maria. He attended A.C. Davis High School, the University of Washington for undergraduate studies, and the George Washington University Law School. After graduating from law school in 1974, he completed a two-year federal clerkship and then joined Ogden Murphy Wallace in Seattle, where he served as head of the firm’s litigation department. Corkrum met his wife, Darlene, on a blind date. The couple married in 1981 and had a son, Jason Thomas Corkrum, in 1984. After retirement in 2004, Corkrum continued to work on select projects and cases for several years. He and his wife moved to San José del Cabo, Mexico, where they played golf and pickleball, spent time on their boat, A Day in the Life, and enjoyed the company of their beloved dog, Diva. Corkrum died at age 77, on Jan. 5, 2025.
Elizabeth Fell
#33746, 3/25/2024
Elizabeth Fell earned her bachelor’s degree in French from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and her law degree from the University of the Pacific-McGeorge School of Law. She practiced labor and employment law and since 2019, had worked as labor counsel for FirstGroup America. She also volunteered as a troop leader with the Girl Scouts of the USA. Fell was a member of the WSBA’s Labor and Employment Law Section and volunteered on the WSBA’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee from 2007 to 2008.
Harry Goldman
#12334, 11/24/2024
Harry Goldman earned his bachelor’s degree from George Washington University and his law degree from Oklahoma City University. He began practicing law in 1977, focusing on torts, real estate, and commercial litigation. Prior to moving to Seattle, Goldman practiced in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and served as the city attorney for Muskogee, Oklahoma. For much of Goldman’s legal career, he served as a mediator with WAMS, Washington Arbitration and Mediation Service. Goldman mediated more than 5,000 cases since 1986.
Robert Owens
#12466, 2/5/2024
Robert “Bob” Owens was born on Feb. 17, 1954, in Spokane to parents Walter and Cecile Owens. Owens attended Washington State University, Gonzaga University School of Law for his J.D., and Tulane University for a master’s in maritime law. Since 2005, Owens had worked as a senior attorney for the Municipality of Anchorage Civil Division. Owens also volunteered extensively, for over 20 years on the Hope Community Resources Board, for 10 years with the American Field Service exchange student program, as a board member of the Anchorage Bar, and a founder of Anchorage Youth Court, among other roles. Owens and his first wife, Robin Miller, had two children, Meghan and Ryan. Later in life, Owens married Suzanne Little and became a father to Hattie Sage. Owens was an avid WSU fan and a pickleball player. He is described as an excellent father—witty, loving, and enduringly patient. He is survived by many family members including his children, current spouse, five siblings, and nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.
Christopher Pence
#7726, 12/24/2024
Christopher Pence was born in Spokane on Feb. 1, 1950. He attended Lewis and Clark High School and then Whitman College in Walla Walla. While at college, he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity; served as the editor of the student newspaper, The Pioneer; and participated in a student exchange program with Howard University for a semester in 1970. After graduation in 1972, Pence worked as assistant editor for the Walla Walla Union Bulletin. From 1974 to 1977, Pence attended Willamette University Law School, where he served as editor of the Willamette Law Journal. His first job after law school was with the WSBA. Pence later started a personal injury firm with a former law school classmate and went on to represent victims of medical negligence. For the last 10 years of his career, he practiced solo on Bainbridge Island. From 2014 to 2020, Pence served as a volunteer on the WSBA’s Hearing Officer Panel. He is described as passionate about social justice, generous, unpretentious, loyal, and having an infectious laugh. Outside of work, Pence grew fruit trees, fished, took photographs, farmed oysters, and took family and friends out on his boat. He also spent time in Idaho, at a cabin his father built in 1951. Pence is survived by his daughter, Christine; his former wife, Therese Coad; his longtime partner Teresa (Tess) McMahill; many nieces and nephews and other family members; and his yellow lab, Annabelle.
Roger D. Sherrard
#6282, 2/19/2025
Roger Sherrard grew up in Normandy Park as the youngest of four brothers. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1966. During his military service, he spent time in Germany and Italy and served as a company commander in Vietnam. He was awarded three Bronze Stars for valor. Sherrard earned his J.D. from Seattle University School of Law in 1975 and then joined the Poulsbo law firm of Sherrard and McGonagle, now Sherrard McGonagle Tizzano and Lind, P.S. Most of his practice was in estate planning, and he also litigated constitutional law issues. This constitutional legal knowledge eventually led him to work with judiciaries in Bulgaria and Albania. Over the course of 30 years and more than 50 visits to Albania, Sherrard helped the country transition to a modern judiciary after decades of Communist rule. He sponsored judicial conferences with other U.S. lawyers and judges, helped draft constitutional protections for the independence of the judiciary, and advised on a variety of topics including the American democratic system, property law, and court procedure. Sherrard was recognized for these efforts multiple times over the years. He received the WSBA’s highest honor—the Award of Merit—in 2019, the Kitsap County Bar Association’s Humanitarian Award, and the Medal for Special Civil Merit from former President of Albania, Alfred Moisiu, in 2005. Sherrard retired from the active practice of law in 2016. He is survived by his wife, Katoo Sherrard.
F. Lawrence Taylor Jr.
#3329, 7/21/2024
F. Lawrence “Larry” Taylor Jr. was born on March 4, 1945, in Spokane to parents Ferald Sr. and Marie Annette Taylor. He attended Gonzaga Prep High School, Seattle University, and Loyola University of Chicago School of Law. While at Seattle University, Taylor met Mary Ellen, whom he dated for four years and then married after graduation. The couple had four children, and their Catholic faith was important to them. Taylor practiced law in St. Paul, Minnesota; Spokane; and Kent. He once presented a case before the U.S. Supreme Court and in 2021 he was honored for being a 50-year member of the Washington State Bar Association. Outside of work, Taylor was a philatelist and loved books, history, and philosophy. He rooted for Gonzaga Prep football, all Seattle sports, Kansas Jayhawks basketball, and Gonzaga University basketball. He is described as someone who tipped well, made friends easily and quickly, and had an excellent sense of humor. Taylor was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 45 years, Mary Ellen Taylor; his parents; and his brothers, Ken and Keith Taylor. He is survived by his four children, Kathleen, John, Michael, and Laura; and his 11 grandchildren.
Andrew Young
#4181, 11/11/2024
Andrew (Andy) Young was born on Oct. 23, 1933. He began military service in 1956 as an ROTC-commissioned officer in the U.S. Army and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Washington. In 1962, he graduated with his law degree from the UW School of Law. Young was honorably discharged from the Army in 1974. He started his legal career as an assistant attorney general and was later appointed chairman of Washington’s Board for Community College Education by then-Gov. Daniel Evans. Young then served as regional attorney for the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. In 1979, Young moved to Virginia to serve as associate commissioner of the Office of Hearings and Appeals for the Social Security Administration. He went on to hold numerous positions in the SSA, and in 2004 he retired as deputy associate general counsel. In addition to his distinguished career in public service, Young is known for his human rights advocacy work. He served on the Seattle branch of the NAACP’s board for 10 years, and as president for two years; he was a founding member of the Loren Miller Bar Association; and he was also a member of several other organizations including the American Bar Association and the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He is described as compassionate, charismatic, kind, and wise. Young is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 67 years, Gearline Draper Young; his two children, Christopher Young and Catherine Banks; and his two grandchildren, Giovanni Young and Joshua Banks.