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 obituaries from past issues of Bar News here.
James M. Brown
#11634, 2/1/2026
James M. Brown was born on Feb. 5, 1950. He was a longtime resident of Aberdeen and the managing senior partner at the law firm Phillips, Krause and Brown. There, he practiced elder law and handled numerous adult protection and tort claims. Brown was an adjunct professor at Seattle University School of Law, a frequent CLE speaker, and a member of the WSBA’s Elder Law Section Executive Committee from 2013 to 2014. He died on Feb. 1, 2026.
James E. Brown II
#49040, 12/19/2025
James E. Brown II was born on Aug. 22, 1970, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He earned a bachelor’s degree in banking and finance from Morehouse College and a J.D. from Villanova University School of Law. Brown’s legal practice focused on energy and utility regulation, as well as regulatory matters, contracts, and complex litigation. He was licensed to practice law in Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Washington state. Outside of work, Brown loved playing basketball, riding his bike, and cheering on Philadelphia sports teams the Eagles and the 76ers. He died on Dec. 19, 2025, at age 55, 21 months after being diagnosed with ALS. He is survived by his wife, Sarica Parton; his sons, Tyler, Christian, and Chase; his siblings, Robert and Jennifer Merrill; his parents, Sonya and Jesse Merrill and James and Linda Brown; and other family members and friends.
Ronald Hall Clark
#1341, 12/11/2025
Ronald Hall Clark was born on April 11, 1944, in Washington, D.C. Clark worked for 27 years for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. He served as senior deputy prosecutor, head of trial teams, and for 10 years as chief deputy of the Criminal Division. Clark then served as the senior training counselor for the National Advocacy Center in Columbia, South Carolina, and after that, he become a distinguished practitioner in residence at Seattle University School of Law, where he taught pretrial and trial advocacy, visual litigation, and essential lawyer skills. Clark also conducted training for the U.S. Justice Department in Bosnia and Kosovo, helping to teach lawyers how to prosecute war crimes. Outside of work, he was a dedicated University of Washington Husky fan (he lettered in varsity football at UW). He also loved writing, drawing, traveling with his wife, Nancy, and spending time at their cabin in Priest Lake, Idaho. Clark died on Dec. 11, 2025, at age 81. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Nancy; their children, Brady, Clancy, and Colby; and his grandchildren, Malachi, Riley, Beatrice, and Samuel.
Bifford Crane
#4931, 5/2/2025
Bifford Crane was born on July 28, 1944, in Miami, Florida. He moved with his family to Seattle when he was 6 years old. Crane attended the University of Washington, earning a bachelor’s degree in English literature, and then the University of Oregon. He finished one year of law school and then joined the Peace Corps and moved to Guatemala, where he taught fishing techniques to locals for two years. Crane returned to the University of Oregon School of Law, finished his law degree, and passed the Washington bar exam in 1973. Crane was passionate about practicing law; playing golf and softball; cheering for the Mariners, Seahawks, Huskies, and Ducks; model trains; and cooking. He died on May 2, 2025. He is survived by his wife, Debbi Crane; his sisters, Darcy Crane and Bonnie AuBuchon; and his nephews, Harley, Dylan, and Oliver. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Crane; his mother, Roxanne Crane; and his brother, Barnaby Crane.
Rafael Downey
#21476, 3/14/2025
Rafael Downey became a member of the WSBA in 1992. He practiced law in San Diego, California. Downey died on March 14, 2025.
Daniel Farr Sr.
#4612, 01/27/2026
Daniel Farr Sr. was born on Feb. 22, 1947, in Hoquiam. Farr was a longtime resident of Enumclaw. Over the course of his legal career, he served as a prosecutor, defense attorney, and judge, but spent most of that time as an estate planning attorney. He represented clients in municipal, district, superior, and federal courts, and helped many families adopt children. Farr retired in 2012. He was a member of Calvary Presbyterian Church and later Hope Lutheran Church. He loved playing guitar, telling stories, cycling, taking road trips, running, walking, and making clothing out of elk hide. Farr is described as generous, creative, funny, and compassionate. He died on Jan. 27, 2026. He is survived by his wife, Linda Farr; his children, Ross Farr, Dan Farr Jr., Megan Farr, and Whitney Farr; his brother, Grant Farr; his grandchildren, James, Sadie, Alice, Agnes, Anderson, Henry, and Joseph; and other family members. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ross Sr. and Agnes Farr; and his brother, Brooks Farr.
W. J. Thomas Ferguson
#335, 10/3/2025
W.J. Thomas (Tom) Ferguson was born on Aug. 3, 1942, in Seattle to parents William H. and Mary Violet Ferguson. He attended the University of Washington, where he played a year of football, and then earned his J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law. He started his legal career with the firm Ferguson and Burdell, focusing on contracts, corporate, and patent law, and consulting on business, construction, and real estate matters. Ferguson later became a partner at Western C.F. Williams in real estate and property management. Eventually, Ferguson formed Ferguson Property Management, where he worked with his wife, Kristin, for many years. Ferguson also served on the board of Eastside Mental Health and partnered in and advised many other businesses including VIOX Corporation. He was a longtime member of the Seattle Yacht Club and the Rainier Club and was extremely passionate about sailing. Aboard his boat, Arwen Evenstar, which Ferguson commissioned in 1984, he visited 84 countries and U.S. states. Ferguson also loved reading—he had a vast library and wrote essays and poems. He is described as a generous mentor, a lifelong learner, a talented storyteller, and an optimist. Ferguson died on Oct. 3, 2025. He is survived by his wife, Kristin Ferguson; his children, Teresa McLaughlin, Linda Burns, and Shawn Ferguson; his grandchildren, Alice Cae, Maeve, Charlie, Andrew, and Quincy; and many other family members and friends.
George Fields
#25973, 1/10/2026
George Fields was born on April 27, 1964, and grew up in Canton, Ohio. Fields attended Bowling Green State University and the University of Oregon School of Law. He moved to Portland, Oregon, to start his 30-year legal career. In Portland, he met and married his wife, Dr. Laura (Smith) Fields, and the couple had a daughter, Raven. Fields and his family eventually moved to Seattle, where he launched his solo practice as an SSDI/SSI and long-term disability attorney. He is described as someone who lived life on his own terms, who loved to laugh, and had deep conviction and a sense of adventure. Fields died unexpectedly on Jan. 10, 2026, at the age of 61. He was preceded in death by his wife, Laura, and his parents, Valeria and George Fields. He is survived by his daughter and other family members and friends.
John Charles Huston
#3656, 11/18/2025
John (Jack) Charles Huston was born on March 21, 1927, in Chicago to parents John Charles O’Donnell and Margaret Huston O’Donnell. When the Great Depression and other challenges during the time broke his family apart, Huston was adopted by his maternal grandparents, Albert and Lillian Huston. Huston served in the U.S. Navy during the later years of World War II. He finished undergraduate and law school at the University of Washington in 1952 and then became an officer in the Air Force Reserve while beginning his legal career in Seattle. In 1954, Huston married Joan Frances Mooney. The couple moved to New York City where Huston earned an LL.M. in taxation from New York University. He and his wife eventually had three sons, and the family lived in Washington, New York, Turkey, and Sweden. Huston was a devoted legal scholar and academic; he taught tax law at NYU, Syracuse University, and the University of Washington, where he retired as professor emeritus in 1996. Huston also served for many years as associate dean of UW School of Law. In 1979, Huston married Inger Westerman. The couple enjoyed traveling and gardening together. Westerman died in 2003. In 2007, Huston married Heather Van Nuys, also an attorney. Huston authored or co-authored many books and articles on legal topics. He was known for his bowties, his deadpan humor, and his gentlemanly intellect. He loved singing, hiking, skiing, dancing, and flying small planes. Huston died on Nov. 18, 2025. He is survived by his wife, Heather; his three sons, Mark, Phil, and Paul Huston; and his granddaughter, Bridget Huston.
Thomas E. Kelly
#4208, 1/31/2026
Thomas E. Kelly was born on May 13, 1940, in Spokane to parents Cecilia and Harry Kelly. He attended Gonzaga University and Gonzaga University School of Law. During law school, Kelly met his first love, Ann Petschl, who was a nursing student at the time. The couple married in 1962 and raised four children. They were married for 53 years until Petschl died in 2015. Kelly started his legal career with the Washington State Attorney General’s Office in Olympia. He later moved to Everett to join a law firm and was soon appointed a judge in Everett District Court, a position he held for 33 years until his retirement in 2007. Kelly was proud of his role in helping to create the Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct in 1980. He is described as kind and patient, as devoted to his family, and as a lifelong Gonzaga Bulldogs basketball fan. Kelly eventually met and married Bonnie McGeough Kelly, with whom he spent the last 10 years of his life. They traveled and embraced retirement together. Kelly died on Jan. 31, 2026, from cancer. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife; and his siblings, Joan Driscoll, Jim Kelly, and Jean Piccard. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie Kelly; his sister, Eileen Cobain; his children, Tom, Tim, Christine, and Michael; his grandchildren, Patrick, Kaitlyn, Maureen, Quinn, and Ronan; his four great-grandchildren, and many other family members.
Charles A. Kimbrough
#134, 12/28/2025
Charles A. Kimbrough was born on Jan. 4, 1941, in Spokane to parents Austin and Joy Kimbrough. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Washington State University and a law degree from the University of Washington School of Law. Kimbrough served two years in the Army, stationed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There, he met and married Nancy Naismith. The couple moved to Bellevue where Kimbrough eventually opened his own law firm. He was very active in the Rotary Club, the city planning commission, and local politics. Kimbrough retired as a colonel from the Army Reserves. He died on Dec. 28, 2025, at the age of 84. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; their children, Doug and Jane; his 11 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Lauri Lewis
#47172, 10/25/2025
Lauri Lewis was born on Oct. 6, 1977, in Lynwood, California, to parents Linda Spires and James Lewis Sr. She grew up in Carson, California, and Spanish Fort, Alabama. Lewis earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a law degree from Gonzaga University School of Law. Lewis practiced business law and served as in-house counsel for various organizations. She is described as warm, compassionate, and generous. She died on Oct. 25, 2025.
Sage Linn
#31841, 10/19/2025
Sage Linn was born on Sept. 27, 1975. He graduated from Whitman College in 1998 and from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis in 2001. His legal practice focused on construction litigation. Outside of work, Linn loved his family, college football, drinking great wine, cooking for loved ones, yard games, listening to music, and reading. He is described as a loving husband and father, a wordsmith, and the king of self-compliments. Linn died on Oct. 19, 2025, of thyroid cancer. He is survived by his wife, Ashley Linn, and his daughter, Madelyn.
Kenyon Luce
#3081, 1/18/2026
Kenyon Luce was born on May 24, 1939. He attended Central Washington University and Willamette University School of Law. Luce practiced estate planning and elder law for over 40 years. He was a longtime member of the WSBA’s Legal Assistance to Military Personnel Executive Committee from 1997 to 2020, serving as chair three times. Luce was also a member of many other community service organizations. Most recently, he was actively involved in disaster preparedness and search and rescue with the Mt. Rainier Chapter of the American Red Cross. He was also an honorary commander of the Western Air Defense Sector. Luce died on Jan. 18, 2026.
Stephen Edward Marvich
#6637, 8/18/2025
Stephen Edward Marvich was born on Jan. 22, 1950, in Seattle to parents Clarence and Detta Marvich. He attended the University of Washington and the University of Puget Sound School of Law, all while working as an electrician, a trade he learned from his father. After earning his law degree, Marvich practiced law for a short time before deciding to start his own electrical contracting business, Steve Marvich Electric or SME. Marvich married Kate Baker in 1980, and the couple divorced several years later. In 1988, Marvich married Kristine Wittman. Marvich adopted her son, Joseph, from a previous marriage, and the couple had two more children, Kyle and Dana. The pair separated in 2019 after 31 years of marriage. Marvich moved to Shelton and met Paulette Edgbert, who he shared the last years of his life with. Marvich had many hobbies including fishing, sailing, skiing, playing basketball, and making wine in his basement. He is described as humble, honest, loving, and funny. Marvich died on Aug. 18, 2025, from cancer. He is survived by his sons, Joseph, Kyle, and Dana; his ex-wives; his partner at the time of his death, Paulette; his siblings, Detta, Mike, and John; and many other family members and friends.
David T. Patterson
#4753, 1/19/2026
David T. Patterson was born on April 17, 1938, in Bellevue, Idaho. He was the fourth of six children born to his parents, Mark and Elizabeth Patterson. He earned his law degree from the University of Oregon School of Law. Throughout his legal career, he taught and served as a prosecutor, a mediator, and a judge pro tem for the Snohomish County Superior Court. Patterson served on the WSBA’s Hearing Officer Panel from 1995 to 2000 and on the Court Improvement Committee from 2000 to 2001. He found joy in gardening, music, goofiness, and hard work. He died on Jan. 19, 2026, at the age of 87. He is survived by his wife, Kathy Beem; his daughters, Stephanie Ippen, Kelly Davidson, Leslie Morwick, and Jane Patterson-McGuire; and his many nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
William N. Snell
#3684, 11/2/2025
William N. Snell was born on Oct. 29, 1942, in Butte, Montana, to parents William and Gail Snell. He graduated from the University of Montana in 1964 and the University of Montana School of Law in 1967. He started his legal career in Washington, D.C., with the Department of the Navy before moving to Seattle. There, he met his first wife, Betsy, and served as Seattle’s first city hearing examiner. Snell is described as someone who was dedicated to his community and his clients and who was known for his integrity and fairness. He loved history, nature, classical music, books, his dogs, and fly-fishing Montana’s rivers. Snell married his current wife, Judy, in 2010, and the couple shared 15 years of companionship and adventure. He died on Nov. 2, 2025, after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and cancer. Snell was preceded in death by his first wife, Betsy. He is survived by his wife, Judy; his sons, Mark and Matthew; his stepdaughter, Shelby; and his grandchildren.
John Spencer
#32188, 12/26/2025
John Spencer was born on April 11, 1940. He grew up in New Mexico with his parents, Paul and Theresa Spencer, and his siblings, Paul Spencer Jr. and Laura Spencer. He earned his J.D. from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Spencer then served in the U.S. Army from 1964 to 1968. After his military service, he served as city attorney for the city of Anchorage until 1974. Spencer later worked as vice president and general counsel of RCA Alascom until he returned to the city of Anchorage as general manager. From 1980 to 1984, Spencer was the regional administrator for Region 10 of the Environmental Protection Agency, where he oversaw environmental programs across Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. After leaving public service, Spencer co-founded an environmental consulting company, SRH, in Portland, Oregon, with John Ruddick and Gary Hahn. When the company was sold in 1990, Spencer continued practicing law in the Puget Sound area of Washington. Spencer is described as a man of principles, integrity, and intelligence. He died on Dec. 26, 2025, at the age of 85. He is survived by his children, Stephen Myles Spencer and Kelly Lynn Melland; his niece and nephew, Danny Spencer and Teri Jackson; and his five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.