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.
APRIL/MAY 2026
Donald Austin II
#35293, 10/22/2025
Donald Austin II was born on July 11, 1947, in Seattle to parents Donald Franklin Austin and Leona Evaline Sampson. Austin earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in teaching from Portland State University, where he attended on a wrestling scholarship. He taught English and coached wrestling, football, soccer, and swimming at Lincoln High School in Portland until he decided to attend law school at Lewis & Clark College. He earned his J.D. in 1986. Austin eventually became a principal at Patterson Buchanan Fobes & Leitch, where he practiced education law, working with school districts and influencing school board policy to help protect children from sexual abuse. Over the course of his career, he represented more than 100 school districts. Austin also taught as an adjunct graduate professor at Washington State University, Seattle Pacific University, California State University at Northridge, and California Lutheran University. While in California in 2001, Austin met his future wife, Susan. The couple married and moved back to Washington, where Austin became known as “Papa Don” to Susan’s grandchildren. Austin was a member of Trinity Church in Bothell and spent a lot of time in his final year reading and studying scriptures. Austin died on Oct. 22, 2025. He is survived by his wife, Susan; his brother, Paul; his beloved dog, Tulip; his stepson, Justin Potts; and his grandchildren, Jackson, Andrew, Benjamin, Zachary, and Lee.
Rebeccah Briggs
#35990, 3/12/2025
Rebeccah Briggs became a member of the WSBA in 2005 and lived in Seattle. She died on March 12, 2025.
Lyliane Couture
#32308, 10/24/2025
Lyliane Couture was born on April 10, 1978, in Enumclaw to parents John and Kay Sheetz. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Washington and her J.D. from the University of Idaho College of Law. Couture started her legal career as a deputy prosecutor in Grant County and later opened her own law firm, Couture Law Firm, in 2008. She later became a partner with the firm Larson Fowles. In 2006, Couture married her husband, Dan Couture. The couple had a son together named David. Couture loved spending time with her family, traveling, and cooking. She also enjoyed flying and earned her pilot’s license at age 18. Couture is described as a brilliant and caring attorney. She died on Oct. 24, 2025, and is survived by her husband, Dan; her son, David; her father, John Sheetz; and many other family members.
Robert Crick Jr.
#26306, 8/16/2025
Robert Crick Jr. was born on Feb. 8, 1947, in Spokane to parents Robert Crick Sr. and Patricia McDonnell Crick. He earned his B.S. from the University of Washington and his J.D. and MBA from Gonzaga University. He spent his legal career practicing construction law in Spokane. At the WSBA, he served on the Construction Law Section Executive Committee from 2008 to 2010. Outside of work, Crick loved alpine skiing and alpine ski racing. Crick died on Aug. 16, 2025. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Christine Meeske; his children, Derek Crick and Jennifer Holcomb; his grandchildren, Chloe, Cooper, Katja, and Collette; and his siblings, Thomas Crick and Jody Walker.
Philip DeTurk
#2860, 2/7/2026
Philip DeTurk was born on May 11, 1932, in Reading, Pennsylvania, to parents Harry DeTurk and Annie Gately. He attended Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina and received a basketball scholarship to complete his undergraduate degree at George Washington University. DeTurk then earned his law degree from George Washington University School of Law. He practiced law in Puyallup for more than 50 years. At the WSBA, DeTurk was involved in the Senior Lawyers Section, serving on the Section’s Executive Committee from 2013 to 2018. He died on Feb. 7, 2026, and is survived by his children, Sheila DeTurk, Joanne DeTurk, Denise Cox, and John DeTurk; his grandchildren and great-grandchild; his sister, Joan Galiardo; and other family members.
Kaitlynn Donnelly
#49535, 2/17/2026
Kaitlynn Donnelly was born on May 30, 1988. She served as the trial team leader in the Platte County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in Missouri. In 2023, she received the Up and Coming Lawyer Award from Missouri’s Lawyer Media. Donnelly is described as an excellent leader and trial lawyer, a passionate voice for crime victims, and a devoted wife and mother. Donnelly died on Feb. 17, 2026, at the age of 37, from cancer. She is survived by her husband and daughter.
Wendy Earle
#38921, 1/19/2026
Wendy Earle earned her undergraduate degree from Montana State University Bozeman and her J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law. She practiced family, environmental, education, real property, and employment law at her own firm in Sandpoint, Idaho. Earle was a member of the Idaho Trial Lawyers Association, the Federal Bar Association Idaho Chapter, and Idaho Women Lawyers. She loved skiing (she was a former competitive skier), cycling, wildflower photography, and exploring the outdoors. Earle died on Jan. 19, 2026.
Harold Grover
#38849, 5/10/2025
Harold Grover was born on May 29, 1972. He earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Washington State University in 1994 and a law degree from Gonzaga University School of Law in 2004. Grover was a criminal defense lawyer, focusing on traffic infractions and other criminal misdemeanors. He died on May 10, 2025, at the age of 52.
Chellie Hammack
#31796, 3/4/2026
Chellie Hammack was born on June 14, 1962. She earned her J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law and was a sole practitioner at CM Hammack Law Firm in Snohomish. Hammack died on March 4, 2026, at the age of 63.
Bryce Holland Jr.
#9290, 5/28/2025
Bryce Holland Jr. was born in 1953 in San Antonio, Texas, and raised in Greenwich, Connecticut. He earned his undergraduate degree magna cum laude from Harvard, studied at Cambridge University on a Rotary Club scholarship, earned his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, and earned his MBA from Wharton. Holland practiced business law in Seattle. He died on May 28, 2025, and is survived by his wife of 49 years, Robin; his children, Preston and Kipling; his daughter-in-law, Davin; and his seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his oldest son, Bryce III.
Laura Yumi Kim
#59663, 1/26/2025
Laura Yumi Kim was born on March 22, 1967, in Warrensburg, Missouri. She grew up in Southern California and later made her home in Kaneohe, Hawaii. Kim is described as vibrant, adventurous, and devoted to her family. She died on Jan. 26, 2025, at the age of 57. She is survived by her husband, Mark Nugent; her sons, Kyle Nugent and Brenden Nugent; and her siblings, Richard Kim and Michelle Kim.
Omid Mantashi
#32519, 3/27/2025
Omid Mantashi was born on Sept. 16, 1965, in Tehran, Iran, to parents Azizollah and Parvaneh Mantashi. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Washington, where he received the Robert Alan Dahl Award for academic excellence. Mantashi also earned a master’s degree in comparative politics from the University of California Berkeley and a J.D. from New York University School of Law. Mantashi focused his legal practice on intellectual property law. He is described as kind, adventurous, and passionate about learning. He loved gardening, cooking, traveling, rooting for the UW Huskies, and riding motorcycles. Mantashi died on March 27, 2025, due to complications from a stroke. He is survived by his mother, Parvaneh, and his sisters, Sholeh and Parastoo.
Richard Oehler
#17267, 6/6/2025
Richard Oehler was born on Nov. 24, 1950. He earned his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College in 1972 and his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1976. Oehler started his legal career as a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice. He then moved to Perkins Coie, where he spent almost 40 years practicing government contracts and international trade law. Oehler handled various disputes related to regulatory matters including federal procurement, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and the Freedom of Information Act. He died on June 6, 2025.
Douglas Prince
#11936, 5/22/2025
Douglas Prince became a member of the WSBA in 1981. He spent 36 years practicing real estate law with Foster Pepper, with 30 of those years as partner. In 2018, he joined the firm Buchalter in Seattle. Prince died on May 22, 2025.
D. Roger Reed
#662, 8/2/2025
D. Roger Reed was born on Feb. 10, 1939, in Portland, Oregon, to parents Geraldine and Donald Reed. He grew up in Wenatchee and later Spokane and shared a love of politics and the law with his grandfather, an attorney and state legislator. Reed earned an undergraduate degree in political science from Washington State University and a J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law. He served as deputy prosecuting attorney in Spokane and in 1976, he entered private practice and co-founded the firm Reed & Giesa. Reed married his wife, Marilyn McConaghy, in 1961. They raised their children in Spokane and later divorced in 1989. In 1991, Reed married Yvonna Caston, whom he was married to for 34 years. Reed loved all WSU athletics, Elvis, Jackie Robinson, the newspaper, and Civil War and WWII history. He was also a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Reed is described as a dedicated husband, father, and grandfather, as hard-working, enthusiastic, and guileless. He died on Aug. 2, 2025, and is survived by his wife, Yvonna; her son, Matthew White; his children, Tara KcKee, Susan Scott, Scott Reed, and Jonathan Reed; 11 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and his brother, Sam.
Randall Stamper
#4663, 8/25/2025
Randall Stamper was born in 1948. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Idaho in 1969 and his law degree from the University of Notre Dame School of Law in 1972. Stamper focused his legal practice on health care law, representing hospitals and physicians, as well as nonprofit corporations. In 1986, he started the firm Stamper Rubens, where he practiced for nearly 40 years. Stamper was very active in the Spokane community; he served on the boards of several organizations including the Inland Empire Boy Scouts of America, the Board of American Baptist Homes of the West, Shriners Hospital, and East Central Community Center. He died on Aug. 25, 2025.
John Strauss
#6968, 6/10/2025
John Strauss became a member of the WSBA in 1976. He worked in Kirkland as a solo practitioner focusing on personal injury law. He died on June 10, 2025.
Rosemary Torres
#26717, 3/11/2025
Rosemary Torres was born on Feb. 23, 1953, in Alliance, Nebraska, to parents Eduardo Chavero Torres and Connie Vallejo Torres. Her family worked in the potato and sugar beet fields in western Nebraska. Torres excelled academically, earning her undergraduate degree in nursing from the University of Nebraska, her law degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and her master’s in law from Arizona State University. Her legal career focused on health law, public health policy, and medical injury law. Torres loved spending time with family and friends outdoors, skiing, hiking, swimming, and visiting historical sites around the world and national parks. She also enjoyed reading and attending plays and concerts. Torres is survived by five of her siblings, Joseph Torres, Hope Flores, Terra Lejia, Guadalupe Torres-Armintrout, and Edward Torres; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
William Tri
#14688, 1/10/2026
William Tri was born on Nov. 28, 1955, in Spokane to parents Franklin and Marilyn Tri. He was the oldest of seven children and grew up in Everett. Tri earned his undergraduate degree from Western Washington University and his law degree from the University of Puget Sound School of Law. He spent most of his legal career in private practice with the firm Jelsing, Tri, West & Andrus. In 1984, Tri married his wife, Linda. The couple moved to Lake Stevens and had three daughters, Michelle Larson, Karissa Tri, and Brittany Tri. Tri loved music, spending time on the water fishing or wakesurfing, playing sports, and coaching his children in multiple sports when they were growing up. He retired from the practice of law in 2021. Tri died on Jan. 10, 2026, of esophageal cancer. He is survived by his wife, Linda; his three daughters; his six siblings; and his grandchildren, June, William, Charlotte, and Griffin.
Pamela Visco
#26584, 8/17/2025
Pamela Visco earned her undergraduate degree in business administration and accounting from the University of Washington and her J.D. from Southwest Law School. She became a member of the WSBA in 1996. Visco spent the majority of her legal career as a staff attorney with the King County Department of Public Defense.
Lish Whitson
#5400, 2/11/2026
Lish Whitson was born on Oct. 13, 1942, in Washington, D.C. He earned his undergraduate degree from the Pennsylvania State University and then joined the Peace Corps. While training for the Peace Corps at the University of Texas at Austin, Whitson met Barbara Sullivan. The pair married after knowing each other for a month, after which they both served in the Peace Corps in Afghanistan for two years. During that time, Whitson taught English and started a pottery cooperative. After the Peace Corps, Whitson relocated to Seattle and earned his J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law in 1973. His 50-year legal career included roles at the Public Defenders Association, Helsell Fetterman, his own law firm, and JAMS. Whitson served as president of the King County Bar Association’s (KCBA) Young Lawyers Section, a KCBA trustee, and a member of the WSBA’s Board of Governors from 1995 to 1998. At the WSBA, Whitson volunteered on numerous boards, committees, and sections. His roles include chair of the Dispute Resolution Section (and member for over a decade), three-time chair of the Judicial Recommendation Committee, and member of the Hearing Officer Panel for more than 15 years. Whitson received various accolades, including KCBA’s Pro Bono Award in 1993, KCBA’s Outstanding Lawyer Award in 2000, and KCBA’s Distinguished Service Award in 2025. Outside of work, he loved traveling with his wife and children. He was diagnosed with leukemia while on a 4 1/2-month cruise from Antarctica to Greenland. Whitson died of complications from leukemia on Feb. 11, 2026. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Barbara; his children, Lish Richard and Kimberly; his sister, Clytie Taylor; and many nieces, nephews, friends, and colleagues.
D. Gordon Willhite
#2302, 9/16/2025
D. Gordon Willhite earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in 1960 and his law degree from the UW School of Law in 1963. He worked for many years with the firm Sax & McIver before transitioning to his own practice. Willhite focused on banking and commercial and real estate credit management and provided consulting services to financial institutions.
John Ziegler
#5875, 11/26/2025
John Ziegler became a member of the WSBA in 1974. He was a solo practitioner who focused on criminal trial and appellate law. He was a member of the Washington Defender Association and the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.