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.
JUNE 2026
Robert Blackstone
#7180, 6/6/2025
Robert Blackstone earned his undergraduate degree from Amherst College and his law degree from Columbia University School of Law. Blackstone practiced labor and employment law with Davis Wright Tremaine for more than 40 years. He served as the chair of the Board of Trustees for the Museum of Flight for eight years, and a member of the board for 20 years. Blackstone also volunteered at the WSBA, serving as chair-elect, chair, and legislative contact for the WSBA’s Labor & Employment Law Section in the mid-2000s.
Barry Brandon
#17985, 12/26/2025
Barry Brandon was born on Jan. 17, 1961. He earned his J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law and spent more than three decades focusing on federal Indian law and Tribal governance and economic development. Early in his legal career, Brandon worked for the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of the Interior, working on matters involving treaty rights, water rights settlements, and the federal trust responsibility to Native American Tribes. Later in his career, he practiced with a national law firm where he established an American Indian law and policy practice. He also worked with the Seneca Nation of Indians and served as the senior vice president and general counsel for the Seneca Gaming Corporation, and he served as commissioner and vice chairman of the Muscogee Creek Nation Office of Public Gaming. Brandon eventually opened his own consulting firm, where he provided legal counsel to Tribes and other related organizations. Brandon was a devoted father to three sons. He is described as easygoing with a sharp legal mind and a sense of humor. He loved music and UW Husky football. Brandon died on Dec. 26, 2025. He is survived by his children, Wade Brandon, Luke Brandon, and Cole Brandon; the mother of his children, Amy Brandon; his mother, Jeri Lou Brandon; his brother, Noel Wayne Brandon Jr.; his grandson, Tage; and several nieces and nephews.
Susan Filip
#38542, 3/29/2025
Susan Filip was born on June 3, 1970, in San Diego, California, to parents William August Burckhardt III and Carol Ann Sorkness. Filip earned her undergraduate degree in economics and political science from the University of Oregon in 1992 and her law degree from Lewis and Clerk Northwestern School of Law in 1995. Two years later, she also became a CPA. Filip married her husband, Robert Filip, in 1998, and in 2002, they had a son, Nicholas. The family moved to Bainbridge Island, where Filip continued her legal career in international tax law. Filip loved traveling; she visited over 35 countries for work or with her family. A particular favorite was Japan, which she visited many times. Filip is described as calm, patient, and kind, as well as a leader and a mentor to younger colleagues. She died on March 29, 2025, after a brief illness. She is survived by her son, Nicholas; her mother, Carol; her ex-husband, Bob; her special friend, Dylan Honnold; and many other family members and friends.
Daniel R. Fisher
#18510, 5/5/2025
Daniel R. Fisher was born on Nov. 25, 1959, to parents Mario Rabinowitz and Jenee Fisher. He grew up with his brother, Ben, in Northeast Seattle. He earned an undergraduate degree from Reed College in Oregon, a J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law, an MBA from the UW Foster School of Business, and a Ph.D. in philosophy from the UW College of Arts and Sciences. Fisher is described as a devoted friend and a lifelong seeker of knowledge who walked to the beat of his own drum. He remained connected to the University of Washington over the years, giving back in many ways. He also embarked on many unique business ventures, recorded extensive works of music, and meticulously documented the Fisher family history. He died on May 5, 2025, and is survived by his sons, Andrew and Owen, and their mother, Frances Fisher.
Ilya Gamel
#30233, 5/16/2025
Ilya Gamel earned his undergraduate degree in economics and political science from the University of Maryland College Park. He earned his J.D. from Seattle University School of Law and an LL.M. in taxation from the University of Washington School of Law. Gamel was the managing principal of Raymond Capital Advisors for over a decade. He died on May 16, 2025.
Justin Haspe
#56181, 5/1/2025
Justin Haspe was born on Dec. 10, 1981. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Hawaii at Hilo and his J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law. Haspe became a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association in 2012 and a member of the WSBA in 2020. He practiced family law at the firm Seacoma Law since 2021. He died on May 1, 2025.
Bridgette Helms
#33739, 12/26/2025
Bridgette Helms was born on March 6, 1975, in Bellevue. Helms attended the University of Washington School of Business, where she studied accounting and was a member of the UW Pi Phi Sorority. After graduation, she moved to San Francisco and worked for the wealth management firm Robertson Stevens. She then earned her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of Law, and practiced complex securities litigation with Dorsey Whitney. Helms later decided to pause her legal career and dedicate herself to raising her three daughters in Scottsdale, Arizona. She is described as loving, intelligent, beautiful, and entirely devoted to her children and her dogs. Helms died unexpectedly after a brief illness on Dec. 16, 2025. She is survived by her daughters, Emily, Haley, and Alexa; her father, Robert Chicoine; her sisters, Heidi Chicoine, Nicole Chicoine, and Jamie Chicoine Chartier; her brother, Christopher Chicoine; and many nieces and nephews.
David Henken
#44784, 4/25/2025
David Henken earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in 2000 and his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2011. He became a member of the WSBA in 2012. Henken worked for Northwest Justice Project in Bellingham since 2021. He died on April 25, 2025.
Neil Humphries
#2737, 3/10/2026
Neil Humphries was born in 1942. He was admitted to the WSBA in 1966 and practiced estate planning and real property law in Spokane. Outside of work, Humphries loved being outdoors, hunting, fishing, spending time at Liberty Lake, and cooking family dinners. He also played racquetball and volleyball and was an avid football and Gonzaga basketball fan. Humphries died on March 10, 2026. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Ava; his children, Gordon and Tracey; his grandchildren, Shaun, Michael, Kyle, Matthew, Hayden, and Holly; and other family members. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Temple.
William “Bill” Johnston
#6113, 3/29/2026
William “Bill” Johnston was born on June 2, 1947, in Waterbury, Connecticut, to parents William and Gertrude Johnston. He attended Fairfield University and then earned his law degree from the University of Connecticut. After graduation, Johnston joined Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) to do legal aid; the organization assigned him to work in Bellingham, where he would stay for the rest of his life. While working with VISTA, Johnston met his future wife, Mary Kay. The two married in 1979 and eventually had two children, Joe and Maureen. Johnston practiced as a criminal defense attorney for more than 50 years. Among his most significant wins was State v. Fitzsimmons, a 1980 case that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and eventually confirmed that indigent defendants who ask for a lawyer have the right to one, even when it is inconvenient, after hours, or on the weekend. A few of Johnston’s former colleagues, Bill Knudsen, Doug Shepherd, and Penny Henderson, shared: “[We] were blessed to watch and marvel at the way Bill Johnston went about the difficult task of representing the accused and marginalized in our society. It was a journey Bill embraced, understood, and excelled at. … The justice system has lost a remarkable stone in its foundation.” Johnston died on March 29, 2026, of ALS and metastasized cancer. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Mary Kay Becker; his children, Joe and Maureen; his siblings, Mary Beth and Ned; and countless friends; relatives; admiring colleagues; and appreciative former clients.
Craig Jones
#12931, 8/6/2025
Craig Jones was born in 1954 in Lincoln, Nebraska, to parents Gale and Marlys Jones. He grew up in Tacoma, the oldest of five siblings. Jones served in the U.S. Navy as an aviation antisubmarine warfare operator during the Vietnam War. He earned his undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Washington and his law degree from Notre Dame. Jones built a successful real estate law practice on Bainbridge Island. Outside of work, he loved golfing, socializing with friends, cars, traveling, and spending time with his family. Jones died on Aug. 6, 2025. He is survived by his children, Kristin Armstrong, Jason Jones, and Joshua Jones; his seven grandchildren, Adelena, Katryn, Marsden, Coral, Reef, Rainier, and Remy; his siblings, Sheri Karanasos, Michelle Jones, and Kevin Jones.
Michael Jones
#331, 1/10/2026
Michael Jones was born on Sept. 7, 1944, to parents Loren and Dorothy Jones in Norman, Oklahoma. In 1964, Jones met his future wife, Suzanne, while lifeguarding at Brown’s Lake Resort in Burlington, Wisconsin. The couple married in 1965 and returned to college together at the University of Illinois. There, Jones earned an undergraduate degree in finance and a law degree. After graduating from law school, Jones and his family moved to Seattle, where he launched a 51-year career as a criminal defense attorney, focusing on DUI and traffic. Outside of work, Jones volunteered on the Board of the Mukilteo Youth Soccer Club. He coached his own children and introduced the Tiny Tots Soccer Program, through which he taught soccer to hundreds of young kids and their parents. Jones also loved backpacking all over the Pacific Northwest. He is described as someone who made other people better. Jones died on Jan. 10, 2026. He is survived by his wife, Suzanne Hyde Jones; his brother, Christopher Alson Jones; his children, Timothy Michael, Mitchell Paul, and Nicholas Anthony; and his grandchildren, Ethan, Esmee, Willa, Madeleine, and Nolan.
Joseph Mayo IV
#30201, 7/4/2025
Joseph Mayo IV became a WSBA member in 2000. He practiced law in Spokane. Mayo died on July 4, 2025.
Julie Kellogg-Mortensen
#30524, 2/28/2026
Julie Kellogg-Mortensen was born on Nov. 19, 1974, in Tacoma to parents Jerry Kellogg and Shirley “Lee” Wood. She earned her undergraduate degree from Alma College in 1997 and her law degree from Seattle University School of Law in 2000. In 2001, she completed a clerkship for Washington Supreme Court Justice Susan Owens. Kellogg-Mortensen was passionate about working with children and families involved in the child welfare system. In her free time, she loved spending time with her son, role-playing games, genealogy, and miniature interior design. She died on Feb. 28, 2026, at the age of 51. She is survived by her son, Lane Mortenson; her parents; her sisters, Teresa Gach, Lisa Arnold, Pam Sparks, and Jill Dole; and many nieces, nephews, and other family members.
Frank Murray
#7215, 10/16/2025
Frank Murray was born on June 20, 1949, to parents Frank and Velma Murray. He grew up in Clovis, New Mexico, where he worked at his father’s bowling alley and acquired a private pilot’s license at age 17. At 18, he started working as an insurance adjuster over summer breaks. In 1970, Murray married his wife, Minnie Anderson. He earned his undergraduate degree in social studies and a teaching degree in secondary education from Eastern New Mexico University in 1973 and his law degree from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1976. Murray and his wife bought a farm close to Spokane but later moved back to New Mexico, where Murray accepted the position of assistant attorney general in 1979. The couple adopted two children, Rainbow and Frank. Throughout his career, Murray also held the role of counsel for the New Mexico National Guard and the role of bill analyzer for the New Mexico Legislature. Murray was also a woodworker, artist, and craftsman; he built his own home, workshop, barn, and terrace. He also refereed volleyball for 21 years, fished and hunted, white water kayaked, played horseshoes, and read several books per week. Murray died on Oct. 16, 2025. He is survived by his children; his wife; his grandchildren, Alexander, Hunter, Riley, Kaylea, and Brayden; and his cats and dogs.
Sheila Musgrove
#34985, 8/23/2025
Sheila Musgrove was born on Dec. 11, 1948, in San Francisco to parents Edwin and Marion Musgrove. She grew up in Butte, Montana, and earned her undergraduate degree in anthropology from Indiana University in 1972. After college, Musgrove discovered her love of motorsports. She started out racing a motorcycle, then a Corvette, and finally a gold Mazda 808 at Portland International Raceway. Musgrove eventually moved to the Seattle area where she raised her family and worked for the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL). In 2003, Musgrove earned her J.D. from Seattle University School of Law and became a hearing examiner. She retired in 2018 with 39 years of service with the DOL. In retirement, Musgrove fully embraced her love of reading and travel. She visited most of North America, Europe, and Australia. In 2019, she went to Turkey, traveling through Istanbul, Troy, and the ancient site of Göbekli Tepe. Musgrove also loved taking long walks, researching family genealogy, and spending time with her family. She died on Aug. 23, 2025, and is survived by her children, Alex, Carolyn, Linnea, and Josefina; her sister, Ellen Musgrove; her grandchildren, Zainab, Idris, Zander, and Christina; and her beloved “grandcat,” Olga.
Thanh Nguyen
#18573, 2/26/2025
Thanh Nguyen was born on Feb. 16, 1934. Nguyen became a member of the WSBA in 1989 and died on Feb. 26, 2025, at the age of 91.
Kerri Oseguera
#27575, 3/23/2024
Kerri Oseguera was born on July 18, 1967. She earned her undergraduate degree from Willamette University and her J.D. from the University of Idaho School of Law. Oseguera served as a prosecuting attorney for Snohomish County. She is described as optimistic and as having a strong sense of social justice. She died on March 23, 2024, at the age of 56. She is survived by a caring circle of friends and family.
Nathan Pliska
#42625, 5/16/2025
Nathan Pliska was born on June 18, 1979, in Portland, Oregon, to parents Stephen and Mary Lysne Pliska. He attended Oregon State University, where he earned degrees in political science and history in 2001 and was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. Pliska earned his J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School in 2007. He spent his legal career as a public defender in Clark County, Washington. In 2006, Pliska married his wife, Carrie Hoffman Pliska. The couple eventually had two children, Emery and Rylan. Pliska is described as a joyful and dedicated father, an excellent cook, and a passionate Oregon State Beavers and Portland Trailblazers fan. He died on May 16, 2025, and is survived by his children, Emery and Rylan; his former wife, Carrie; his parents, Stephen and Mary; his siblings, Sarah McLain, Zachary Pliska, Carrie Kor, Matt Windom, and Mike Windom; and his nieces and nephews.
Philip Nino
#19581, 1/28/2026
Philip Nino was born on Oct. 10, 1948, in San Francisco to parents Edward Nino and Marilyn Richmond Nino. He earned his undergraduate degree from Gonzaga University and a master’s degree from Georgetown University. Nino was commissioned a second lieutenant through ROTC and was stationed in Washington, D.C. He was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant. For 14 years, Nino worked in medical sales, serving as director of marketing at Northwest Medical Labs. In 1988, he returned to Gonzaga University to earn his law degree. He went on to practice law in Spokane for 27 years. In his free time, Nino enjoyed fishing, boating, and barbecuing for friends and family at his cabin on Loon Lake. Nino later relocated to Poulsbo to be closer to his children and grandchildren. Nino died on Jan. 28, 2026. He is survived by his daughters, Briana and Jessie; his granddaughters, Coco and Abby; his partner of 31 years, Nancy Stewart; her daughter, Rebeckah; and grandchildren, Kaylah Kaitlynn, and Kellen.
Bernard R. Ryan
#10839, 4/24/2026
Bernard R. Ryan became a member of the WSBA in 1980. At the time of his death, he lived in New Mexico. Ryan died on April 24, 2026.
Brian Schwarzwalder
#27714, 8/5/2025
Brian Schwarzwalder was born in 1970. He earned his undergraduate degree in Asian studies from Williams College in 1992 and his law degree from the University of Washington School of Law in 1997. He practiced law in Hong Kong since 2004, focusing on mergers and acquisitions and advising private equity funds. He joined the firm Gibson Dunn in 2017 and was a partner there until his death. Schwarzwalder is described as a passionate mentor and a highly regarded lawyer. He died on Aug. 5, 2025.
John Hillis Skinner
#55269, 3/19/2026
John Hillis Skinner was born on Sept. 19, 1952, in Jacksonville, Florida, to parents Henry Cordes Skinner and Martha Hillis Skinnner. He earned his undergraduate degree from Emory University and his law degree from the University of Florida College of Law. He started his career with the Duval County Public Defenders Office and was later elected as a county judge. In 1997, Skinner became a circuit court judge in Duval County and later in Clay County. He retired in 2019. Outside of his judicial career, Skinner loved horses, which he rode and kept on his ranch in Clay County. He also enjoyed woodworking, building furniture, working with leather, and making saddles and boots. Skinner died on March 19, 2026, of cancer. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Janet Skinner; their children, Jack Skinner and Kelly Skinner; his grandchildren, Charlotte, Lillian, and Lucy; and many other family members.
Wendie Wendt
#34519, 2/26/2026
Wendie Wendt earned her undergraduate degree in English studies from the University of Washington and her J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law. She became a member of the WSBA in 2003. Wendt served on the WSBA’s Professionalism Committee from 2004 to 2007 and served as chair from 2005-2006. She died on Feb. 26, 2026.