Donald L. Beach

was born in 1928, in Eatonville, Washington to Stanley Carson Beach and Florence Viva Van Liew Beach. Don was diagnosed with Leukemia in October of 2006 and died on Monday, July 2, 2007 at Harrison Hospital in Bremerton due to complications from pneumonia. He was 78 years of age and a resident of Poulsbo, Washington.He was closely involved in his family's business from childhood. The business evolved from chicken farming, farm slaughtering, feed store, food lockers, ice business, laundry to finally include commercial rentals. He enjoyed being with his many friends motor-homing, hunting, crab fishing, traveling and in earlier years flying float planes. Don was a volunteer for the Bainbridge Island Fire Department for 22 years until being hired as Fire Chief in 1971. He held that position until he retired in 1986. He served in the Navy, at Naval Air Station in Dallas, Texas in 1953. He attended meat cutting school in Toledo, Ohio after being discharged and enjoyed sharing this skill in many venues. Both Don and Carolyn were active members of Bethany Lutheran Church, the Bainbridge Island Sportsman Club, the Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce and the North Kitsap Good Sam Club.He married Babs (Elva Marie Kalgaard) in September of 1953. They had three daughters. She preceded him in death in February 1988. He married Mary Carolyn Welch Millican in July 1989. They resided on Bainbridge Island until 2003 when they moved to Poulsbo.Survivors include his wife, Carolyn; daughters Cathy (Jim) Bellefeuille, Diane (Gary) Reese, Janet (Scott) Surber; step-children Lynn (Rex) Nickerson, Jim (Marcia) Millican and Judy (Grant) Mirick; grandchildren, Shannon and Matthew Reese, Daniel Bellefeuille, Austin and Natalie Surber, Tyler & Victoria Nickerson, Henry and Gregory Millican and Kemper, Corbin, Quinn and Kallie Mirick; brothers Kenneth C. (Muriel) Beach, David (Marilyn) Beach, sisters, Verna (Ed) McGifford and Carol McIntyre, and many beloved friends.A memorial service is planned for July 14, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at the Bainbridge Island Fire Dept, 8895 Madison Avenue.A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 14, 2007 at 2:00 PM at the Madison Avenue Fire Station on Bainbridge (map). In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bethany Lutheran Church, Bainbridge Island Fire Department, the Puget Sound Blood Bank or Harrison Memorial Hospital.Arrangements by Cook Family Funeral Home.