Earl Howard Canright

resident of Wyatt House Retirement Center on Bainbridge Island, Washington, passed away peacefully on Tuesday February 17th at the age of 98 years. Earl was born October 20, 1910 in Dixon Montana; the first of five children born to pioneers Charles Holmes Canright and Edna (Perry) Canright. Due to the lack of water they abandoned the homestead and moved back to Wyoming where Earl and his siblings grew up in Thermopolis.As a boy he sold the Denver Post and enjoyed swimming in the hot springs whenever he got a chance. Tired of the snow, he left home ("It was time to go.") at age 15 and hitch-hiked to southern California where he lived on "the street". He was given a helping hand by policemen and others, and through a variety of odd jobs worked his way up the California central valley. He eventually found steady employment at Calo Dog Food company in Oakland. In 1930 he was joined there by his family when they were forced by hard times in Wyoming to move further west. During the war years Earl worked as a machinist for Hall Scott in Emeryville, building engines for a variety of military applications. On May 19, 1942 he married Mildred Seastedt of Turlock, California, in Carson City, Nevada, and together they had two children. Wanting to be his own boss, Earl went to barber school and soon thereafter opened his own barber shop, and for over twenty years he owned and operated barber shops in Campbell, San Jose, and Felton, California. When asked his occupation, Earl would say he "trimmed the public". He was active in his Christian faith, teaching Sunday School and serving as a trustee and usher at churches in Campbell, San Jose and Santa Cruz. Earl's first wife Mildred died of cancer in 1986. Three years later, at age 80, Earl "popped the question" for a second time and married Luella Pope Kearney of Santa Cruz, California. They lived in Santa Cruz until they moved to Bainbridge Island in 2001 to be nearer to both Earl's and Luella's families. Luella passed away in March 2006. Earl continued in reasonably good health until his last month. Earl is survived by his children Joanne (Larry) Bergen of Bainbridge Island, Washington, Donald (Sally) Canright of Fall River Mills, California, and his brother Richard (Donna) Canright of Redmond, Oregon. He is also survived by five grandchildren, twenty-one great grandchildren, and one great-great granddaughter. He also loved and was loved by Luella's two granddaughters, great grandchildren and great-great granddaughter.Contributions in remembrance of Earl may be made to the Bainbridge Island Senior Community Center, Waterfront Park, Bainbridge Island, Washington 98110.Family and friends are invited at attend a memorial service at 11:00 AM on March 14 at Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church, Bainbridge Island, Washington