Jack Robert Corkery
March 15, 1917 - December 15, 2011
Obituary
After a short battle with cancer and complications of pneumonia, Jack Corkery died on December 15, 2011. He was born on March 15, 1917 in Aberdeen, Washington, second child of George and Pearl Corkery. Jack, along with his elder sister Alberta and younger brother George grew up in the logging camps of the Donovan Corkery Logging Co.
The family moved to Seattle in 1932, and Jack graduated from Franklin High School in 1935. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Management from the University of Washington in 1939. Jack worked in the timber industry, the Dept. Of Agriculture, and the Boeing Company before entering the U.S. Coast Guard in 1943. He told many stories of the OCS training he had on the tall ship Danmark under her captain. During WWII he was a gunnery officer on Navy Troop Transports. On March 12, 1944 Jack and Vada May Lawrence were married. This was the start of 67 wonderful years together.
When Jack left the Coast Guard in 1946 he and his brother George started the Corkery Brothers Painting Company. Jack was happy to have a paintbrush in his hand and be up on a ladder for over 50 years. He had 55 plus years as a season ticket holder for Husky football and was a founding member of Our Lady of Fatima Parish. The Corkery family has made endowments and scholarships at the University of Washington and Seattle Prep. They have been long time supporters of Children’s Hospital, Our Lady of Fatima and Magnolia Presbyterian Church.
Jack loved the outdoors and nature, hiking and boating, blackberry picking and many trips around the world. He climbed Mt. Adams with nephew Mike and Mike’s sons when he was 67. He was never happier than working in his yard, mowing the lawn, weeding and planting flowers. But he was most happy talking and learning from all he met during his life.
He is survived by his wife, Vada May, daughter Karleen Snetsinger and nephew Mike Grygiel (Kathy). He is also survived by his grandchildren Craig Corkery (Amy), Kristin Diaz (Memo), Scott Snetsinger (Elissa) , Andrea Snetsinger and great-children Cole Corkery and Galiana Diaz. He is also survived by the Grygiel children and their spouses’. Jack was predeceased by sons, Craig and Dale and his sister and brother.
Hi Family, I’m a collector living in the Seattle area, I research many items I find and this sign was one of those items that brought me to Mr. Jack Corkery of the PABCO paint Co. Thought you would like to see this. Thanks ( I can’t seem to download the photo, you can contact me at my email.