Clifton Melvin Goon
January 26, 1920 - December 29, 2006
Obituary
CLIFTON MELVIN GOON
Born on January 26, 1920 in Portland, Oregon to Daniel and Lucy Chinn Goon, passed away on December 29, 2006 in Seattle, WA. Clifton moved to Seattle in 1935. He graduated from Garfield High School in 1937 and from the University of Washington School of Pharmacy in 1941. He married Kashiko Kae Kawasaki in 1953. They were married for 38 years until her death in 1991. He was a board member for the Kong Yick Investment Company, a dedicated member of the Beacon Lutheran Church since 1962 serving as elder and treasurer, and a member of the Garfield Golden Grad Club and the Tomonokai social group. Clifton worked at numerous pharmacies including REX Drugs in Pioneer Square, Hall O’Leary Pharmacy and Beacon Hill Pharmacy. He eventually retired from the West Seattle Hospital in 1980. In his retirement life he traveled regularly with family and friends to Asia, Great Britain, New England, Arizona, Hawaii and California. Despite suffering from debilitating arthritis for most of his adult life, he never let his illness define him or prevent him from living life to the fullest. Clifton’s expressive face and twinkling eyes, quiet demeanor and warm sense of humor won him many life long friends. Clifton is survived by his sons Stephen of Seattle, Christopher Babylita Umali of Federal Way, Timothy Susan Brennan of Bainbridge Island; by daughter Karen Stephen Shelton of Fircrest, WA; and by his grandchildren, David, Alex, Zoe, and Daniel. He is also survived by his sister Mrs. Gladys Harry Choi of West Sacramento, CA. He is preceded in death by his parents and his brothers Vincent and Franklin. A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, January 6, 2007 at Beacon Lutheran Church, 1720 S. Forest St, Seattle, WA 98144 with a reception to follow at the church. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Wing Luke Asian Museum Capital Campaign or to the Beacon Lutheran Church. The family would like to extend their thanks to the staff of Kelsey Creek and Judson Park Heath Care Centers for the kindness and friendship they extended to Dad while he was in their care. Private burial.
Steve,
I know how much your dad meant to you. I didn’t get to know your father, but he seemed a kind gentle man, who I know really loved his children. I felt the same way about my dad.
Take care old friend.
Steve, our sincere condolences on the death of your father. Maggi and I are very sorry we were not able to attend the service. However, we want you to know that we held both Clif and Kae in the highest regard. Your family and you are the very best neighbors a person could hope to have. I will always remember your father’s smiling face, even with his bad arthritis. God Bless.
thank you for the long friendship between your family & mine have had over many generations. my grandparents were friends with Goon Dips family. My parents knew all of his family and i went to school or worked with his sons. i remember how my mother Myra Chin would often tell me of how much fun they all had growing up in the ID & how nice the Goon family was to ours
Steve, your father was an inspiration to me and I loved him very much. I met him at Kelsey Creek where I went often to see friends, and I followed Clifton for awhile after he left there. I enjoyed him a lot. Thanks for letting me keep in touch with him – he looked so grumpy peering out from under his hat; but he was the sweetest guy I ever met. And so patient. So patient. May God bless him and all his family.
Helen Zoerb
We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Tim and his entire family.
Samuel and Linda Chow we are in our 60’s.[mother was Lily Chow[goon] of Vancouver B C Canada.Her father Ling Dang Goon born 1859 Died 1952 in Vancouver BC we have a large family many from the Goon side.We were told many years ago our Grand father Ling Dang Goon may be a cousin of Dip Goon.