Byron Dennis Salmon, 58, passed away in his Oak Harbor home last week. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on April 2, 1951 to Jack and Lulu (Christiensen) Salmon.

Byron, or Dennis, as he was known in his youth, grew up at Long Point, where he fell in love with Whidbey Island. He attended school in Coupeville and Oak Harbor, where he graduated in 1969. He studied vocational welding at Everett Community College and began his career as a boilermaker, blacksmith and welder.

In 1975, he married Pamela Hawley in Pocatello, Idaho. Later, he married Elizabeth Wearin in Omaha, Neb. in 1981. He worked for Union Pacific Railroad in Omaha for 12 years and C.G. Johnson Boiler Company for eight years, perfecting his craft.

In 1998, he returned to Oak Harbor to care for his beloved stepfather, Robert P. McDaniels. He reconnected with a high school friend, Linda Esterly, and loved and cared for her until her death in 2007. He then cared for his mother until her death in 2008.

Byron loved and cared for so many others and will be dearly missed by his family and friends. His quick wit, contagious laugh and creative spirit will be remembered fondly by all who knew him.

Byron is survived by his children, Keira (Marriott) Jamerson and her husband, Jason, of Everett; Jessa (Salmon-Marriott) Salvitti, her husband, Mike, and two children, Leigha and Jake, of Lebanon, Ind.; Jacob Marriott, his wife, Becky (Johnsen) and two children, Keilani and Sadie, of Bellingham; Abigail Salmon, of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Isabelle Salmon, of Seattle; as well as his siblings, Sally Salmon, Doug Salmon, Marjorie Bailey, Linda Niccum and Fred Salmon. He was preceded in death by his mother, father, stepfather and daughter, Olive Jessie.

Please join his family for a celebration of life on Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, from 2 to 6 p.m. at Fort Ebey State Park at Beach Picnic Shelter 2. Please bring memories, stories, photos, songs or anything else you wish to share. You are invited to bring a side dish or dessert; the main dish will be provided by the family. Feel free to contact Isabelle Salmon, at 206-384-1963 for more information.