Daryl Howard Rutherford died March 9, 2005. He was born in Santa Barbara, Calif., Oct. 6, 1934, and spent the greater part of his life there. He met his wife Carolyn in high school. They married in July 1955. Three wonderful children came to them, Shelley, Timothy and Joy and also three wonderful grandchildren, Steven, Daniel and Laura.

Then, 24 years ago, Daryl and his wife began summer vacationing in Coupeville with family members. In 1998, after retiring, the Rutherfords purchased a home in Crockett Lake Estates. Here Daryl was able to follow many, many of his favorite passions — fishing, gardening, birding, walking, logging the military and cruise liners in the shipping lanes. Daryl liked to say he arose to see the first ferry sailing for Port Townsend and went to bed after the last nightly sailing.

Always the brilliant engineer, Daryl had a project going, a work in progress. Always, he had time to have a good talk with fellow neighbors, from the simplest conversation to the most complex. All who met him came to love spending time with him. He truly was a man comfortable in his own skin.

In 2002, Daryl was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma. He faced his illness with great courage, engineering his medical treatments until it became apparent that the cancer would end his life. Then in his dying, we thought perhaps, he was doing a final project. Never a man to just sit at the river’s edge, he would put stones in place to get to the other side. We see him doing just that, putting that final stone in place, stepping over, turning to us saying “cheers, it’s beautiful here.”

In his final days, Daryl and his family received a last miracle to minister to our physical, emotional and spiritual needs — Enso House, a hospice home. In this home, Ann, Ensan, Renate and staff and volunteers are like guardian angels, while waiting for the transition event. Donations to Enso House would be appreciated in Daryl’s memory to 6339 Wahl Road, Freeland, WA 98249 (360) 331-4699.

In our hearts, in our loving and fun filled memories, Daryl will walk on every beach, park and trail, from Clinton to Deception Pass. “Cheers back to you my love,” Carolyn.

Arrangements by Burley Funeral Chapel.