Frank Joseph Meyer, of Whidbey Island, WA, passed away on Saturday, April 6, 2024 while surrounded by family at his home on Lake Samish, Bellingham, WA. He was 86 years old.

Frank was born to David and Marie Meyer on February 25, 1938 in Chicago, Illinois but he spent most of his childhood in Memphis, Tennessee. After graduating high school in Memphis, he enlisted and served in the United States Marine Corps, being stationed for some time in Okinawa, Japan. Frank was extremely proud of his military service where he learned his life’s dedication to hard work and taking care of his health.

After serving in the Marine Corps, Frank worked his way up through the ranks at Southland (7-Eleven Corporation) in California. While working at Southland he met and fell in love with the accounting supervisor, Miriam Dewhirst; they were happily married on July 8, 1978. Over the years Frank and Miriam moved around the United States with Southland making their way to Seattle, WA where they owned a number of convenience stores and Michael’s Delicatessen before moving to Whidbey Island to continue raising their children.

Frank became fascinated with the real estate market, going on to establish a successful career as a real estate agent with CenterIsle Realty / Windermere, and Coldwell Banker where he obtained his broker’s license. He later went on to start his own companies – Whidbey Lifestyles and FJM Realty. Over the years, he and Miriam owned several properties and businesses in Coupeville, WA – which included Videoville (a video rental store) and their family café, Miriam’s Espresso, a beloved café in the community and a place where most of their children worked.

Frank is survived by his cherished wife Miriam and his six children – Deanna (Jeff), Frank Jr.,Jennifer(Todd), Michael(Christi), Miriam Kathryn (Joshua), and Megan (Nolan), along with his grandchildren McKenzie (Liam), Caleb, Haylee, Elena, Leroy, Ailah, Emman, and Miriam Selene. Frank was supremely healthy and active his entire life up until the ripe age of 85 when he was sadly diagnosed with a rare form of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in January 2024. For unknown reasons, Military veterans are at a greater risk for ALS diagnosis.

He spent the latter years of his life living on Lake Samish with his wife Miriam and their eldest daughter Jennifer, her husband Todd and their daughter Elena. He spent his time doing his favorite things – enjoying family, bathing in the sun, riding his jet ski, chopping firewood, avidly reading, traveling to Loreto, Baja Mexico (his favorite place in the world), and meticulously caring for his historical properties in Coupeville, all while continuing to learn and work, up until his final days.

Frank was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He was exceptionally patient, intelligent, loved to laugh and joke, and wrote thousands of notes over the course of his life – notes to his family, notes for himself, notes to remember… He is incredibly missed. We are thankful he is resting in peace and know he is up in heaven with his dear Uncle Joe and his grandson Kyle.

It was Frank’s wish to be cremated. His immediate family will hold a private, small celebration of life at his home this summer.