J. A. “Bert” Sexton died Sept. 8, 2007. He was born Feb. 22, 1938 in Oklahoma City, Okla., to Jiles and Marie Sexton. His family moved to Lincoln, Neb., when Bert was 10 years old. When he was 10, and she was 6, he met Judy Shafer. They married in 1960 and would have celebrated their 47th anniversary Nov. 20. They lived in Lincoln until 1984 when they moved to Oak Harbor.

Bert joined the ironworker’s apprenticeship program in 1957 and worked as an ironworker for nearly 30 years. He was a member of Local 21 in Lincoln for most of those years, and was elected to three consecutive terms as a business agent in Lincoln. He transferred his membership into the Bellingham local after moving to Washington where he was superintendent in charge of building Hanger 8 at NAS Whidbey. When he retired from the ironworkers he helped Judy start their own business (Sexton’s Sandwich Shop) in Oak Harbor. Bert worked for both Del-Jen and Chugach Industries at NAS Whidbey for 20 years. He was working there at the onset of his illness. He was well respected by those who knew him.

He fought a courageous battle with cancer for over six months. His faith grew and he inspired those around him with the grace he got from his belief in our Father in heaven. Our family will have a void that cannot be filled here on earth. He was a giant to all of his family.

He is survived by his wife Judy; daughter, Lori Bratt and husband (Darrell); sons, Daniel and wife (Iris), Steve and wife (Lisa), and Alan and wife (Elsa); grandchildren, Danielle Bratt Atkins and husband (Jon), Sarah, Nicolas, Stevie Bratt, Alyssa, Dustin, Tyler, MacKenzie, Amanda, Megan, Shelby Sexton, another grandchild due in October, and great granddaughter Lily Atkins. Also surviving are sister Sondra Phillips, Mountain Home, Ark.; brothers Robert, Lincoln, Neb., and Bill, Fort Collins, Colo.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 22, at Family Bible Church, 2760 N. Heller Road in Oak Harbor. Because of his love of the Huskers, we hope many of you will wear red. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society or the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.