by Judy Reandeau Stipe

For the Sequim Gazette

Guy and Gertrude Cole moved to Sequim in 1962 to open Cole’s Jewelry Store in the Grant Buiding on Washington Street. The Coles loved Sequim and immediately became involved with the Lions Club, where Guy served as president and vice president many times. At some point, Guy had been on every committee the Sequim Lions had and his big smile with his “can do” attitude will long be remembered by those who worked along side of him. Gertrude was an active member of the Lady Lions, Soroptimists and many fundraisers, during which time she worked at the Sequim Post Office, and was the mother of three active boys, Jerry, Tom and Stephen.

Guy went on to head the Demolition Derby, a favorite event of the annual Irrigation Festival, and remained on the board of directors for the Lions Club for years. His energy included being chef at the Salmon Bake to raise money for scholarships. He was on the Sequim City Council, president of the Sequim Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the 1973 Irrigation Festival, life member of the VFW, charter member of both the Yacht Club and Elks Club while operating the family jewelry store.

Gertrude and Guy encouraged the City of Sequim to purchase land for Carrie Blake Park. Many volunteers and machines worked thousands of hours to clean, move dirt and level the area for a playground and landscape. Guy led the Lions to convince Sequim’s City Council to allocate $35,000 for the new convention center if the Lions Club could raise the matching funds. The members raised the money and put the building together in one year, all with volunteer labor. It was the “Sequim Way” — an old fashioned barn-raising for the “good of the community!”

Judy Reandeau Stipe is the executive director of Sequim Museum & Arts.