Donald Herbert Sperry
Donald Herbert Sperry of Sequim died of complications from a fall at Olympic Medical Center.
He was 88. Sperry was born Oct. 2, 1932.
Details for a memorial will be announced at a later date.
Sign an online guestbook for the family at drennanford.com.
Suzannah Sloan
Suzannah Sloan, former resident and founder of The Furrytale Farm on Bainbridge Island, died Wednesday, March 17, at her home in Sequim, WA.
The Furrytale Farm was home to horses, ponies, pot-bellied pigs and dogs, all needing rescue. The farm provided nutrition, complete medical care, and a comprehensive rehabilitation program. Suzannah could never say No when there was a need. Bainbridge Islanders provided support for the farm with donations and Suzannah contributed her proceeds from a successful career as a novelist.
Her novels, with knock-your-socks-off surprise endings, focused on the issues she cared about. The problems of rape, incest, terrorism, prejudice, murder. Along with the question of justice in the face of these. She wasn’t afraid of any subject. She called her books “social thrillers”. Writing as author Susan R. Sloan: Guilt by Association, An Isolated Incident, Act of God, Behind Closed Doors, A Reasonable Doubt, In Self Defense.
She also wrote two cookbooks with Bainbridge friend, Sally Sondheim, one titled A Dinner a Day and the sequel, The Accidental Gourmet. Astonishing productions with everything thought through for you: Shop once a week and cook dinners in 60 minutes or less with a different dinner for each weeknight of a full year. And with a bonus of witty titles for each course.
Suzannah brought her formidable will, skill and ingenuity to all she undertook. But she will be remembered most especially for her generosity and compassion. She will be greatly missed by all those whose lives she so enriched.
Barbara Jean “Bobbi” Spoerri
May 24, 1922 – March 21, 2021
She was born Barbara Jean Draper in Indianapolis, Indiana on May 24, 1922, but to everyone who knew and loved her, she was Bobbi.
When she was 3 months, her parents loaded up everything they owned in a Model T Ford and drove from Indiana to Los Angeles, CA.
She grew up a very confident only child. At around 5, she had a piano recital. After starting her song twice on the wrong keys she turned to the audience and said, “This piano is broken.”
After high school, she went to UCLA and then to Wright McMahon Business School.
In 1941 at her best friend’s wedding, she met the love of her life, Charles Spoerri, who was the soloist. Their first date was to an amusement park, the day Pearl Harbor was bombed.
Charlie joined the Navy, and in April of 1943 she and her mother took the train to Jacksonville, FL carrying the lovely wedding dress her father had purchased for her. They were wed on April 17th.
For the next 20 years she excelled as Navy wife and mother to Bonnie, Sandee & Charles Jr., moving seamlessly from station to station. This included a two year stay in Japan.
She went to night school to learn bookkeeping and started her own business as Charlie neared retirement. She then added income tax preparation. In doing so, she had to take the extremely difficult Enrolled Agents exam, scoring as one of the top 20 individuals in the nation. She later added Real Estate and Securities. She maintained this very successful business for 15 years until she and Charlie decided to retire and move to the country in Acampo, CA.
She and Charlie purchased a 40-foot houseboat that they named the “Showboat” and spent many a happy time on the Sacramento Delta with family and friends. On land, she was busy with her vegetable garden and growing award-winning orchids not to mention her much fought over bread & butter pickles.
She lost Charlie way too soon in March of 1991 but she continued to live in Acampo until 2005. During that time she became very involved with Bridge, becoming a Life Master. She also loved to travel giving herself a five-month world cruise for her 80th birthday.
In 2005, she moved to Sequim, WA as one of the first residents of the beautiful Lodge Retirement facility. Here she continued to stay busy with bridge four to five times a week and lots and lots of travelling.
At 95, she decided to try something new and joined the Bell Choir. With her rainbow gloves and sparkling attitude, she was a great addition.
At about that time her son’s cat, Smoki, came to live with her and it was a match made in heaven.
In December 2019, she moved to Sherwood Manor. Then the pandemic hit. She continued to be involved in as many activities as possible, becoming the Bingo Queen.
Bobbi left this earth on her own terms on Sunday, March 21st. She was 2 months shy of her 99th birthday.
She leaves her daughters, Sandee Freeman of Sequim and Bonnie Westbrook of Las Vegas in addition to grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
No services are planned.
