Obituary of Sheridan Eric Lightner

Sheridan Eric Lightner passed away of small-cell lung cancer on March 9, 2023, in Olympia, Washington, his home of 23 years.  He was born January 15, 1949, to Leonard and Gloria Lightner in Inglewood, California.  Over the years, he also resided in McCleary, Washington; Homer, Wasilla, Palmer, and Emmonak, Alaska; Tacoma, Washington; Ellensburg, Washington; Maryland; and Bellevue, Washington.

 

Sheridan graduated from Bellevue High School and attended Central Washington State University. He served in the U.S. Army (1968-1970) in the 6^th Battalion, 11^th Artillery, American Division.  He achieved the rank of sergeant and was awarded the Bronze Star.  He married Darilyn K. Bennett on August 11, 1979, in Ellensburg.

 

Sheridan was a jack-of-all-trades and master of them all.  He could fix anything (until computers came along).  He worked in a variety of fields, from floral arranging to construction foreman.  He was a rehab counselor and program director in Alaska, a commissioned artist (multiple media), cook, meter reader for an electric company, and many more jobs. He worked in ocean container salvage, was a subsistence hunter, and enjoyed fishing. He enjoyed birding, once spotting a rare Painted Bunting in a flock of finches while reading meters. He was absolutely precise in woodworking and construction.  He loved to read imaginative children’s books aloud to his wife, which he did nearly every night for more than seven years; he did voices, sound effects, and even made-up songs.  He loved living and surviving in Alaska!

 

Sheridan faithfully served his Lord, even through tough times.  For the last 23 years, he was a member of the Olympia Christian Reformed Church on Log Cabin Road.  Sheridan had a quick wit and was funny in words, costumes, his timing so perfect; some days he would speak only in rhyme and other times he happily attended dress-up tea parties.  He had a wonderful, rich “radio” voice.  He was generous, exacting, protective, loving, and believed in doing things “decently and in order.” A phrase he often used: “Not the way I would have done it!”

 

He is survived by his wife, Darilyn Lightner of Olympia; sons, Jeremy Lightner and Ben Lightner, both of Olympia; daughters, Linda (Randy) Moser of Federal Way, Washington; and Sherilyn (Charles) Moore of Olympia; two grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sisters, Leslie Walker of Riverside, Connecticut, and Lori Noyes of San Antonio, Texas.  He was predeceased by his father, Len Lightner; mother, Gloria Lightner; and niece, Angela Eister.

 

Services will be held Saturday, April 22, 2023, 1:00 p.m. at Olympia Christian Reformed Church, 2121 Log Cabin Road SE, Olympia, WA 98501.  Inurnment will be Thursday, April 27, 2023, 1:00 p.m. at Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 SE 240^th Street, Kent, WA 98042.

 

Memorial donations may be made to the Olympia Union Gospel Mission, P.O. Box 7668, Olympia, WA 98507.

 

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