Obituary of Donald O. Carlile

Donald O. Carlile Donald Oland Carlile, 72, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, January 12, 2012. He was born April 16, 1939 in Holdrege, Nebraska, to Edwin C. and Mildred Arlene (Merchant) Carlile. He graduated from North Thurston High School in 1957. Don attended Seattle Pacific College majoring in business administration until he was drafted, then served in the Army from 1961 to 1964. He served overseas in Puerto Rico and communicated via SYNCOM, the world’s first synchronous orbit communications satellite, in 1963. After his honorable discharge, he worked in business and banking in California and Washington state. In 1966, he married Susan Harrison in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, and they settled in the Seattle area. In 1978, he moved with his family to Dutch Harbor, Alaska, where he worked in office management for the fishing industry. He was divorced in 1987 and moved back to the Seattle area. In 1991, he moved to Renton, WA, where he lived for 20 years. Don loved music, people, and his family. He enjoyed hiking and, in later years, taking walks around the lake near his home. He taught himself to play the piano by ear at a very young age and loved to play for people wherever he went. He played piano almost every day, calling it his “therapy” because he could pour his heart out in his beautiful music. He played at his church, Renton Church of the Nazarene, and at Veneta Alliance Church on his frequent visits to his family in Veneta, Oregon, and also shared his gift of music by playing for the Red Hatters, numerous gatherings, parties, weddings, and funerals, and was a dedicated volunteer at the Renton and Mt. Si senior centers, playing for their luncheons and special events. Family was his greatest joy and he took delight in encouraging and supporting all of them. He passed on a heritage of music to his grandchildren who are all involved with music, many of them sharing his love of playing the piano. He had a lot of fun and developed lasting friendships within his bridge club and his Wii bowling team at the senior centers. In November of 2011, Don moved to Eugene, Oregon, to be closer to his daughter and her family. Donald is survived by his daughter, Heather, and her husband, Corey Fisher of Veneta, Oregon; grandchildren, Kathlina Fisher of St. Louis, Missouri, and Mirianna, Jonathan, Daniel, Joshua, and Rosalie Fisher of Veneta, Oregon; sister, Arlene Rae Carlile of Olympia; nephew, Lance Ruiz Carlile of New York; nieces, Suzanne Rae Ray of California, Patti Ann Paul of Washington, and Alicia Rae Carlile-Fedro of Illinois. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, James Dean Carlile; and his sister, Margaret Ann Carlile. Don made friends wherever he went and will be greatly missed by many. Please leave memories of Don or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below.