Obituary of Clarence V. Gadley

Clarence Vance Gadley, 83, died August 25th in Olympia, Washington. He was born June 3, 1925 to Jim M. and Anna Gadley in Toppenish, Washington. Mr. Gadley was an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation and attended McKinley School and Toppenish High School.He served as a Marine during World War II in the South Pacific where he made three amphibious landings on Islands in the Coral Sea. After the war Clarence attended Washington State College (later, Washington State University) where he graduated in Agricultural Education as one of the top ten students in his graduating class. He worked for the Washington State Employment Security Department, first in Toppenish then in Olympia. He retired in 1983. After retiring Mr. Gadley was an active member of the Retired Public Employees Council of Washington. He raced and cruised his sailboat, Lars Jensen. He is a member of the South Sound Sailing Society and a former member of the Olympia Yacht Club. Mr. Gadley is survived by his wife, Anne Matthews, his children Roger Gadley (Darlene), Kathryn Davis, Deborah Doyle (Alexander Lawton), Melinda Rajacich (Nicholas), John Gadley (Cary), and seven grandchildren, Jensen and Elizabeth Gadley, Harley and Kimberly Davis and Hannah, Rebecca and Nick Rajacich. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, David, Arthur and Jimmy and sister, Julia Drury. He is also survived by his first wife, Rose. A memorial gathering will be held between three PM and five PM Thursday August 28th in the Viewpoint Banquet room at the Westbay Marina in Olympia. Memorials may be made to the Arthritis Foundation, Pacific Northwest Chapter, 3876 Bridge Way N., Suite 300, Seattle, Washington 98103. You may leave memories of Clarence and condolences for the family by clicking on "View Guestbook" below: