Verlyn Reed Geriene

Verlyn Reed Geriene died in his sleep in the morning of April 8 at the age of 83. He was born on Aug. 26, 1930, in Ritzville to the late Lucille Wellsandt Thom and her first husband, Andrew Geriene.

He was raised by his mother, Lucille, and his stepfather, the late Edward Thom, on a wheat farm just outside of Ritzville next to the local airport.

Verlyn suffered from polio as a young boy, but that did not stop him from following his dream of flying. He learned to fly early completing his first solo flight at age 15.

He graduated from Ritzville High School in 1948 and, at the age of 21, went on to become a bush pilot in Alaska for most of his adult life. He was known as one of the best bush pilots in Alaska taking many risky flights to deliver mail, medicine and food to remote villages throughout the state.

He met and married Janie Orr while in Alaska and they made their home in Kodiak, raising seven children. He expanded his career to include flying in Kansas, the Bahamas, New Jersey and New York, but Alaska always held his heart.

In 1974, he became seriously ill with leukemia and the family moved back to Ritzville for Verlyn’s treatment in Spokane. With great determination and the help of his family and the medical community, his cancer went into remission and he beat the odds by living another 40 years.

The family moved to Seattle and later Verlyn and Janie divorced. Verlyn met and married Bernie Brainard and they shared their life and their love in Oak Harbor, Wash. Verlyn went to work at the Naval Air Station at Whidby Island. If he couldn’t fly, he at least wanted to be close to the pilots from the base to share stories and adventures.

After 27 years of marriage, his beloved Bernie passed away on Dec. 27, 2012. Following her death, Verlyn moved to Bothell to live with his daughter, Stasia Moe and her family.

Last summer, his seven children and their families gathered in Seattle for the first time in 17 years to celebrate their life growing up together in a unique and adventuresome family. Verlyn loved life, had a great sense of humor and enjoyed cooking, fishing, big band music and playing the saxophone. He had a special love for his dogs, Taku, Corky, Muffie, Oliver, Bella and Sonic.

He is survived by his sons, Marc (Hera) of Manila, Philippines; Kristopher (Jamie) of Bothell; Bristan of Kirkland; and daughters, Leslie Heidemann of Collierville, Tenn .; Briana Miller of Puyallup; Stasia (Scott) Moe of Bothell; Ashley (Michael) Read of Newberry Park, Calif .; and stepsons Casey Cline and Terry Cline.

Verlyn had 16 grandchildren: Mara, Jean-Marc, Katherine, Stasia, Erin, Justin, Nikka, Donovan, Savannah, Jered, Nathen, Jacob, Matthew, Andrew, Max, and Paris, and nine great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Edlu (Warren) Thom-Harper, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Verlyn requested that there be no memorial service and that his remains be returned to his beloved Kodiak Island in Alaska.