Tedrowe Watkins, 90

Tedrowe Watkins, 90, passed peacefully on June, 9, 2014, in Bigfork after a courageous 13-year battle with cancer.  

Tedrowe was born in Baltimore, Md., to Julian and Alida Watkins in September 1923. He graduated from Avon Old Farms school in Avon, Conn., then joined the Marine Corps on June 15, 1943, and was a veteran of World War II.  

He married Joan Van Buren Humphrey, and together they had two children, Marion in 1948, and Tedrowe Jr., in 1950. Together the family moved to Seattle where he completed many business ventures, including acquiring and running Bryants Marine, which later was named, The Bryant Corporation. He was a founding member of Crystal Mountain, a ski area near Mount Rainer. He was also an early investor in Physio Control Corp. Tedrowe was an exceptional businessman, with an eye for opportunity and growth in all the projects he was a part of.   

Tedrowe married his second wife, Jill Chamberlain Lewis, in 1975, and gained three daughters, Sharon Kohls, Sandra Dallam and Heidi Coleman.  

Tedrowe loved to travel and experienced many adventures throughout his life. He was a sailor and a hunter, an excellent skier and golfer, and later on became a painter of beautiful landscapes! Tedrowe had a love of life and all that it could offer him. He was a member of University Club, Seattle Golf Club, Seattle Yacht Club, Seattle Tennis Club, and Thunderbird Golf Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif. He enjoyed sharing experiences with his friends and family who all loved him dearly.  

His strength and resolve as he battled cancer has been an inspiration to his family and friends. In speaking about World War II, Tedrowe said, “I was delighted after the war that we never let our military get weak, and we became the strongest nation in the world.” Tedrowe’s fight with cancer may be over but his spirit proved to be nothing but the strongest, as America's was during World War II. We will move forward as a family and learn from Tedrowe’s words, not to become weak but to stay strong.  

Tedrowe is survived by his wife, Jill Watkins; his children, Marion, Tedrowe Jr., Sharon, Sandra and Heidi; his eight grandchildren, Lee, McKenna, Maggie, Kinsey, Fletcher, Christopher, Lindsay and Patrick; his two great-grandchildren, Whitney and Tanner; and his sister, Sydney Phillips.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Tedrowe’s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and view Tedrowe’s tribute wall.