Jack Trevalyn Gourlie passed away peacefully at his Sequim home on Jan. 23, 2021 from congestive heart failure. He and his twin brother David (who passed at just 5 days old) were born to Leslie and Florence Gourlie in Orient, Washington. Jack grew up with two older brothers, Norman and Harold and two older sisters, Kathryn and Christine.
Jack graduated from Kettle Falls High School and entered the Army, where he served as a radar surveillance technician for four years. He was also an excellent baseball pitcher, taking the Army All-Star team onto a championship victory and was heading to the minor league when he suffered a knee injury that ended his baseball career.
Jack returned to the Pullman area after the Army, studied engineering, was married and soon became the father of Larry, Venita, Phil and Allan Gourlie, all of whom reside in the Seattle/Lynnwood area with their families.
He was a salesman at heart and the founder of Quick ‘n Brite Cleaner, as well as being a devoted leader of the Sno-King Kiwanis. He was awarded many honors of exceptional leadership and devoted service as both the President and Lieutenant Governor throughout his decade of service. After years of growing the Quick ‘n Brite business, he transferred it to two of his sons and retired in Port Townsend where he served with the Port Townsend Kiwanis.
Jack enjoyed new adventures and traveling, spending time traveling through the states and snow-birding in Arizona before returning to Sequim where he met and settled down with his sweetheart Lily Lawson. Lily’s son Royal and his family reside in Port Townsend.
Jack loved to have fun, tell jokes, garden, play cards and fish! He was an avid fisherman, winning the Dungeness Derby in both 2003 and 2007, once for the first catch and once for the biggest fish. It was his greatest delight to teach someone how to fish and be able to share time on the water with family and friends. His love of life, laughter and jolly spirit will be greatly missed.
In his honor, a Celebration of Life will take place at noon Saturday, Sept. 18 at the Road House Grill.
