As 2022 dawns, we mourn and celebrate all the islanders who left us in 2021. Each of the obituaries in our newspaper this year noted a remarkable island presence.

Here, we again pay tribute to some of these notable neighbors.

Marshall Mckay Murray, an actor beloved on Vashon for his supportive presence in the theater community and his virtuoso performances in many local theater productions, died on Jan. 2. He was 41 years old.

Dorothy Hall-Bauer was the author of “Islanders, Meet your Neighbors,” a delightfully heartfelt collection of essays detailing the rich lives of Vashon islanders, both ordinary and extraordinary. Dorothy donated all proceeds from the sale of her book to charities. She died on Jan 9, at the age of 98.

Lotus, an educator, activist, builder and gardener who inspired many, died on Jan. 18 at the age of 74. She was instrumental and active in many movements, organizations and causes that benefited the lives of those on Vashon and far beyond.

John Gregg, a lifelong islander who once owned Vashon Chevron and went on to operate his own auto repair business, keeping islanders’ cars on the road, died on Jan. 21, at the age of 77. He loved outdoor life in the Pacific Northwest: clam digging, crabbing, camping, fishing and tending his garden, where he grew beautiful dahlias.

Mary Matsuda Gruenewald, a nurse, activist, public speaker and author, died on Feb. 1, at the age of 96. Her memoir, “Looking Like the Enemy: My Story of Imprisonment in a Japanese-American Internment Camp,” told the story of how she and her family were forcibly removed with the rest of the island’s Japanese American population to be taken to a series of internment camps during WWII.

Dr. Robert Norton, eminent pomologist, orchardist, horticulturist and educator, died on Feb. 3 at the age of 95. He was instrumental in introducing the Honeycrisp apple to Western Washington, and a force behind the formulation of the Vashon Island Fruit Club in 2004.

Pat Eastly, who could be seen for many glorious years with her husband Donald (Doc) Eastly, giving islanders hayrides to Vashon’s annual Christmas Tree lighting in a wagon pulled by a team of Shire horses, died on Feb. 5, at the age of 91.

Opal Montague, died on April 9, at the age of 95. She and her good friend, Dorothy Johnson, were the forces behind the creation of Vashon Health Center, and its ongoing source of support, Granny’s Attic.

Bernita Cecilia Antoine, moved to Vashon at the age of 19 when she married Julian E. Antoine, a berry farmer. In her later life, Bernita became an elder in her native community, making cedar baskets and passing those skills to her children and other members of the Nooksack Tribe. She died on March 11, at the age of 88.

Carl Coldeen, a beloved man about town, died on April 22, at the age of 75.

Tom Kush, a skilled carpenter and contractor who helped build and adorn many Vashon homes, died on May 25, at the age of 70.

Judith Lawrence, owner and operator of the Betty MacDonald Farm, the internationally-known inn filled with memorabilia and tributes to the famous Vashon author who wrote “The Egg and I,” died on May 28 at the age of 77.

Bob Stougard, teacher, scoutmaster, volunteer firefighter, EMT, assistant fire chief and active member of Vashon Sportsmen’s Club, died on May 28, at the age of 81.

Joy Goldstein, peace activist, teacher, potter, Quaker, founding force of Vashon HouseHold and unmovable presence at anti-nuclear demonstrations with Ground Zero, died on June 19, at the age of 86.

Azim Thomas St Moreau, cherished on Vashon for his generous spirit (he taught seniors at The Senior Center how to use their cell phones), charm (he always had a smile for customers at Thriftway, where he bagged groceries), and strength as a high school athlete. He died on July 3, at the age of 23.

Donna Donnelly, a longtime staff member at Vashon Island School District, painter, tireless volunteer for multiple causes ranging from youth theater to the Vashon Food Bank to VashonBePrepared, died on July 9, at the age of 71.

Kevin Linnell, general manager of Vashon Ace Hardware and tireless coach and supporter of Vashon student-athletes, died on July 23, at the age of 58.

Finnegan Scriver, who was a member of the Vashon High School varsity football and baseball teams and was awarded multiple scholarships by the Vashon Scholarship Foundation upon his 2021 graduation, died on July 31, at the age of 18.

Brad Middling, a family man, stalwart volunteer to many island causes and Vashon businessman, died on Aug. 30, at the age of 58.

Ron Turner, who after his retirement from the United States Coast Guard served many terms as a commissioner for Vashon Island Fire & Rescue, died on Aug. 23, at the age of 70.

Norm Mathews, owner of Vashon Thriftway, a pillar of the island business community and generous philanthropist to local organizations, died on Oct. 9, at the age of 93.

Phil Volker, who created a replica of the El Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route in Spain, inspiring pilgrims worldwide, died on Sunday, Oct. 10, at the age of 73.

Jean Navarre, who championed Vashon teenagers in volunteer work on the island, died on Oct. 14, at the age of 80.

Kajira Wyn Berry, artist, author, co-creator of Hiway Haiku, and a key player in the renaissance of Vashon Allied Arts, now known as Vashon Center for the Arts, died on Nov. 19, at the age of 94.