Perry N. Christiansen of Vashon Island, died Sept. 27, 2003, surrounded by his family. He was 80 years old.

Born Feb. 7, 1923, to Perry Christiansen and Mary Embree in Mukilteo, Wash., he was the grandson of Mukilteo’s first lighthouse keeper. He graduated from Queen Anne High School in Seattle in 1941 and began his career in the U.S. Coast Guard that same spring where he rose to the rank of LCMD.

During World War II, he was involved in the landings in Africa, Sicily, Italy, and Normandy where his was the first ship to land troops on the beach. He retired from the Coast Guard in 1961, but was called back to active duty during the Vietnam War.

Following his Coast Guard years, Mr. Christiansen developed a second career in education and church music. He served the communities in which he lived in many ways, but his life centered on his family, his church, and music.

He was a member of, and directed, many church choirs. When stationed in Hawaii, he sang with the Honolulu Opera Chorus. He also enjoyed traveling by land as well as sea and was always eager to swap a good story. For many years an elder in the Presbyterian Church, he held positions in the North Puget Sound and the Seattle Presbyteries, and the Synod of Alaska NorthWest.

In 1952 he married Audrey Friesen, who died in 1994 after a long illness.

He married Billie Reposa Hoglund in Sequim in 1995.

Survivors include his wife Billie of Vashon, sons Ron Christiansen and his wife Dawn of Tulare, Calif; Perry N. “Chris” Christiansen and his wife Jan of Woodridge, Va.; daughters Shari Steffensrud of Tacoma, Robin Briganti and her husband Paul of Monroe, and stepchildren Holly Sharrow and her husband Kelley of Wasilla, Ak., John Hoglund and his wife Carolina of Portland; Amy Sassara and her husband Rick of Vashon; 15 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Also surviving is Perry’s loving canine companion, Sassy.

A memorial service was Oct. 4 at the Vashon Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Christiansen’s ashes will be delivered to the sea by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Memorial donations may be made to the Vashon Presbyterian Church, the Leukemia Research Foundation of the A.L.S. Association.