How Fleeting Life Can Be

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Early in our virtual meeting experiences of 2020 we began attracting visitors from around Washington State as well as other parts of the United States.  Among our visitors was Ron Sailer, a neighbor from the Sno-Isle Genealogical Society in Lynnwood, just north of Seattle.

Ron shared information that his great grandfather was buried in the pioneer cemetery here in Auburn and gave us information regarding research that had been done.

http://www.auburnpioneercemetery.net/biographies/hopkins.php#.YA9Id-hKiUl. 

In February, 2021, we did a blog about the research that had been done, quite extensively, and that more newspaper articles had become available thus showing the progress of research possibilities.

https://skcgs.blogspot.com/2021/02/newspaper-research-progress.html

A few months ago MaryLynn made contact with Ron again when she found a common link at WikiTree.  Small world!

Valorie received The StillyGen newsletter [1] in early January 2023, and read with shock:  


Sno- Isle Genealogical Society Mourns

Recently, news came from Sno-Isle G. S. of Lynnwood that a serious auto accident took the life of their greatly admired President, Ronald Sailer; on November 15th. Everyone who had the pleasure of meeting Ron thought of him as "one of the good guys". His kind and thoughtful demeanor made all who knew him look forward to the next time they’d run into him. It was obvious to any genealogist who met Ron that genealogy was a true passion for him. I was privileged to have the opportunity to interact with Ron, and I was always pleased when he would phone me and say, "Hello cousin". It was an honor to be "family" in his eyes. We were only "cousins", many, many times removed, on our Comstock line as I recall, but I thought very dearly of him and know that those of us who were lucky enough to have made his acquaintance will miss him and deeply feel his loss.

[unsigned article]



Valorie searched for a news story or obituary but found none. Sno-Isle GS's website shows the office of President vacant.  

On Facebook, the following information can be found at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church – Marysville page:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/143910528983490/

Memorial service: Thursday, December 1, 2pm

Bethlehem Lutheran Church - Marysville

7215 51st Ave NE, Marysville, WA 98270

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to his passion, Sno-isle Genealogical Society in Lynnwood, Washington

Children: Gretchen Sailer Hulitt, Tony Sailer


Hearing of Ron's death on this first day of 2023 reminds us of how fleeting life can be. Give everyone you love a hug and a kiss whenever you can; you never know if it will be the last time.

1. Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society, The Stillaguamish Star, Volume 35 No 1, Jan/Feb 2023, page 9 (Arlington, Washington : www.stillygen.org). 

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