By Barb Aue

For GH Newspaper Group

Longtime Ocean Shores resident, Gene Leatha Woodwick, 77, succumbed to cancer at her home surrounded by family on May 4, 2017.

Her death culminates a more than 50-year journalism career during which she worked as reporter, editor and freelance writer for a number of Pacific Northwest publications. For many years, Grays Harborites have enjoyed her ‘Up the Beach’ columns highlighting North Beach history that appeared regularly in The Daily World up until shortly before her death.

With a nose for news and an insatiable curiosity, Woodwick’s journalistic efforts first hit print as a reporter for the Anacortes American when she was just 14. She went on to work as a reporter for several daily and weekly newspapers, including the Port Angeles Evening News from 1961-1965, as a reporter and columnist at the Issaquah Mill and serving as co-editor of the Issaquah Press from 1967-1975.

Stints followed at the Mercer Island Reporter, the Valley Record in Snoqualmie and as an associate publisher/writer for the North Beach Beacon in Ocean Shores from 1984-1986, followed by writing history features for the North Coast News from 1986-1997.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, she also worked for the Associated Press covering hot-button issues related to logging, fishing and conservation on the Olympic Peninsula.

AUTHOR

Woodwick published a number of books, including “This Was Issaquah” in 1975, “Historical Tour of Ocean Shores” in 2002, “Ocean Shores – a pictorial history of the community” in 2010, “Logging In Grays Harbor” – co-authored with her son Brian in 2014, and in 2016, “Island Girl” — her slice-of-life memoir about growing up on Fidalgo Island.

She also produced a great deal of work as a freelance writer, including as a regular contributor to the Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society’s publication, The Sea Chest.

Also very active in community, regional and professional organizations, Woodwick was an administrative assistant for the Chehalis Basin Fisheries Task Force from 1986-1995. She served with distinction on the boards of the National Marine Sanctuary, the Washington Museum Association, both the Washington Press Women and National Press Women associations, the Polson Museum in Hoquiam, the Washington Coast Chamber in Ocean City and as a volunteer docent at the Willapa Seaport Museum in Raymond.

In 1989 she earned an associate’s degree in curating from Grays Harbor College. She was instrumental in developing and served as the director of the Ocean Shores Coastal Interpretive Center for more than a decade, starting in 1997.

Woodwick was the Aberdeen Museum of History’s “Harborite of the Year” in 2011. She also won numerous state and national awards as a reporter and columnist, including but not limited to an outstanding achievement award from the Northwest Arthritis Foundation in 1984, a Commendation for Fish Enhancement Work from Vice President Al Gore in 1995 and a Recognition of Outstanding Achievement award from President William Clinton in 1998 for her work in salmon enhancement public education.

FAMILY

Born to O. Dale and Tressie Merrifield in Cheraw, Colo., Aug. 6, 1939, she was the middle child of seven siblings.

The family moved to Anacortes in 1947 and she was raised on Fidalgo Island and graduated from Anacortes High School in 1957. On June 14, 1957, Gene married Larry E. Woodwick, whom she met through a relative two years earlier.

The couple moved to Bellingham, where Larry enrolled in college, remaining there a year prior to moving to Spokane to be near his family while he completed his education degree. Their first two children were born in Spokane, Brian in 1958 and Bruce in 1960.

After earning his degree, Larry accepted a teaching position in Forks, where the family lived for the next six years. Their first daughter, Lynelle, was born there in 1965.

From 1960 to 1963, Gene worked as a logging camp cook, preparing and serving three meals a day to a crew of 135.

After her husband accepted a teaching position in North Bend in 1966, the family moved to Snoqualmie. Second daughter Molly was born in 1970, followed by their third son, Sean, in 1973.

In 1982, the couple moved their family to property they owned in Ocean Shores, with Larry commuting to North Bend until his retirement from teaching in 1989 and then working another 12 years in the moving business for Microsoft, retiring again at the age of 70.

Gene is survived by her husband Larry at the family home, her children, Brian Woodwick of Issaquah, Bruce (Barbara Christianson) of Anacortes, Lynelle (Claude) Freeman of West Seattle, Molly Woodwick of Elma and three grandchildren. Her son Sean preceded her in death in 2011.

While she will be long remembered for her prolific journalistic and public service career, Woodwick will be best remembered by those who knew her well for her incredible kindness. One of her last wishes was that those who would like to remember her do so with an act of random kindness.

A memorial service is set for Saturday, June 17, 2017, at 1 p.m. at Immanuel Baptist Church located at 1200 Soule Ave. in Hoquiam.