Donald George Cowdrey, 73 of Everett, WA passed away unexpectedly at his residence on Thursday, October 29, 2020.

Don was born on a snowy day in Yakima, Wa, January 6, 1947, to Walter and Catherine Moore Cowdrey. He was the middle child of three brothers and grew up surrounded by his many cousins, aunts and uncles in central Oregon and Yakima. Don cherished these close family ties throughout his life. In his adult years, Don looked forward to attending the yearly Moore family reunion in The Dalles, OR, where favorite family stories were retold over heaping plates of delicious food and lively bingo games.

Don attended Eisenhower HIgh School in Yakima, WA, where he was an officer in the National Honor Society and competed in the local YMCA swim team. Always a hard worker, Don roofed homes in the sweltering Yakima heat during high school and helped harvest fruits on his uncle’s orchard in the summers. He graduated with honors in 1965. Don enrolled in the University of Washington where he studied Language Arts and Spanish. He funded his own studies by roofing many homes in the Seattle area. Following graduation, Don began a teaching career at Odle Middle School in Bellevue, WA, focusing on language arts and photography.

In pursuit of a more physically active career, Don left teaching after a few years and spent the next 40 years as a firefighter/engineer for the City of Bellevue. He was passionate about his career and made many lifelong friends during his time at Bellevue Fire Department. He earned several nicknames during his tenure, including Sunny D, Ultra D, Louise, Buttsy, and Bozar, each having their own memorable and entertaining story. He was also very active in the union and utilized his writing and research skills to advocate for protective labor rights for his fellow firefighters.

Having completed his first year of teaching,  Don met his future wife, Paula Rey, on a summer backpacking trip on the lush Olympic Peninsula. They married in 1971 and spent their lives building a loving home and  family, with many wonderful memories along the way. Don and Paula had two daughters, Rae Niculescu and Bree Cowdrey. Rae and Bree meant everything to Don, and he always put his children first. A favorite family activity was taking RV trips to explore the Washington coast, the Redwoods in Northern California, the high deserts of central Oregon. Don especially loved fishing along the Deschutes River and the Sherman Village campgrounds in central Oregon. Another summer highlight was taking yearly vacation with dear friends along the  shores of sparkling Lake Chelan. Wintertime the family enjoyed celebrating New Year’s in Leavenworth with some of Don’s lifelong childhood friends and their families. Don loved salmon fishing, fly-fishing, swimming, and the occasional game of golf. He also was an avid researcher of family genealogy when not busy landscaping, planning another home improvement project, or documenting his daughters’ antics with the family’s clunky 1980s era camcorder.

Don was truly a one-of-a-kind man: driven and strong, but also compassionate, loving, and kind. He was always quick to help a friend in need or offer thoughtful advice when it was requested, and he definitely endeavored to ensure everyone’s safety at all times. He will be deeply missed by all those who loved him for his sage advice, dry wit, and compassion.

Don is preceded in death by his father, Walter Cowdrey, and his beloved mother, Catherine; as well as his eldest brother, John. He is survived by his youngest brother David, his wife of 49 years Paula Rey, his daughters Rae Niculescu and Bree Cowdrey, as well as his grandchildren Emma and Silvia Niculescu and Cody and Evelyn Ketter.

While Don was not one for pomp and circumstance, an intimate gathering to celebrate his life will be held at a later date at one of his favorite fishing holes along the Yakima River.

We know these times are challenging, but if you feel inclined to give, please consider a donation in Don’s name to the Everett Union Gospel Mission or the Bellevue Firefighters Community Support Foundation.

Lastly, the Cowdrey family would like to extend a special thanks to Don’s friend Mike Crosby for all of his support during this difficult time for our family.