Johnny Fredric Lybyer

Johnny Fredric Lybyer (Jack) was born in Coberg Iowa, to a farming family, on June 3, 1929. Within a few years of the stock market crash, the family found itself on the road to Toppenish, Washington, where his father had secured a 40-acre plot to farm. When Jack was twelve, he lost his father to a tragic accident, and the family moved into town, where Jack worked, attended school, and cared for his younger brother.

In February of 1947, after an early high school graduation, Jack joined the Navy. He attended electronics school, and was assigned to the light aircraft carrier USS Princeton, as a Petty Officer Third Class. He later served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Valley Forge, and in the Naval Reserve. With the Korean conflict, Jack was called back to active duty, assigned to the troop carrier USS General A. E. Anderson.

After Korea, Jack attended the University of Washington and Central Washington University, where he entered the education program and served as student body president. In 1957, before his graduation, Jack met his first wife, Harriet, a student in the Master’s program, and they married in March of the same year.

Jack and Harriet built a home in Marysville, WA, where they raised two children – Melissa and Michael. Jack worked first as an elementary school teacher, and then, after earning his Master’s degree from Seattle University, as a principle at three Marysville elementary schools: Shoultes, Tulalip, and Liberty. Jack loved his work, the children, and his teachers, often stepping into the classroom to teach a lesson, or walking the campus greeting children and adults alike, making all feel welcome and part of the educational process. After a fruitful career of 30 years, Jack retired in 1988, in order to travel with Harriet – and travel they did, until her death in 1998.

After three years, and a move to a home in Arlington, Jack met Joyce Jacobson, and they married in 2001. Joyce and Jack shared common interests in education, community involvement, travel, and gardening. They spent 22 years living very happily in three different homes in Glen Eagle.

With both Harriet and Joyce, Jack enjoyed travel, both near and far. RVing was a favorite way of visiting places within the U.S., but they also spent time in Europe, New Zealand, China and Australia.

Jack also loved gardening, and was known by many as the “rose man”, due to the over 200 varieties he devotedly tended, in several home gardens. An active member of his local garden club, Jack took part in several community landscaping projects and grew many plants for the yearly garden sales.

A faithful member of St. Mary’s parish, since the days of the little white church, Jack’s belief in God and His works was evidenced in his dedication to community service, which extended to his long-time membership in the Marysville Lion’s Club, his years as a volunteer for the local Strawberry Festival, and over 18 years helping in the Marysville food bank. Whenever Jack was asked to help, in any community endeavor, his answer was, unfailingly, yes.

Jack Lybyer, after 94 years of a wonderful life, passed peacefully in his Arlington home, on September 1st, 2023, after a brief illness. He is preceded in death by his first wife and mother of his children Harriet, son Michael, and brothers Wayne and Dean Lybyer. Jack is survived by his second wife, Joyce, daughter and son-in-law, Melissa and Robert Taylor, brother Bob Lybyer, grandchildren Tre and Kendall Sutherland, and Joyce’s daughter and son-in-law, Julie and Chris Sutherland.

Jack will be interred in the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. Instead of flowers, please consider donations to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Marysville, the Food Bank or the YMCA. A Memorial Service will be held at the Marysville United Methodist Church (5600 64th St NE) on Sunday. October 1st at 2:00 PM.