The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Jackson Samuel Cyr, Sr., loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at 4:27 am on June 23, 2016 in Kirkland, Washington with Jill Ziegler and Lynn Brix at his side.

Jack was born to Laura Katherine Leeper and Jacob Richard Studebaker, on January 28, 1926, in Lakeview, Washington, and moved shortly thereafter to Burbank, Washington. His mother divorced Jacob, married Fred Albert Cyr, divorced Fred, and then married Fred's brother, Joseph Levitte Cyr on September 3, 1938 in Orofino, Idaho. Jack adored Joe Cyr, and asked if he would adopt him, which Joe did in 1942. Jack even paid for the adoption. From that moment on Jack's last name was forever changed from Studebaker to Cyr.

Jack married Winona Ellen Athos on June 5, 1944 in Orofino, Idaho, and graduated from Wallula High School that same year. They had the following four children. Jackson Cyr, Jr. was born March 19, 1945 and passed at the age of 55 on November 27, 2000. Cara Ann Cyr was born June 29, 1946 and passed away a few weeks after a surgery at Children's Hospital in Portland on November 9, 1946. Jill Michaelene Cyr Ziegler was born January 30, 1948. Joseph Jules Cyr was born on April 1, 1951. Jack's first wife, Winona, passed away on April 11, 1986 after 42 years of marriage.

Jack had two careers. He worked for the Green Giant Cannery for about 20 years in Waitsburg, Washington until his back was injured around the age of 40 and was advised by his doctor not to return to the cannery. Then he applied and worked for the United States Postal Service as a postal carrier for over 20 years. He would walk 11 miles every day, delivering mail to businesses in downtown Walla Walla, and was known for riding his bicycle to work each day. Some people in Walla Walla still remember him to this day as their cheerful mailman and a great guy.

For vacation, Jack would hunt for deer and elk in the Blue Mountains, parking his camper and trekking far and wide, and most years came back with one elk or deer, or even an occasional bear. Above all, Jack loved to hunt in the mountains, bicycle around town, watch Hee-Haw, and go square-dancing.

To make extra money Jack developed his own "recycling route". In those days Walla Walla did not have a recycling program, so Jack would contact various businesses and arrange with them to pick up their recyclables on a particular day each week. Before dawn each morning he would ride around town, pulling a cart behind his bicycle, and collecting the recyclables. He would bring them home and organize them all into neat piles, folding the cardboard, crushing the aluminum cans, etc. At the end of each month he would haul it all in his truck to the recycling depot in Pasco, Washington and trade it for cash. The proceeds would cover his gas and leave a little left over.

After the death of his first wife and retirement, Jack married Arvilla May "Arlie May" Katsel on May 30, 1987. They moved out to the Katsel ranch along the South Fork of the Coppei River. Jack helped his parents-in-law, Beula Sornson and Earnest "Ernie" Lovell Katsel, farm until they could no longer manage the farm. All four of them moved back to Jack's house in Walla Walla so that he and Arlie May could care for Beula and Ernie. After Beula passed away on March 16, 1990, the three of them moved back to the Katsel ranch to farm, where Ernie later passed away on July 19, 1997. Jack continued his hobby of recycling, and in 2006 he was honored as Waisburg's Citizen of the Year for his efforts.

In 2012 Jack and Arlie May moved from the Katsel ranch to Garrison Creek Lodge assisted living facility in Walla Walla. On April 13, 2015 Arlie May passed away due to a 10-year battle with Alzheimer's Disease after nearly 28 years of marriage to Jack.

Twice widowed and retired, Jack was moved by his granddaughter, Christina Cyr, near her house in Bellevue, WA in February 2015.

Jack is survived by his sister, Althea Spencer; his daughter, Jill Cyr Ziegler; his son, Joseph Jules Cyr; his former daughter-in-law, Susan Daniel; his former daughter-in-law, Sung Hui Morel; his grandchildren, Christina Cyr, Jackson Cyr, III, Robert Cyr, Lee Cyr, and Kendra Ziegler Knight; and his great-grandchildren, Cole Page, Winona Cyr, Ivan Cyr, Avery Cyr, Morgan Manier and Rowan Knight. Jack was preceded in death by his daughter, Cara; his wife, Winona, his son, Jack, Jr.; and wife, Arvilla.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Jack favorite organization, the National Rifle Association.

A viewing and visitation will be held at 10 am to 7 pm at on Friday, July 1, 2016 at Herring Groseclose Funeral Home on 315 W. Alder St. in Walla Walla. A burial and graveside ceremony will be held the following day on Saturday, July 2, 2016 at 10 am at Touchet Cemetery in Touchet, Washington. All are welcome to attend.