Kerry L. Kreider, 66, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on May 13, 2023, due to complications of Lewy Body Dementia with Parkinsonism.

He was born February 7, 1957, in Bellevue, Washington to James Harold and Jeanine Bucholz Kreider. He was the first of four boys. The family lived in Seattle until his parents divorced when he was about 6 years old. Kerry and his youngest brother Jerry moved with their father to Santa Barbara along with their new stepmother and her two daughters.  During a visitation with their mother the following year, Kerry found his brother Jerry at the bottom of the swimming pool.

Kerry spent one of the happiest years of his childhood in Spokane before the family relocated to Edmonds. He attended Edmonds-Woodway High School and Edmonds Community College. In 1978 he married, joined the Coast Guard, and was stationed in Port Angeles. The birth of daughter Carolyn in 1979 was followed by his son James in 1981. The couple divorced in 1982 and Kerry headed to Alaska to work on a crab boat and purse seiner. In the summer of 1983, he met his wife Kathie and her daughter Amanda in Edmonds and the new family settled in Port Angeles.

Kerry spent many years working in the woods in the logging industry. When the spotted owl appeared on the scene and logging declined, he learned the roofing trade and eventually started his own roofing business.

His ultimate passions in life were hunting, fishing, and crabbing. A hunting season never ended without a full freezer. Many days were spent fishing on the banks of a river, or saltwater fishing in his beloved Arima.  He arranged family reunions along the mouth of the Columbia River fishing for sturgeon, salmon, l.cod and bass. He also loved treasure hunting, metal detecting, rock hounding, gold panning, mushroom picking and beach glass hunting. He loved the many hours spent with dear friends and family deer hunting in Idaho, turkey hunting in Sacramento, crabbing in the Straits, and bear hunting on Jack Mountain. He delighted in tuna fishing in Mexico, snorkeling in the Cayman Islands, collecting dropped elk antlers in the forest, and racing in the demolition derby.

Kerry had a soft spot for the elderly and the underdog. He found great pleasure in surprising ladies at the bank and courthouse with huge bouquets of fresh flowers. His smile was infectious.

Kerry lived hard, played hard, and worked even harder. His pranks, playfulness, and outspokenness sometimes got him into trouble, like the time he lit fireworks on the ferry. His mischievousness and generosity will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents and younger brother Jerry, a half-brother and a stepsister. He is survived by his wife Kathleen, brothers James and Jay Michael   Kreider, daughter Carolyn Thorne, son James Kreider, stepdaughter Amanda Molloy, 6 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. A private memorial will be held at a later date. Photos available on the Drennan & Ford website.

Drennan & Ford Funeral Home in Port Angeles is entrusted with his arrangements. Please sign the guest book for his family at www.drennanford.com