Henry Edward Selby

Henry Edward Selby 8/10/1926 10/7/2016 Henry Edward Selby passed on a Friday night, October 7, 2016, just a short time after celebrating his 90th birthday. It was a peaceful passing, and he was surrounded by his loving family and friends. Henry was born August 10, 1926, to Arthur Edward Selby and Lois Mae Ball. Henry married Carmela Mesiani twice: Once on December 29, 1945, when he was just short of legal age and didnt have the proper papers; and then again on January 4, 1946, to make it official. Henry and Carmelas daughters are Summer Selby Berry, born in 1953, and Spring M. Blue Selby, born in 1955. Carmela died in 1977. Henry married Jean Callahan June 20, 1981, and became the loving stepfather to her daughters Kelly and Kathy and sons David and Joe. Carmela Mesiana was Henrys high school sweetheart back in Ohio, and they were both friends with Jean. In fact, Jean became best friends with Henrys sister in high school because she had a crush on him. Before Carmela passed in 1977, she suggested to Henry that after she was gone, he should look up Jean, who was single again by then. She knew Henry was a good partner and she didnt want him to be alone.Thats a family tree and it starts to tell you who Henry loved and who misses him. It doesnt begin to tell you why we miss him. Henry was a unique and hilarious person. Most of his friends called him Hank or the Red Baron-a nickname from his army buddies that followed him into civilian life. He enlisted in the army twice. As a sergeant in WWII he served in the motor pool, where he inspected and tested military police motorcycles. He re-enlisted during the Korean War. As a corporal, he served again in the motor pool. He loved riding his bike. In high school he built his first bike-a 38 Harley Davidson flathead with suicide shifts-from junkyard parts. In the mid-70s he rode a police-issue 69 Harley. Then one day, riding home from the mill in Everett, he stopped into Bent Bike on Highway 99 and bought a Honda Gold Wing, fully dressed. He called it a rice burner. He would switch bikes every week. After a few months he decided to sell the hog and keep the rice burner. He said the ride was way smoother, and it required less maintenance.In civilian life, he was a plumber/pipefitter who worked at Scott Paper, which later became Kimberley Clark. It was during those years that he contracted the asbestosis that plagued him later on. Henry could fix anything, whether it had to do with plumbing or motorcycles, or anything else mechanical. If you needed his help, all you had to do was ask.He wasnt much of a drinker, other than a beer with dinner every night. If he did drink, it was bourbon with a Rainier beer chaser.And long before it was hip, he started brewing his own beer. It was so good! The alcohol content was like 12 percent. Henry bottled it in quarts, which were popular among his friends and family.If you knew Henry, you know he had a quirky sense of humor. If you asked what he was doing, he might say, Im setting the room on fire. If it was a nice day, Henry called it a haymaker. He might respond to a story by saying, Been to hell in that handbasket before.Ask him where hed been and hed often reply, To the whorehouse, where else?If he was in pain, hed say, Its a pisscutter. Any bruise or cut from falling was an asphalt special. If he scratched himself and the scratch bled, hed say, Its just weeping fear. Springs VW Bug was a god damn Kraut can. He hated that car, but he said it was one of the easiest to work on.Anything Italian was dago, but it was a term of endearment to Henry. He loved all things Italian, including the Italians in his family-Carmela was Italian-who also used the d word all the time.Henry lived in his own home up until the last 48 hours of his life. After Jean passed in 2014, Joe lived in the house with Henry and checked he was OK day to day. Kelly made sure he had plenty of groceries and sweets and current medications. Spring gave him a weekly shave and haircut and took care of the bills. Henry Selby lived large, rode hard, and as he frequently said, loved us for many moons.He is survived by daughter and partner Spring M. Selby and Lydia Swartz of Seattle, WA; daughter Summer Berry of Spokane, WA; stepson and wife David and Patti Bute of Greenwich, OH, stepson Joe Callahan of Lynnwood, WA; stepdaughter and husband Kathy and Mark Hursh of Shiloh, OH; stepdaughter and partner Kelly Callahan and Bob Hudgins of Mountlake Terrace, WA; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.Henry was one hell of a man and we, who were fortunate to know him, will love him for many, many moons.