John "Jack" William Mcgillis

Jack was born in Tacoma, Washington November 3, 1922 to Lillian Mary Hennessy and John James McGillis.  Graduated from DuPont Jr. High, Stadium High School, Tacoma, WA. , 1940.  Served three years in the European Theatre with the Army; Graduated from St. Martins College in 1951.

In 1947 Jack married Lois Dahl after a short courtship. He spent one year as agricultural statistician for the State of Washington and 2 years with Washington State as a marketing specialist for all agricultural crops.   In 1954 he organized and ran Central Washington Seed Growers Co-op.  In 1957 the organization merged with Pacific Supply Co-op and he became Manager of the Seed Division, Marketing 19 major seed crops.  In 1960 he joined Arnold-Thomas Seed Service, Fresno, California.  His mission was to locate a seed plant in the Northwest which was accomplished in 1962 in Lowdon, Washington.

Jack was active in many lay ministries at St. Patrick Catholic Church.  He actively supported the Catholic School by serving on the Catholic School Foundation for many years, as well as supporter of DeSales High School.  He was very active in the Seed business, serving as President of the Washington State Seed Dealers, and Pacific Seed Dealers Association.  He served on the board of the American Seed Association and the Federation of International Seed Dealers.  He was chairman of numerous committees in these organizations.  In his travels for the company and trade associations he acquired many friends in the United States and Europe and remained close friends even after retirement.

Jack enjoyed hunting, fishing, golf and flying his airplane; Bonanza 747 MT, accumulating over 4,000 hours.  He was a 40 year member of the Walla Walla Country Club, Serving as President in 1973.  He was a lifetime member of the Walla Walla Elks Lodge #287.  He was also a charter member and active in the Sunrise Rotary Club, serving as its President for one year.  At the age of 80; Jack joined the Friends program, becoming a friend of Dillan’s.  They spent many wonderful hours together, each developing a healthy respect and love for each other.

His only son John W. McGillis preceded him death in 1977 at the age of 20.  Jack’s passion after his son’s death was the administration of a foundation set up in his son’s name, providing 4 year scholarships based upon merit for local high school graduates.  He so enjoyed meeting the new winner and observing the growth and maturity of the returning winners each year at an annual dinner in their honor.  His 1 ^st wife, Lois died March 30, 1989 after forty-two years of a wonderful partnership and marriage.  Three years later Jack met and married Mary Ann Coffey.  Together they enjoyed travel, golf and duplicate bridge in 22 blissful years of marriage.  Jack was also preceded in death by his sisters, Doris Wutzke and Dolores McGillis.

He is survived by his sister Lois Campbell, nephews Rick Williams and Thomas Wutzke all of Nasqually, Washington.

Viewing and Visitation will be held on Sunday, May 6, 2018 from 1:00PM-5:00PM at the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home; the Recitation of the Holy Rosary will follow at 5:00PM with Sister Helen Mason, Officiant.  The Funeral Mass will be held Monday, May 7, 2018 at 11:00AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church with Father Pedro Bautista-Peraza, Celebrant.   Vault Interment will follow at the Mountain View Cemetery Walla Walla.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the John William McGillis Scholarship Foundation, administered by the Blue Mountain Community Foundation through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, WA.