The Bob and Kay Sarver Story, “Part of the Great Generation”
Kay was the eighth child out of nine children born and raised by her parents David and Prudence Wallace. Kay was born in Spokane, Washington on November 29, 1917. Her father was a painter. He painted scenery and several murals in theaters and office buildings. Late in his life he was asked to go to Hollywood and paint backdrops for movies. He also built and painted homes. Her mother was busy raising all of the children. She also rented cabins and ran a restaurant named the Angle Lake Inn near the SeaTac Airport. She made chicken and apple pies. Her pies were sold all over the Seattle area and distributed by her family. They moved around the Seattle area and finally settled in Burien in the same neighborhood as three of their children.
Bob was the middle son of the family of three boys born to Noel and Marie Sarver in Estacada, Oregon on March the 19th, 1919. Bob’s father Noel was a successful building contractor in Portland, Oregon until the Great Depression put an end to his business. They put all of their belongings into a car and relocated to Seattle, WA. Soon after the move and the stress of the times his parents divorced. Times were lean and all the boys would caddie at the Inglewood Country Club and leave their daily earnings on the table to help their Mother with food and rent costs. Their mother was a gifted seamstress.
Bob and Kay both went to Roosevelt High School in Seattle. Kay and her sister Pat were in the same grade and tried to pass as twins. Bob was quite a baseball pitcher in school. His biggest claim to fame was beating Fred Hutchison’s American legion team 1-0. Bob met Kay’s brother, Gil, playing with him on the same team. Therefore, he met Kay. Bob really enjoyed being around all of Kay’s large family. There was always plenty of food to go around. Throughout his whole life Bob always was a hungry guy, but he never snacked. Kay’s dad Dave called Bob, “The Kid ”, and accepted him as one of his own. Kay’s mom Prudence was a great cook using a wood stoked stove. It seemed that stove was going all day and night trying to feed the large family. Holidays with this large family were very fun gatherings. The brothers all played the guitar and sang old songs.
Bob did all kinds of odd jobs. Some jobs with his dad Noel and some with Kay’s dad Dave. Most of the jobs were construction and painting. Kay’s brother Bruce became the eastern Washington agent for the Seattle Times and Bob followed and worked for him in Ellensburg. Bob became the number one pitcher for the Ellensburg Cowboys. The Cowboys and Lefty Bob Sarver played well and won the League Championship. While in eastern Washington, Bob and Kay decided to get married. They were married on June 28th 1937 in Granger, Washington with her sister Pat and her husband Bob Mayer as their Witness.
In 1939 the couple went to the Raging River in Oregon to pan for gold, camping out by the river and panning all day. This is where their son Michael was conceived. There panning results were very spotty. So, they returned to Seattle where Bob was working as a Bellhop/Elevator when Michael was born. They bought a small house in Georgetown, WA, paying $2,000.00 with half down. The Seller was hesitant to sell them the house because they were so young. (20)
Bob later got a job with the Naval Shipyards in Kirkland, WA. Bob worked there until he volunteered for military duty to be a part of the big one “WW2” and joined the U. S navy. He did training in Idaho and Mississippi. So, Kay and Mike moved in with her sister Pat and her two sons in Juanita on the water three houses from the Juanita Bay Park. While raising the three boys Kay and her sister Pat worked as waitress at Roy’s Market and Cafe two blocks from their home in Juanita.
The Navy assigned Bob to the Philippine Islands, Ship Repair Base at Manicani on the tip of Samar. He was in a squadron of PT boats. He went on several patrol missions during his tour. As he boarded a PT boat for a routine mission the base commander asked Bob and his pal to get off and come with him. None of the squadron of ten boats returned, as all the sailors were killed. The commander wanted Bob and his pal to ready the baseball fields for a visit from a team of Touring Pros called Phil Rizzuto’s All-stars. Bob was the best pitcher on the Navy Base and he pitched against The All-stars and did quite well. They played a series of games in order to entertain the troops.
After the war in 1945, coming home on the Aircraft Carrier Bob made some money playing 456 (dice game). It was enough money, plus a small loan from Kay’s dad, Dave, to purchase a small Mom and Pop Grocery Store in Kirkland, WA. They renamed the store Sarver’s Market. Attached to the store was a small living quarters with one tiny bedroom. Over the years the store and living area were remodeled three times.
Sarver’s Market located at 1431 Market Street was very successful due to the personality and hard work of the family. It became headquarters for sports and political discussions. Bob was always whistling and making golf swings like Johnny Carson. It was also the Greyhound and School Bus stop for the area. For the first twelve years in the Grocery business, open seven days a week, Bob’s routine was up at 5:oo am gas and wash school buses and drive a route until 9:00 am, then open Sarver’s Market and work it until 9:00pm closing time, and remodel local houses until midnight. Finally everything was paid for and he could Golf on Thursday afternoons with Dr. Joe Feek and take Sundays off. Joe Caraher, owner and publisher of the Eastside Journal, often referred to bob as the Mayor of Market Street. Kay was always working side by side with Bob in the store. She was the rock and a woman with boundless energy.
During this times a beautiful little girl, Susan Rae Sarver (Mcleod), joined the family team. She was very cute and benefitted from a lot of attention from all the locals and vendors. She was always in the store playing and hiding. One time she fell asleep behind a twenty-five pound sack of sugar and none of us could find her for several hours. We knew that someone had stolen our pretty little girl. Alas, Mike found her after several hours of search.
During this time period Mike played baseball, football, basketball and tennis from the age of ten to eighteen. Mike also delivered newspapers, groceries and worked at the local meat market.
After the store closed Bob sold cars at Lee Johnson Chevrolet. One month he sold 33 cars, no fleet, it was a record. He also sold cars at Metke Ford and Brooks Mcknight Chevrolet in Bellevue. He was always one of the top salesmen and was awarded The National Legion of Leaders Award for superior sales several times. Later Bob joined Mike in the Real Estate business helping him develop one of the most successful offices on the Eastside.
When the Sarver’s came to Kirkland the population was about 4,000 people. Their telephone number was 406. This small community afforded all of us with an “it takes a village” attitude and a sense of a family. Bob played town team baseball and basketball. The teams played against other town teams from all over the area of Western Washington. Bob was part of the group of people that started Little League Baseball in Kirkland. Kay had a bowling team, golfed and was active in the Eagles Club Charities.
After selling their home west of Market Street in Kirkland they moved to Mason Lake near Shelton. They put an addition on sister Pat’s waterfront home. They made lots of friends at the lake. When Pat moved to an assisted living facility they moved into a view apartment back in Kirkland. Bob and Kay could be seen daily walking 1-3 miles on Lake Washington Blvd.
Kay was a fantastic crossword puzzle worker. She was always a very competitive game and card player. Bob was an International Contract Bridge red point achiever. Bob played in contract bridge tournaments until one month before he passed.
The Sarver’s were avid sports fans. In their younger days they would fly to San Francisco to catch a weekend series of baseball. They loved baseball, basketball, tennis and golf. Of course when Seattle obtained professional franchises they were big time fans. Oh Yes, and Husky Honks. Their favorite old time baseball players were “The Splendid Splinter” Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and a lot of the old time Pitchers. Kay was real fond of local heroes Lenny Wilkens, Fred Brown, Jack Sikma, Steve Largent, Jim Zorn, Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martinez. She had several conversations with Lenny Wilkens on her Kirkland walks about playing Fred Brown more. She also talked with Edgar Martinez at ball games and at Costco. These men were always shared their time and were very cordial.
The Sarver’s favorite places include Mount Rainier, Hawaii, Mason Lake, Snoqualmie Casino, Reno, Harrison Hot Springs and Kirkland, Washington.
It is probably appropo that Kay passed away because of a long battle with Arthritis and Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS). Bob’s Kidney’s were failing; he had stage 5 kidney disease. He then contracted a severe case of Shingles that centered around his head neck and ears. After suffering unbelievable constant pain his system was totally worn out and gave out. Bob passed at 12:55 pm on July 12, 2011. When Kay was told, she asked to be with him as soon as possible and she passed at 4:25am on July 13, 2011. They are together again for eternity.
The Sarver’s had a great life and were very healthy unto the last few months. They were totally in Love. They always gave maximum support to each other.
YOU CAN’T EVER PICK YOUR PARENTS. IF SUSAN AND MIKE COULD THEY COULD NOT HAVE EVER PICKED SUCH PERFECT PEOPLE. HONOR BOB AND KAY AND THEIR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER BY LOVING AND CARING FOR EACH OTHER.