George Arthur Henriksen
George Arthur Henriksen was born in Portland, OR on May 25, 1940 to George F. and Ellen Henriksen and died August 15, 2019 in Bothell, WA from complications of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which he first contracted in 2004. His humble spirit took flight, and we are grateful knowing he is at rest, safely on his way.
He was a model of the Protector and Provider for his family and a true and faithful companion as a husband to his childhood sweetheart, Judy Runyan Henriksen for 58 years of marriage. He was devoted to his children, Michael Arthur Henriksen (Barbara), Maria Lorraine Marks (Tim), and Suzanne Marie Fowler (Ken). Loving grandchildren include Daniel Henriksen, Adriel Henriksen, Emily Fowler Kang, Ryan Fowler, Maia Marks, Roslyn (Roz) Marks.
He had three siblings, Joanne (CoCo) Skimas, deceased, (John Skimas) Vancouver, WA; Nan Henriksen, Camas, WA, and John Henriksen, (Cheryl), Aptos, CA. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and extended family. We are all the better for his presence in our lives.
He attended University of Washington from 1959-1963, with a degree in Zoology. He attended University of Washington Medical School 1963-1967, including a sabbatical year in Endocrinology. He entered Psychiatry Residency at UW Medical School 1967-1970. He entered the military as a Major and served 1971-1974 at Tripler Army Medical Hospital CINCPAC during the wind down of the Vietnam War. He obtained his Diplomate of Psychiatry/Neurology in 1974, scoring an awesome score of top 2% nationally.
Making the move with his family to Everett, WA in 1974 he began his practice of Psychiatry where he served the community for 36 years, retiring in 2010. He treated adults, families, and Military stationed in the greater Everett area as well. His interest areas included psychotherapy in Depression, Grief, Divorce, and Adult Children of Alcoholics. One of his favorite sayings was, “The way out, is the way through. Through is one of my favorite words”.
He was a member of AMA, APA, former Snohomish County Physicians Corp. and local hospital affiliations. He worked for Mental Health North in Seattle; WA State Department of Health and Rehabilitation, Everett; Family Counseling Service, Everett, Catholic Community Services, Everett; and a private consultant to Medical Consultants Network, Everett; Inland Medical, Everett, and Department of Labor and Industries, Everett.
His wit and humor brought ease with his hearty laugh and big smiles, no matter whether it was with family, friends, patients or people around him. He was known for his bear hugs and his encyclopedic facts and knowledge on many subjects, which he still shared with all; everything from inspiring biblical verses to catchy Abba lyrics. His ability to share this with his grandchildren, as “the green wood on the family tree,” made him happy. He led a happy life. Cerebral and intellectual, he had a wide range of interests, including music and literature, roses, chess, humorous movies, World War history, and his lifelong love of football and tennis. His deep, quiet, and reflective life was evident in his poetry writing and outpourings of his private side. In the last weeks he enjoyed hearing us read these to him. He would smile and remark, “That was a good one.” It was a fountain that came from his “wellspring” and surfaced in the 1980’s for everyone to read and treasure. Fond memories of these traits led to filling a treasure box with dozens of papers of his family’s recollections from a Lifetime of Love.
He always drew strength from his family who liked to camp, make yearly stays at the beach and to the beloved Logs at Canyon Creek near Mt. Baker. Quiet and kind, his simple life kept him focused and content whether it was tending his rose beds, watching football on TV, rooting faithfully for UW Huskies or Seahawks. Saturday and Sunday were filled with football in the fall through Super Bowl. It was his favorite sport hearkening back to Camas High School days with lifelong friends, captaining his team to the SW WA championship in 1958.
Tennis was his second sport, partnering with another lifelong friend to SW WA Doubles Championship the same year.
Gratitude for his many blessings and a life well lived inspired us. His perspective was, “Any one of these would have been enough.” Neil Diamond’s song said it well, “Looked up in wonder at the same moon and wept when it was done too soon.”
He often repeated to us, “We will meet in a place where there is no darkness.” “Oh, what a joy, just to hear we were going to the House of the Lord.”
A private and gentle soul, George truly believed, “to live in the hearts of those we love is not to die.” Accordingly, he arranged to have his ashes scattered in a favorite spot in nature. His loving memory will be cherished in all our hearts.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Evergreen Hospice and The Chateau Bothell Landing for supporting his last days with us. In lieu of flowers we suggest memorials be sent to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Seattle, University of Washington Medical School of Psychiatry, Children’s Hospital in Seattle or charities of your choice.
