||| FROM DENNIS KARRAS |||
Nick Karras
Nick Karras passed away March 9, 2024 in Sedro Woolley, Washington. Nick was born to Spiro and Demetra Karras in Seattle on September 2nd, 1944, exactly one year to the day before the end of World War 2.
His youth was spent on Orcas Island, on a large piece of waterfront situated on the south face of Turtleback Mountain. Here he crabbed, clammed, hiked, boated and road-raced with his brother Denny and best friend Barry Patterson.
His father commercially fished in Alaska each summer requiring Nick to undertake and oversee the caring for the livestock and haying duties. Haying consisted of mowing, raking, baling, and hauling hundreds of tons of timothy and alfalfa hay each summer.
Nick had advanced math, science, and linguistic skills, graduating as the valedictorian of the Orcas Island High School class of 1961. He received scholarship offers from numerous ivy leagues schools. He won the state Latin contest competing against high school students who had four to six years of instruction to his two years.
He was a master of crossword puzzles, able to complete the New York Times Sunday edition puzzles, in pen, in under 15 minutes. His Scrabble skills were comparable to his puzzle solving abilities.
From an early age he was fascinated by cars and owned some desirable models over the years to include one of the first Mustang Convertibles (1964 ½ ) off the assembly line.
He loved animals and cared for cats and dogs as family members. Always a bit of a rebel he didn’t blindly adhere to authority – forging his own path.
Nick was brilliant, kind, caring and compassionate and will be sorely missed by his stepson, brothers, sister and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty.
At his request no service is planned. In his memory you may wish to make a donation to your local animal shelter.
**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**
