Our dad, Gene Ronald Christie, 90, of Spokane, WA passed away on Saturday, September 21, 2024.
Dad was born on January 27,1934 in Fergus Falls, MN to Oren and Evelyn Christopherson. The family later moved to Davenport, WA and dad graduated from Davenport High School. Dad was the young boy of legend in Davenport, who slid down Firebell Hill on a sled and right underneath a moving Greyhound bus on Highway 2! In high school, he played varsity tennis which he enjoyed playing all his life. After graduating from high school, dad attended Kinman Business University where he earned a degree in Accounting and would later earn a CPA designation. After completing his education, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a pilot where he served on the USS Calcaterra based in Newport, Rhode Island from 1958 – 1959. After his first solo flight, the Navy decided to change the commitment for pilots to six years. Dad had committed to two years of service and was not interested in serving six. He took a series of assessments and the Navy discovered his incredible aptitude for numbers and accounting. He completed his enlistment as a Disbursement Clerk and transitioned out of the Navy in 1959 with an honorable discharge.
Dad met the love of his life, Diana Marie Bacon, at a YWCA social dance in 1958. He would tell everyone from that point on that it was love at first site. Gene and Diana married on August 8, 1959 in East Providence, RI. They honeymooned in New Hampshire, beginning a lifelong love of camping. They moved to Spokane, WA following dad’s discharge from the Navy. Together they welcomed four daughters – Kim, Kathy, Gayle, and Julie. In August of this year, the couple celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. They held hands everywhere they went and were each other’s best friends. Their love was truly one for the ages.
Dad was a CPA in Spokane for over 40 years specializing in tax and business valuations. His long, storied career as a CPA began at Bell, Avery and Olson. Throughout the years, dad was a principle in many firms bearing his name. Dad merged his firm with McFarland & Alton who then was later acquired by Moss Adams. He retired as a partner with Moss Adams in 1997. He was extraordinary in his knowledge and never stopped learning and honing his craft. In his latter years of practice, he became an expert in business valuations and would testify on behalf of his clients where opposing counsel would be stymied by his skill and preparation. Dad always said that the best part of his career was his clients with whom he prided himself on having personal relationships.
Dad was active both civically and physically throughout his life. He served as President of the Spokane Chapter of the American Red Cross, President of the Spokane Jaycees, Treasurer of the Spokane Centennial Committee, Treasurer of the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery, Commissioner of the Washington State Commission for Expo ’74, and as Chairman for many organizations including the Jefferson Elementary PTA. He was instrumental in starting the First Annual Senior All-Nighter at Ferris High School. In his personal life, he was an avid tennis player, belonging to the Spokane Racquet Club, as well as an avid skier joining the Prime Timers at Mt. Spokane. Dad enjoyed skiing at Jackson Hole WY, earning ten 100,000 vertical foot awards. He loved free-boarding at Priest Lake and sailing his Hobie Cat. Mom always called him the Energizer Bunny because he was always busy doing something. His grandsons referred to him as a beast because he was the one leading the way on strenuous hikes well into his 70s without so much as a labored breath. There was nothing that Grandpa couldn’t/wouldn’t do.
On summer vacations, dad would head east on I-90 and famously ask “turn left or right?” Turning left meant we were heading to Glacier National Park, Waterton National Park, and Banff. More often, we would turn right and vacation in Yellowstone National Park, which quickly became a family favorite. Dad and mom loved the big skies of Montana, and the magic of Yellowstone so much that they purchased acreage and built “a cabin” in 1999 where they would live for five months of the year for the following 20 years. Dad nurtured a real love for fly fishing, and enjoyed tying his own fishing flies. The family loved swimming in the Firehole River and dad was brave enough to cliff-jump from 40 feet. He was one of the first to jump into the rapids upriver from the more sedate swimming area.
Dad was exceptionally active in his daughter’s lives. His daughters were his pride and joy and not once did he wish that he had a son. All four daughters were active in sports including gymnastics, ice skating, tennis, volleyball, basketball, and softball, as well as band. He attended every game throughout their careers. Work never interfered when it came to his girls. He taught his daughters to be adventurous, independent, and confident. He taught them the importance of a solid, look-them-in-the eye handshake (soft-handed female handshakes would not do). He could often be heard saying “if it is to be it is up to me” a mantra that he lived by and impressed upon the girls to reach for their dreams. He was also famous for “Choices, Choices” - consider your choices wisely so that you never have to look back on your decisions with regret. In dad’s final days, each of us girls, unbeknownst to each other, told dad how proud we have been throughout our lives to say that we are Gene Christie’s daughter.
Dad is survived by his wife, Diana, his daughters Kim, Gayle (Mike), Julie (David), his grandchildren Nathan (Nina), Christie, Andrew (Alex), Michael, Matthew (Rachael), Anthony, Nicholas, Jennie, and Adam, and great-grandchildren Landon, Adeline, Ava, and Lane, and sister Jerris Wendland. He is preceded in death by his dad and mom and his daughter, Kathy Lynn Christie.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 16th from 2:00 – 4:00pm at Twig’s Bistro, 4320 S. Regal Street. All are welcome to attend and share their memories of Gene with his family.
The family would like to thank the staff of Guardian Angel Homes where Gene resided for the last eight months of his life and the staff of Hospice of Spokane for their incredible care during his final months. Donations can be made in Gene’s name to the West Yellowstone Foundation, 420 Yellowstone Ave, West Yellowstone, MT 59758.