Dear MMHS 1978 Classmates,

I have sad news to report.  Rex Erickson has passed away on September 10^th, 2015 after a short battle with cancer.  Tim Shay, Pete Manke, and Judy Smith all notified me and The Daily News story about Rex and a link to that article is listed below.  Please keep Rex’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.

Always,

Darren Talley

Tim Shay sent me a nice story about Rex and the way he lived his life.

Darren,

I would like to tell a story as told to me by Rex I consider it to be very exciting the best "Rex" story I know.

Rex was fishing in the Gulf of Alaska and they happened to be doing very well that trip so well in fact that the boat became overloaded and began to sink!  The Skipper put out a distress call as the boat began to list to one side.  Rex and his brother were both at the rail and his brother looked at him and said "you wanted an adventure" then jumped in the freezing water.  The boat however took some time to go down and for a while Rex's brother had to keep swimming to get out of the way of the boat he had just jumped off of.

Finally it was time to abandon ship for the rest of the crew and everyone including Rex hit the water.  Rex was tall over seven feet tall and his survival suit didn't fit properly.  The icy water began to make its way into his suit and Rex quickly began to freeze to death.  One of his crew members tried to stay with Rex and give him encouragement but Rex knew there really was no hope he reached the point where he was giving up.  Just as he began to relax and let the sea take him he went into the low point of a wave and when he rode back up there was another boat there and an arm that pulled him aboard, Rex was saved!

After this Rex's father bought him a custom survival suit and of course Rex spent the rest of his life on the ocean he loved it there and soon he will be returned there.  Here's to you old buddy hope your seas are calm.

Tim Shay

Rex A. Erickson

Rex Arnold Erickson, 56, of Ilwaco, Wash., was born Feb. 19, 1959, in Longview, and died Sept. 10, 2015, at his home after a short battle with cancer.

He grew up in Longview and attended Mark Morris High School and Lower Columbia College, where he received his GED. Rex was a tree planter and logger then worked for many years in Alaska in commercial fishing. When he moved to Ilwaco he continued commercial fishing. He loved getting together with his family for holidays as well as having a good time with his friends.

Rex was preceded in death by his parents, Alice and Donald Erickson; and a brother, Garth Erickson.

He is survived by three brothers, Brad, Jon and Eric Erickson; four sisters-in-law; numerous nieces and nephews; and three stepsisters and their families.

At his request, no service will be held.

http://tdn.com/announcements/obituaries/rex-a-erickson/article_8e3f2408-0fed-51c7-be7c-b95bb3ce3c2e.html