EVERETT — Eighty-five people, if not more, died in Snohomish County without shelter during the past 12 months.
At the county’s Homeless Remembrance Day Vigil on Dec. 21 — the longest night of the year — a bell rang after each name to honor each individual. Thirteen were veterans.
The list is not exhaustive. Organizers gather names from sources who work with the homeless population and from news stories of deceased people.
But 2022’s was the longest list of county residents who died on the streets in the vigil’s 12-year history. Last year, there were 64 counted.
Some were trying to survive the elements and had life taken from them.
The very night of the Dec. 21 vigil, which many skipped due to snow and ice, a 76-year-old died of hypothermia in her car in the Lynnwood Walmart parking lot. Jacqueline Buchan will likely be remembered at the next vigil 10 months from now.
Sometime recently, an 80-year-old died of carbon monoxide poisoning trying to stay warm in his car in the Lynnwood Library parking lot, according to a person deeply familiar with the homeless community.
While in recent years a larger percentage people who died while homeless are older Snohomish County seniors, the risk of dying prematurely is real for homeless individuals. The life expectancy for a homeless person is estimated to be some 25 years shorter than the average American.
Each person was “someone’s brother, sister, son or daughter. Someone’s friend, someone’s keeper,” Jim Armstrong, a representative from Snohomish County Veterans Homelessness Committee said in a speech at a previous vigil. “Perhaps these lives will initiate a fresh call to action that will allow everyone the opportunity to thrive. We cannot allow their passing to be in vain. We just can’t.”
The county’s 12th annual vigil Dec. 21 was done during snowy conditions. The ceremony is done with a traditional public gathering outdoors to have people acknowledge feeling winter’s sharp chill.
The proceedings typically include the posting of the colors conducted by the Naval Station Everett Color Guard and an opening prayer, and ends with the singing of “Amazing Grace.”
The decedents honored were:
Abel M., Adrian K., Alfredo M., Alice A., Allen B., Amber T., Anna H., Anthony C., Antonio G., Brian B., Brian W., Brian S., Camden N., Catherine J., Charles W., Charles W. (also), Chase C., Daniel D., Daniel M., Danny L., Darrin B., Donald B., Donald T., Donaldo P., Ed D., Elbert K., Eric O., Eric P., George B., Hayleigh M., Hilario M., Isaac A., Ivan B., Jason S., Jeremy M., Jesse B., Joanne B. John R., John G., Jose R., Kelly C., Kierra R., Kirt S., Lindsey H., Lynda B.
Manuel P., Maria Y., Martin M., Matthew G., Matthew W., Megan R., Michael G., Michael K., Michael B., Miki B., Nicole C., Nikolaus M., Pebbles C., Peggy S., Rachel F., Randy L., Rensiner A., Reynaldo S., Robert D., Robert E., Robert M., Roderick B., Samuel L., Scott M., Scott P., Scott S., Sean S., Sean S. (also), Sean H., Steven F., Susan K., Susan K. (also), Timothy H., Timothy L., Trevor S., Tyler M., William H., William R., Zane S., plus one individual whose name was not known.
Correction: The print headline omitted the phrase "this past year" in stating "At least 85 died on the streets this year in Snohomish County." The article discusses deaths during 2022. The Tribune regrets the error.
