Gerald Arthur Kilgore

Gerald Arthur Kilgore

Gerald Arthur Kilgore was born April 24, 1921 in Athena, Oregon and passed away peacefully at Aegis of Kirkland on July 3, 2012 at 91 years old. He served in the US Coast Guard during WWII. He married Doris Skaret on October 6, 1944, adopted their daughter Marla in 1963. Art opened the first Auburn Safeway in 1958, and in 1962, he and his wife Doris moved to Fairbanks, Alaska to open a local Safeway Store. They later moved back to Auburn, WA where he started his own grocery store and rental proprietorship in Auburn in 1966 with Art’s Highway Supermarket, ice machines and apartments above his store. He sold the store in 1971 but retained the apartments. He continued maintaining properties until his late 70’s.Art is preceded in death by his wife Doris, 2006. He is survived by his daughter Marla Benjamin, niece Edna Gessel, other nieces, nephews – including several great-great nieces and nephews. Art was commonly known as Auburn’s south-end mayor, and he was honored as one of Auburn’s local legends in 2003. Celebration of his life will be Saturday, July 14, 1:00 at Bonney-Watson Washington Memorial, 16445 International Blvd SeaTac, WA. Memorials to, Aegis of Kirkland Resident Fund. Please sign online memorial at www.bonneywatson.com

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