Albert 'Al' Frank Briggs

Albert "Al" Frank Briggs, 82, longtime Moses Lake resident, former barber and area businessman, passed away Saturday, April 5, 2008, at LakeRidge Special Care Center. Graveside services will be held 1 p.m., Wednesday, April 9, 2008, at Pioneer Memorial Gardens with Pastor Floyd Wilks officiating. Family and friends are asked to please meet at the cemetery. Visitation will be held at Kayser's Chapel on Tuesday until 7 p.m. and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Arrangements are in care of Kayser's Chapel and Crematory, Moses Lake.

Al was born Jan. 12, 1926, in Plains, Kan., son of the late Molton and Cora Jane (Pierson) Briggs. The family lived in several areas of the country before settling in Emmett, Idaho and later Yakima. Al enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Dec. 7, 1943, serving in the Pacific Theater of World War II. He was married to Marian L. Grabenstein on Dec. 31, 1945, in Yakima. Following his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1946 he attended Barber College in Yakima. He completed his exams in Spokane and when traveling through Moses Lake discovered a need for another barber in the community. They moved to Moses Lake in 1947 and he opened "Al's Barber Shop" right next to the Turf Caf/. Over the years he operated his barber shop in a couple of different locations before building a shop across from the current Frontier Middle School. He retired from barbering in the late 1960s. In 1972 he built the Athletic Club on Division Street which he operated for several years. He sold the business in 1976 and through a series of events took over the business again in 1986 and has leased the business since.

Over the years Al enjoyed refurbishing run-down houses to resell. He ended up creating his own business card which read "ROMEHO" Retired Old Man Enjoying Helping Others. Another interest was raising a few head of cattle and some farming.

He loved playing handball and riding his bike around town.

He helped build and was active in the Evangelical Methodist Church and in recent years was active with the First Church of the Nazarene. He was also a past member of the Lion's Club.

He is survived by his loving wife, Marian at the family home; daughter and son-in-law, Janet and Ken Stone, Snohomish, Wa.; son and daughter-in-law, Curtis and Jill Briggs, Kennewick; one brother and two sisters, George Briggs, Yakima, Edith Barnes, Albany, Ore., Mildred Golden of Bremerton, Wa.; four grandchildren, Tami Tregoning, Tony Riley, Alex Briggs and Andrew Briggs; three great-grandchildren, Gavin Tregoning, Tony Riley and Elijah Tregoning.

Two brothers and one sister preceded him in death.

Please sign the guestbook or leave a note for the family at www.kayserschapel.com.