John M. Cavins

John M. Cavins, 67, a resident of both Olympia and Moses Lake, WA, passed away peacefully in his sleep on October 23, 2010. He was born May 15, 1943 in Sacramento, CA where he lived for a short time prior to moving to Bellevue, WA. He worked as a pharmacy manager for Safeway in Ephrata, WA before retiring in 2006.

John started his career with Fisher’s Drug store as a box boy at age 18, working his way up to being manager and part owner of the Federal Way, WA store for over 20 years. After the business was sold, John decided to go back to school and fulfill a life long goal of becoming a pharmacist. John graduated with a pharmacy degree with honors at age 50 from Washington State University. After school, John settled in Moses Lake, WA where he built a house of his dreams on the Lake. John worked as a pharmacist for Wal-Mart and then as a pharmacy manager for Safeway in Ephrata. John’s hobbies included boating, fishing, hiking, cooking, gardening, and target shooting. He spent many wonderful summers taking his family and friends boating on the lake with his beloved dogs, Valerie and Skilo. John loved good food and good wine in the company of family and friends. He had a great sense of humor and a clever grin that will be forever imprinted in the memory of those who knew him. While battling Parkinson’s and Lewey Body dementia, John tried to stay active with home projects and gardening. His declining health sent him to Olympia, to be closer to his three daughters. Over the past year he was cared by the loving staff at Panorama City Convalescent Center, and under the watchful care of his daughter, Christie.

He was a devoted father, grandfather, brother, husband and a friend to many. He will be greatly missed. We know that John is in heaven right now out on a walk, or boating with his dog, Valerie, who preceded his death in 2007.

John is survived by his wife, Alanda J. Cavins of Moses Lake, WA, his daughters, Angela (Mark) Hotchkiss of Vancouver, WA, Christie (Tony) Agtarap of Olympia, WA, and Cindy Slade of Kent, WA; his sister, Patty Morris of South Berwick, Maine; ; grandchildren, Kari, James, and Joel Hotchkiss, Jordan and Jason Agtarap, and nieces Kim Carignan (Neil) Maine, and Heather Sayles of Maine. His parents, John S. and Dorothy Cavins, preceded him in death.

A memorial service for family and friends will be held at 3pm on Wed, Oct 27, 2010 at Funeral Alternatives, 2830 Willamette Drive NE, in Lacey, WA. The family requests that in lieu of flowers or other gifts, memorial contributions be made to the Lewey Body Dementia Association, Inc, 912 Killian Hill Road, SW, Lilburn, GA 30047.