Torrey L. Wickman Jan. 1 1941 - Jan. 10 2003.
Torrey L. Wickman, retired Tacoma Schools teacher (DeLong 1 year, Mt. Tahoma 5 years , Foss 24 years), and for the past six years, the receptionist plus at Chapel Hill Church in Gig Harbor, passed away January 10, 2003. Born on New Year's Day 1941 to Pastor Virgil and Lillian Wickman in Braham, MN, he also lived in Chicago, IL and Worcester, MA before moving to Tacoma in 1956. After graduating from Stadium High School in 1959, he received both his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from the UW. He was a teacher at heart and students and colleagues enjoyed and respected him. In 1966 he met the love of his life - Rosemary Allison - in the choir loft at University Presbyterian in Seattle. They married in 1967, had their son Erik in 1969, and adopted their daughter Mia in 1975 in Quito, Ecuador, while serving as short-term missionaries with Wycliffe Bible Translators. They worshipped and actively participated at First Covenant Church, Central Baptist Church, Praise Community Church and for the past nearly ten years, at Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church. Torrey taught many adult Sunday school classes, especially on the Old Testament prophets and the Book of Revelation. Music was also a very important outlet for him; he sang in various choirs and musical groups ever since high school and was proud to be a charter member of the Northwest Repertory Singers. Music allowed him to receive and to give great pleasure. His survivors include wife Rosemary; son and family, Erik, Lisa, Amber and Levi Wills and son Malekk, Austin, and Ariana; daughter and family, Mia and Jack Powell, Maryn, Kylie, Joshua, and Allyson; mother Lillian; brother and family, Douglas and Sherri, Jim and Trish, and Susan; sister Julie Howard; sister-in-law and family, Thelma and Doug McTavish and Brandon Swan; special sister Mary Lane; many relatives here and in Sweden; and a host of friends who mourn his passing. He was faithful to his family and to the Lord he served. He was diagnosed on Thanksgiving Day 2006 with Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma. An extremely virulent and rare form of Thyroid Cancer. Special thanks to Drs. Brad Schmitz, Ron Taylor, Chris Chen, Jeff Long and their staffs, and to Multi Care Hospice nurses and staff. A service celebrating God's faithfulness and goodness will be held at Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church, 7700 Skansie, Gig Harbor, on Tuesday, January 14th 2003 at 3 p.m., with a reception following. Orig. Pub Date: 1/11/2003