LeRoy Eggers, age 87, passed away peacefully Saturday, February 7, 2026. He was born on June 26, 1938 in Leigh, Nebraska, where his life began as one of seven siblings with strong roots in hard work, service, and curiosity. As a child, he moved with his family to Portland, Oregon, where he grew up and later met the love of his life, Carolyn (Brandow) Eggers. Together, they shared a devoted and joyful 67-year marriage, building a family grounded in learning, responsibility, and community engagement. LeRoy proudly served in the United States Marine Corps, an experience that shaped his lifelong sense of duty and civic responsibility. He will be interred at Tahoma National Cemetery on March 30, a final resting place that reflects his service to his country.

LeRoy and Carolyn raised their family in Ferndale, Washington, a community that LeRoy served with both intellect and heart. He was a Ferndale city council member and a founding participant of the Ferndale Library Advocates Group, the citizen-led effort that helped establish the public library in Ferndale. The library stands as a lasting reflection of his belief in education, access to knowledge, and informed civic life. He also served on the city council of Bonney Lake, WA.

Early in his life, LeRoy recognized the world was becoming increasingly technical and complex, and he clearly understood the growing importance of education. He expected all of his children to be life-long learners. He was a perpetual learner himself and encouraged everyone to travel, read, and gain an understanding of the world. This belief shaped how he parented, taught, and mentored, and it influenced many beyond his own family.

An iconoclast by nature, LeRoy had a wide-ranging and ever-curious mind. He was a voracious reader and the family’s go-to academic tutor, with a particular love for algebra and calculus, as well as deep interests in history, psychology, sociology, and politics. His fingerprints—sometimes quite literally—can be found on countless school assignments belonging to his children, their friends, and his grandchildren.

LeRoy’s dining room table was a place of open conversation, humor, and lively debate. He welcomed police officers, pastors, politicians, neighbors, and friends, and served as an informal forum for discussions on current events, public policy, and social theory. These conversations reflected his belief that ideas mattered and that respectful dialogue was essential to a healthy community.

LeRoy approached fatherhood with a deep and unwavering sense of responsibility. He took it upon himself to know where his children — and often their friends — were and what they were doing. In doing so, he gained a remarkable familiarity with the back roads, rural routes, and gravel pits of Whatcom County, always motivated by a desire to ensure the kids were safe and accounted for. His vigilance was never intrusive, but calm, consistent, and grounded in genuine care.

LeRoy was also a gifted and generous mechanic, happiest when working side by side with family and friends on a car that needed attention. Together, they tackled brake jobs and repairs on a memorable lineup of family vehicles. These moments were as much about teaching and togetherness as they were about bending wrenches. More than cars, LeRoy could fix almost anything.

LeRoy is survived by his beloved wife, Carolyn; their three children, Kim and her partner Mike Depew, Mitch, Ron and his partner Brett Thurman; five grandchildren, Keri, Jake, Camille, Lucas, and Ben; and two great-grandchildren, Creighton and Madden. He will be remembered for his sharp mind, steady sense of responsibility, belief in education, and the many lives he shaped through mentorship, conversation, and quiet, unwavering presence. He passed as he lived: with dignity and surrounded by well-earned love.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the National Park Foundation in honor of LeRoy.