Alfred Buell
1932 - 2021

Alfred was born to Roy and Meryl Buell on April 15, 1932 in Kelso, Washington. He comes from a strong union family with a long legacy of Longshoring. He started out on the docks in Longview, Washington alongside his father and older brother. He moved to Seattle and continued on at the docks with the B list and worked his way up to the A list from 1955 until 1988 with ILWU Local # 19. On April 23, 1956, he married the love of his life, Juanita Pearl Stark, and they resided together in their home in Seattle for over fifty years until Juanita’s illness. He and Juanita were blessed with 58 years of marriage. 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Juanita, his parents, Roy and Myrl Buell, his older brother, Donovan Buell and nephew, David Parcel. He is survived by his nieces Judy Soley Perron, Barbara Soley Watson, Joy Soley Richford, Donna Morin, Dolores Buell, and great nieces, Rina Meyer and Juanita (Nina) Stajcar. While working as a Longshoreman on the docks in Seattle, he met long time pal Doug “Dugger” Phelps. The two shared many adventures over the years, telling tall stories and enjoying the local spirits. 

Pat Kilgallen, a fellow Longshoreman, joined the duo later and they became inseparable lifetime friends of over 60 years together. In later years the 3 of them enjoyed their mornings together having breakfast at Shari’s in Shoreline. Being out on the water was one of his favorite activities, enjoying time out on his many boats the Al-Nita, Al-Nita II and Fish Bone. Camping was another activity he loved. He and Juanita traveled often in their AirStream trailer, bringing along their baby, Sugar, their Golden Retriever, visiting many different places including Riffe Lake and catching some fish along the way. 

He and Juanita enjoyed many road trips over the years to visit Bud and Irene Stark in Texas, trips to Reno with Jack and Donna Morin and weekends in Hood Canal. He and Juanita joined Pat and his wife, June on a cruise to Alaska. He was an avid sports fan, enjoying Seattle Mariners and Seahawk games, as well as other sports, and was thrilled when on their 45th wedding anniversary, niece Barbara took them to a Mariners game and arranged for the score board at Safeco Field to announce to all in attendance that it was their special day. 

One of his many adventures also included being 1/3rd ownership in a race horse, Silver Jet. His horse won 1st place at the Long Acres Race Track on July 6, 1969. He looked forward to his many visits with his great niece, Nina and her fiancé, Blaze. Blaze would wear a chauffeur’s cap and drive him down to Burgermaster, then they would take their lunch to Golden Gardens to watch the boats sail by. Over the past 7 years he has enjoyed his time spent with niece Joy, and her family. 

Spending several days a week with Joy, his favorite day was Saturday where both Joy and her daughter, Mallory would come and take care of him. Mallory brought decorations for every season and made his face light up with every visit. On special days they would bring the 2 “mutts” Lilly and Louna who would jump all over him and give him kisses, bringing a smile to his face as he had a great love for all animals.