If not claimed, ashes of deceased will be scattered

Time is running out for friends or family members to claim the remains of of 37 individuals who died in Pierce County. The list of individuals can be found below and at www.co.pierce.wa.us/medicalexaminer. Officials from the county medical examiner's office plan to scatter unclaimed ashes of the deceased on the water of Puget Sound in August. The ashes are from people who died between 1998 and 2015. "Everything possible is done to find the next of kin or friends of the deceased,GÇ¥ said Dr. Thomas Clark, the medical examiner. He added that family members or friends aren't always interested in claiming the remains. The names of the unclaimed deceased can be found below at www.co.pierce.wa.us/medicalexaminer. Most are either from or died in Puyallup, Tacoma, Lakewood, Fife and University Place. They include Steven michael Alchele, Brandy Lynn Baker, Audrey D. Barnett, Roger D. Bateman, Shawn E. Boyce, Robert J. Cemelich, Johh L. Coulter, Joseph B. Dowaschinski, Wesley R. Feely, Jack Davis Ferneau, Sherry Lynn Fuglestad, Daisy Mae Gibson, Toney Quinn Green, Jeremie Hamilton, Elsie June Hammett, Trudy H. Hanson, Arnold Len Holm, Kenneth D. Hornaday, Nelda Jo Johnson, Lissa Kay Lee, Patrick J. Linbeck, Clifford W. Locklin, Dary R. Lupien, Joseph F. Martonfi, Thomas M. Morris, Rick Lynn Morrison, Catherine Ocon, William F. Parker, Carl Lee Peterson, Martin K. Ross, James A. Swanson, Doris Thompson, Diana White, Gregory L. Wohlmacher and Donna J. Wolf. The medical examiner's office can be contacted at 253-798-6494 before Aug. 1 to claim remains. Officials will use a Sheriff Department boat to scatter the remains. The process will be respectful, Clark said. The practice started in 2014 due to an inability to store records indefinitely. Clark said it is more dignified and environmentally friendly to scatter ashes than storing them on a shelf.

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