Ethan William Willard was born at Northwest Hospital in Seattle, Washington on June 4th 2001. He came home to his family in Shoreline a few days later.
He spent his early years playing with his brother and sister, then the neighbor kids. His parents called the constantly moving group of kids the “swarm” as the kids zoomed around the neighborhood.
Ethan from a young age was the clown of the family. He made his family laugh.
Ethan was always interested in cars and airplanes; he attended the Seattle car show most years with his dad. He enjoyed the air show at Paine field. Ethan had a great adventure when he got on board with a pilot of a small Cessna at the end of one day at the air show, took off, and got some hands-on flying time, as they flew from Paine field down to Seattle and back.
He attended First Lutheran preschool, then went on to Syre Elementary. At Syre his teachers did not always appreciate his sense of humor.
Ethan enjoyed Soccer and Baseball during these years. He was particularly good at and enjoyed being at bat hitting wild low pitches and almost any other pitch that came his direction.
Ethan moved on up the hill from Syre to Einstein Middle School and then Shorewood High School. At Shorewood Ethan ran cross country and worked on the school paper.
Ethan wrote well and had the uncanny ability to spell anything. He would be challenged by members of his family to spell some exotic word without fail he did it!
Ethan enjoyed cooking. Ethan was a great cook and when his family was lucky, he would cook up a feast. Ethan used his cooking talent at jobs during his college years.
Ethan enjoyed music and skateboarding
Ethan attended Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington.
He moved to Portland Oregon, intending to continue his education at Portland State University.
Ethan left this world at the family home on September 9th, 2022.
Ethan is survived by his maternal grandmother Nancy Keebler of Genesse, Idaho, his father William Willard, brother Samuel Willard and sister Audrey Willard. Also surviving are his uncles Peter Willard of Pullman, Washington, Douglas Van Houten of Casper Wyoming and Stephen Van Houten of Bangor, Northern Ireland, UK.
His mother Laura Ellen Van Houten predeceased him, passing away on December 7th, 2017.