February 23, 1958 – January 14, 2023

In the 64 years he lived, Gene was best known for his hard work, his logging prowess, his passion for golf, his generosity, and his love for his daughters. That all came to an end on January 14, 2023, when he died from a stroke.

Gene was born in Port Angeles, on Feb. 23, 1958, to Edwin and Elizabeth Ketchum. He was raised in and around Port Angels, spending his childhood summers on Lake Crescent where he learned to water-ski at an early age. He later fell in love with jet-skiing and could often be seen jetting around the Lake.

He loved fishing and had great success hooking the elusive Beardslee and Rainbow trout which inhabit the lake. After the family built a permanent home and moved full-time to the lake, Gene went on to graduate from Crescent High School, class of 1977.

In 1983 Gene and Marchetta Childers were married at Lake Crescent Lodge. Over the next few years, they became proud parents to two girls, Sarah and Casey. Sadly the marriage ended in divorce and Gene never remarried.

Gene worked his entire life in the logging industry, starting in the woods setting chokers as a young teenager. He worked for various logging companies locally and in Alaska, and then for himself with his friend Mark Thompson. He worked many jobs in the industry but was known best as an expert faller, a dangerous job that he continued to do well into his 50s.

Gene was well-known by many local golfers for his competitive nature, winning several tournaments over the years. Gene also enjoyed traveling around the US and spent extensive time in Europe, Asia, and New Zealand.

Gene is survived by daughters Sarah Ketchum and Casey Ketchum, his grandchildren Ketta, Ford, and Ethan; his sisters Sarah Schaeffer and Stephanie Hilt, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, mother, brother Jay Ketchum, and nephew Zachary,

Family and friends are invited to the Peninsula Golf Club, 824 S Lindberg Rd., Port Angeles, on March 25, 2023, from 3-5 p.m. to celebrate Gene’s life and maybe share a story or two about Gene’s adventures and friendships.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County, www.habitatclallam.org