Webster’s online dictionary defines the word neighbor as “fellow man” and community as “a unified body of individuals.” Dictionary.com states that being neighborly means to “show kindness or helpfulness to a fellow human.”

Put all three terms together and you have a small idea what the life of Eastside community member and Kingsgate neighbor Rory A. Wilson embodied.

Rory passed away on May 15 from heart disease at the age of 51. His loss is felt throughout our neighborhood and many local communities. He was laid to rest with full military honors at Tahoma National Cemetery on May 26 and more than 300 people attended his service.

Rory was born on April 15, 1961 in Cutbank, Mont. and raised in Portland, Ore. He attended the University of Oregon Army ROTC program where he met his wife Debbie at Outdoor School. Rory and Debbie married in 1983. Rory was stationed in Germany for four years where daughter, Brittany, was born. After Europe he was based in El Paso at Fort Bliss where son, Garret, arrived.

Rory served our country in Operation Desert Storm for six months, leaving behind his supportive wife and two young children. After his deployment, Rory returned to Texas where youngest daughter Amanda was born in 1992, rounding out the family.

The Wilson’s soon relocated to the Seattle area where Rory taught ROTC at the University of Washington. After nine years of military service, finishing with the rank of captain, he accepted a teaching job at Voyager Middle School in Mukilteo as a shop/problem-solving and math resource instructor. His unique approach to teaching mathematics resulted in his students achieving the highest test scores ever.

What else made Rory such a valuable member of our community? He was involved in many local activities and even started some of the groups himself.

As a 16-year member of Washington Cathedral Church, Rory organized and led a “Wild at Heart” ministry for men. He and his family ran a latte stand at the church with all proceeds going to children who couldn’t afford camp. This was very dear to Rory’s heart as he himself had received a scholarship to church camp after the traumatic death of his closest brother when he was a teenager.

He also participated in the “Santa Conspiracy” where he dressed up as St. Nick and brought holiday spirit to retirement home and assisted living residents. His last act of service at the church was providing lattes and carnations for women on Mother’s Day.

Over the past 15 years, Rory’s business, Beacon Marketing Group, provided quality apparel and promotional merchandise for local schools, booster clubs, sporting teams as well as many school districts such as Mulkilteo, Edmonds, and the Lake Washington School District. The business name was in reference to “a Beacon of Light.”

Rory loved helping people by problem solving and never shied away from difficult deadlines or tricky orders. He also serviced many local businesses such as Evergreen Academy, the Pacific Institute, Fairplay, Sound Mortgage Inc., Kirkland Volunteer Fire and EMT, Bridge Ministries, Town and Country and Girly Girl Wine and Gifts.

Brittany, Garrett and Amanda played sports throughout their school years and Rory/Beacon helped all their schools (Robert Frost Elementary, Kamiakin Jr., Juanita High) and several of their sports teams. Rory and Beacon Marketing served the Juanita Rebels Booster Club as merchandiser, as well as local neighborhood swim teams and sport teams such as LWYSA and Hot Dog USA.

When going through the orders, if Rory saw that even one athlete on the team had not ordered a t-shirt, he would put in an extra so no child was left out. His passion for supporting kids was evident in everything he did.

As son Garret described, “There was a lesson in every conversation; a moral to every story. He taught you something every time you talked with him. There was always something to learn.” Those learning moments were probably lifesaving during Garret’s recent deployment to and safe return from Afghanistan in the US Army.

Recently, Rory took up wine making, learning everything he could to produce the perfect end product. His final result was praised by many wine connoisseurs as “Spectacular!”

Rory always strived to be the best person he could be. He believed there was always room to better oneself – that you should never be complacent – never allow yourself to be stagnant. He had an infectious personality that brightened every room he entered. He had a gusto and passion for life. Each day was a celebration to thank God for one’s existence.

He had three priorities in life: Faith, country, family. He loved his family deeply. He cherished his children and as he did he reminded them, “I love you but I love your mother more. You will all move out of the house someday. She and I will grow old together.”

Rory’s legacy lives on because of his actions and service he gave. Rory was the neighbor and community member we all need.