Lester (Les) Romaine McIalwain, son of Clarence McIalwain and Gladys Palmer, passed away peacefully on November 6 ^th in Leavenworth, WA. He was born and raised in Ceylon, MN. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in February, 1943 at age 17 and served bravely in the South Pacific for 3 years.

He married Elizabeth (Betty) Campbell on March 2, 1946 in the Ballard district of Seattle where they raised 9 children. Les worked as a ceramic tile setter for over 40 years and retired in 1990. Betty died in 1980.

Les and Myrna Darnell were married on Feb. 15, 1985. After several years they built a home on Camano Island where they lived for 20 years. In 2008, they moved to Anacortes.

Les was a hard worker and loved sports, dancing, reading, tending his yard, walking and family time. He had yearly reunions with old schoolmates and his war buddies later in life. He often boasted of his success at Ceylon High School as a quarterback in football and a basketball forward. It was corroborated by his kids many years later, although his name was misspelled most of the time.

He is pre-deceased by his wife Betty, his daughter Deanne and his beloved grandson Josh Martz.

He is survived by his wife Myrna, his 8 surviving children Daniel McIalwain (Alana), Leavenworth, Richard McIalwain (Susan), La Cruz, Mexico, Donald McIalwain (Anna), Seattle, Douglas McIalwain (Candace), Spokane, Debra Rogers (John), Mukilteo, Denise Martz ( Ed), Rathdrum, ID, Dean McIalwain (Melanie), Spokane, Dorene Harrison (Danny), West Seattle and step-daughter Victoria Darnell, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He is also survived by his sister Patricia, Marysville. He has many wonderful grandchildren, great grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren and two Christmas cats, Dasher and Comet.

Memorials in Les's name may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, The Cat's Meow Anacortes, or the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Anacortes Christian Church, 1211 M. Ave.in Anacortes on Thursday, December 2, 2021 at 11:00 am. Reception following.

The service will be livestreamed at: https://www.youtube.com/c/AnacortesChristianChurch

To share memories of Les and to read his full obituary, please visit Jim's memorial site at: https://www.evanschapel.com/obituary/les-mcialwain