Roll Call Tribute

Dennis John McCarn 

June 8, 1956 - August 28, 2023 

Dennis John McCarn, age 67 of Anacortes, Washington, passed away Monday, August 28, 2023 in Mount Vernon, Washington. He was born in Bryan, Texas on June 8, 1956 to Donal Hugh and Betty Jean (Patrick) McCarn.

Dennis’ father was a salesman for Lufkin Industries and moved often, having resided in Oklahoma, Kansas, Ohio and back to Texas. Dennis and his brother, Don Jr., were very involved in Boy Scouts and both achieved Eagle Scout rank. Dennis graduated from Conroe High School in 1974. Dennis also attended Texas A&M University for several years before deciding to pursue a trade craft in industrial construction, working his way up from a pipefitter helper to journeyman.

In 1986 Dennis went to work in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska in the North Slope oil fields where he met his future wife, Kim Graham. Dennis and Kim moved to Anchorage, Alaska and were married May 20, 1989. In 1990 they welcomed their first child, son Joshua. In 1991 they moved to North Pole, Alaska for employment at the Mapco Refinery and in 1992, welcomed their second child, daughter Katie.

In 1997, they relocated to Deer Park, Washington to be near Kim’s family for a while before moving on to Port Lavaca, Texas in 1998, where they welcomed a third child, daughter Sarah, born in Port Lavaca. Dennis worked at several local industrial sites, and in 2000 they welcomed their fourth child, daughter Emily born in Victoria, Texas.

While working in Texas, money was a little tight for a family of six, so in 2001 Dennis traveled to Anacortes, Washington to work a turnaround at the Tesoro Refinery. Dennis fell in love with the area, so much that he bought a house, built in 1901, and moved the family to Anacortes in 2002, where they still reside.

He was an employee of UMC Inc. and a member of Local 26 Plumber and Pipefitter Union.

Dennis was a devoted husband and father. He loved taking his family camping, geocaching to find hidden treasures, and golfing on sunny days. Later in retirement his hobbies included wood working, gardening and endless home improvement projects on a 122 year-old house. In the evenings he enjoyed watering his lawn and flowers, while sipping a fine red wine. Dennis will be missed by all who knew him and his family will forever cherish his memory.

Dennis is preceded in death by his father, Donal Hugh McCarn, by his mother Betty Jean Patrick McCarn, and by his brother Donald Hugh McCarn, Jr.

Dennis is survived by his wife of 34 years, Kim McCarn, son Joshua McCarn, daughter Katie McCarn (Branden Newcomer), daughter Sarah McCarn (Brian Gilland) and daughter Emily McCarn, all of Anacortes, Washington. He is also survived by his sister Kerisa McCarn (Eddie Storey) of Houston, Texas and many extended family members scattered through Texas, Oregon and Washington.

In the care of Kern Funeral Home and Mount Vernon Cemetery