They say you only live once, but if you do it like Fred Ouren, once is more than enough. Born on October 5, 1931, in Bellingham, Washington, to Fred and Freda Ouren, he lived a life that could fill several books—some of which he might have preferred to leave in the first four decades. A proud veteran, he served his country in the early 1950s. Family and friends will forever cherish the image of him in Germany, jazz trumpet in hand, playing with the soul and rhythm that defined his younger years. In his later chapters, he was rarely seen without his commemorative service ball cap, a badge of honor he wore with quiet, steady pride. Fred’s life was a tale of two halves. After spending his first forty years mastering “bad boy behavior,” he found a new path. In April 1975, he walked into the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous and began a journey that would define the rest of his 93 years. This past April, he celebrated a monumental 51 years of sobriety. He didn’t just stay sober; he lived sober, traveling to present at meetings, sponsoring countless others on their own quests, and building a brotherhood of lifelong friends within the AA community. His family is immensely proud of the man he chose to become. He loved life, he loved a good joke, and he loved the “wild ride” he was on. Fred was preceded in death by his parents; his younger brother, Rod; his wives Joan Taylor and Gloria Ouren; his eldest daughter, Christy Manolopoulos; his son Fred, and a daughter in law Diane Dalesio.

His legacy of laughter and resilience lives on through his wife, Emily; his daughters, Renata (Stan) Harrod, Heidi (Cindy) Ouren, and JimaLee (Mark) Painter; his stepchildren, Kyle and Yvette; and many many grandchildren.

Known for a wit that never quit, Fred was always ready with a joke. He’d often ask if you knew what a ‘wok’ was, only to delight in the eye-rolls when he revealed it was just ‘something you thwow at a wabbit.’ He lived 94 years to the fullest, proving it’s never too late to start the best half of your life.