LaVern and Frances Puddy celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary on May 31.
The couple met at Washington State University. LaVern was from Twin Falls, Idaho. Frances Cresswell was from Port Angeles. They married the day after their graduation.
After college, they moved to Nebraska, where LaVern served at Offutt Air Force Base. They later settled on Queen Anne hill in Seattle.
Their respective degrees in architecture and economics proved a winning combination. Over the next 50 years, Frances and LaVern built, owned and operated numerous apartment buildings on Magnolia and Queen Anne, including the Casa LaDaRo, Cresswell Condominiums, the 500 Building and Dexter Place.
In their spare time, they raised four Queen Anne Grizzlies: Lisa, Scott, Linda and Paige.
In 2006, they retired to their home on Magnolia's southeast bluff. LaVern still putters, continuing his hands-on ownership of a few properties. LaVern's favorite past time is flying his Beechcraft Bonanza, or his twin-engine Beechcraft Baron airplanes. Frances is a well-loved, familiar face in her community activities.[[In-content Ad]]
