Illustrator, muralist painted "things you care about"

Tour Snohomish County and you're bound to see Bernie Webber's art.

The tall, white-haired illustrator and muralist, who died Sunday (Dec. 17) at age 83 of complications from a brain tumor, put places and faces together in paintings in more than 50 public and private buildings in Everett alone.

The Everett City Council and Snohomish County Council passed resolutions honoring Webber.

Historian David Dilgard, who has led tours of Mr. Webber's work, once said it "has the resonance of authenticity."

"He could do virtually anything," said Larry O'Donnell, one of five co-authors of the Webber-illustrated book, "Snohomish County: An Illustrated History."

"In later years, he went from the commercial field to the fine-arts field, and people commissioned him to paint scenes of the water and the mountains," O'Donnell said. "He literally produced thousands of paintings. He liked to visit and paint. He once said that with 10 kids, you learned to paint with a lot of noise going on."

Images would flow from the past to the present, capturing moments in time, like the 1967 visit by Sen. Robert Kennedy with U.S. Rep. Lloyd Meeds and Sens. Warren Magnuson and Henry Jackson. The visit is included in a mural at Everett Community College. Mr. Webber's murals decorate the Snohomish County Administration Building, Providence Everett Medical Center, the Everett School District, Paine Field, the Port of Everett, Naval Station Everett and more than 20 schools.

His portraits of 33 Everett mayors hang in the Wall Street Building.

Mr. Webber was born April 29, 1923, the grandson of muralist J.C. Jensen and the nephew of Northwest painter Arne Jensen. He credited their influences in his painting. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, and after the war attended the Los Angeles Art Center, returning to Everett in 1951. Establishing Bernie Webber Commercial Art in 1961, he depicted the Seattle World's Fair, and as a commercial illustrator did art for many companies' annual reports. He also made logos and symbols, including symbols for Naval Station Everett.

Citing his philosophy, "You give, and you receive," Mr. Webber gave away much of his art.

Not only did he serve on 14 boards at different times, he also donated the print rights of his original paintings to scores of nonprofit organizations.

Though his later years were full of honors and recognition, including Everett's Henry M. Jackson Citizen of the Year in 1981 and Snohomish County Artist of the Year in 2004, retirement was out of the question.

"I had so much to do," he said in 2004. "Deadlines like crazy."

Joy Webber, the painter's wife since 1949, said in 2004, "I think he should keep on painting so his wonderful talent isn't lost."

Everett's resolution honoring him cites his "great wit and engaging personality in an unmatched spirit for community."

"Through his artwork, Bernie Webber distinctively captured the unique beauty of the Everett area and the Pacific Northwest," the resolution said, calling him a "natural storyteller," who used "his paintbrush and canvas to portray all that is and has been Everett, including its rich history of industry, commerce and agriculture, public education, government, civic life and the U.S. Navy."

"He allowed the common man accessibility to art," said Lanie McMullin, executive director of economic development for the city of Everett. "He paints things you care about and you live every day."

Jim Hoagland, owner of Rainier Title, who provided a home for Webber's final studio, said, "Bernie was the kindest person I ever met. He liked everybody, and everybody liked him. Any place that doesn't have a piece of his artwork has lost out."

In addition to his wife, Joy, Mr. Webber is survived by his 10 children, Elizabeth, Tom, John, Barb Bly, Richard, Patsy Chadwick and Katherine Hawthorne, of Everett, Chris, of Monroe, Greg, of Marysville and Stephen, of Republic; a brother, Raymond, of Bellevue; 17 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

A 9:15 a.m. rosary and 10 a.m. funeral Mass will be held today at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 2617 Cedar St., Everett, followed by a private family graveside service and a public reception from noon to 3 p.m. at Evergreen Funeral Home and Cemetery, 4504 Broadway, Everett.

Donations may be made to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Capital Building Campaign, 2619 Cedar St., Everett, WA 98201, or the Rotary Club of Everett's new Bernie Webber Scholarship Endowment Fund, c/o Rotary Club of Everett, P.O. Box 1225, Everett, WA 98206.

Diane Wright: 425-745-7815 or dwright@seattletimes.com