By Charlie Daehne

Sumner Rotary honored the loss of longtime member Wayne Mosby with a plaque beneath a tree planted in his memory.

Family, friends and fellow Rotarians gathered at 4 p.m. Thursday at Loyalty Park in Sumner to remember Mosby, who died in October 2008 at the age of 85.

Mosby’s wife June said she couldn’t believe Sumner Rotary would go to so much trouble for her late husband.

“I just can’t imagine they’re doing this, it’s wonderful,” she said. “It’s kind of overwhelming to have that happen. That only happens to pioneers.”

Members in attendance shared their experiences with Mosby. Many commented on his business legacy, commitment to the club and constant brainstorming for solutions to town problems.

Among the speakers were Rotarians Taryn Capps and Tina Pries, who shared fond memories of a man they came to know and cherish.

Capps told a story of her husband Jason driving down Park Street and being struck by a driver who ran through a stop sign.

Mosby witnessed the incident and immediately went to support Jason.

“That’s just the kind of guy he was,” Capps said. “He’s a pure Rotarian.”

Pries knew Mosby since she first joined the group more than nine years ago. She said he was always very encouraging and welcomed her with open arms.

“He does a good job of epitomizing what Rotary is all about. He’s always looking out for his fellow man,” Pries said.

“Rotary isn’t a club that has always had women in it. Women are a fairly new concept to Rotary. It was really intimidating to be a woman coming in to Rotary, especially at that time a younger woman, and Wayne just went out of his way to make me feel welcome.”

Mosby began with Rotary in 1963 at a Federal Way group. He moved to the Sumner area with his wife in 1968, joining its club soon after.

His tree is planted in the northeast corner of the park just outside his residence on Park Street.