William M. “Bill” Severyns died Aug. 6, 2011.

He was born Sept. 12, 1920, to William B. and Francis M. Severyns and grew up in the Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle. A 1938 graduate of Queen Anne High School, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps following the attack on Pearl Harbor. After the war, he moved to New York, where he graduated from the Juilliard School of Music in 1949. He then returned to Seattle, where he sang tenor for the Seattle Opera for a short time. He was an agent for Farmers Insurance for 30 years in Renton, Wash.

He is survived by children Chris Frasier and husband Gene of Buckley, Jean New and husband Richard of Goodyear, Ariz., Betsy Stinson and husband James of Buckley, and Bill Severyns and wife Jayne of Maple Valley, Wash.; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by wife of 50 years, Julia (Debowey) Severyns, in 2002

A funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 11, at Tahoma National Cemetery. A celebration of his life will follow.

Arrangements are by Week’s Funeral Home, Buckley. All are invited to sign the online guest book at www.weeksfuneralhomes.com.

Remembrances can be sent to Franciscan Hospice.