Kenai Whitney Obituary (1992

Kenai Marsh Whitney, passed away at home in Yakima on July 28, 2017. He was born March 27, 1992 in Yakima, WA. Shortly after he moved to Soldotna Alaska where his parents ran a Sport Fishing Lodge on the Kenai Peninsula. He attended K- Beach Elementary and after returning to Yakima he attended Cottonwood Elementary, West Valley Middle School and Jr. High. He graduated From Todd Beamer HS in Federal Way and recently attended YVCC. Kenai was gifted academically, musically and athletically. He excelled at everything he put his mind to. He played several instruments but had a special talent for electric guitar, music production and alto saxophone. His mother beamed when she'd convince him to play Eddie Van Halen or Randy Rhodes solos on his guitar for her music classes. He was a featured saxophone soloist with the West Valley Jr. High Jazz band at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, formed his own rock band, 'Brick,' with friends he met at Rock band at Centrum Port Townsend and later performed with his band at Studio 7 in Seattle. As a young boy Kenai took dance and music lessons, played several years in Little League Baseball in the Yakima area. Kenai won 1st place in an online computer software contest for an animation he created on Toon Boom Animation. He attended numerous live music classical, jazz and rock concerts with his family and friends over the years. In spite of loving all these challenges he had a gentle, sensitive side too. He enjoyed many outdoor camping and fishing adventures with his professional fishing guide father, Bill and camping trips with his mom and brother. He was vegetarian but would break the rules for traditional Norwegian Christmas Lutefisk dinner and enjoyed his Scandinavian heritage. He is survived by his mother, Rondi Marsh of Des Moines, WA., father, Bill Whitney, his brother, Cooper Whitney and Grandmother Sharon Whitney of Yakima. He is also survived by two aunts, his stepbrother Garrett, and many cousins. He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Robert and Agnes Marsh, Fred Whitney, his aunt Laurel Nettles and a step sister Crystal. A Memorial Service will be held at Central Lutheran Church at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 12th with a reception to follow. A Celebration of life will be held later that day at Ahtanum Park at 5:00 pm In lieu of flowers the family suggests making a donation to Yakima Valley Pet Animal Rescue, and Adoption Center, The Humane Society, Central Lutheran church after school program to buy musical instruments or a charity of their choice. SERVICES Funeral service Saturday, August 12, 2017 11:00 AM Central Lutheran Church 1604 W Yakima Ave Yakima, WA 98902