Arthur L. Coylar

Arthur (Art) Colyar died Aug. 1, 2011 at the age of 91.

After graduating from Cheney High School in 1938 and briefly attending Washington State University, he joined the Navy and served aboard the U.S.S. Richmond during World War II. He was a gunner's mate during the last pure gunnery battles in Naval history—the Battle of the Komandorski Islands—in March of 1943. He also witnessed the surrender of Japanese forces of Northern Honshi and Hokkaido aboard the ship in September 1945.

Following the war, Coylar owned and operated Kelley's Tavern, the Malt Shop and then The Beehive restaurant, all in Cheney. He later worked as a bartender for the Holiday Inn, the Elk's Club and Playfair Race Track, all in Spokane. A former member of the Elk's and Rotary clubs, he also enjoyed gardening in his spare time.

Born on the family homestead Nov. 7, 1919 in Cheney, he was the youngest of Benjamin and Nettie (Cook) Colyar's nine children, all of whom preceded him in death. He lived in Spokane County for nearly 88 years before moving to an assisted living facility in Seattle following the death of his wife of 51 years, Anna Christina (Eberl) Colyar in 2004.

He is survived by a daughter, Michelle Colyar-Cooper of Seattle and granddaughter Jenna Boncek of Columbia, S.C.

Colyar will be interred at Tahoma National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Inland Northwest in Spokane.