Byng Washington Nixon

Byng W. Nixon, age 92 passed away on March 17 th at the Warm Beach Senior Community Center in Stanwood, WA. He was born to Edith Fernee and Jesse Dale Nixon on October 30, 1918 in Seattle. Byng attended Seattle Public schools and graduated from Lincoln High School (Seattle) in 1937. He went to the University of Washington on a football scholarship. UW Linemen Glen Conley and Byng Nixon both attended Lincoln High, then UW, and then played on the Tacoma Indians together. They were called The Birdcage Twins because they wore facemasks, nothing but a plastic bar, on their helmets. The UW team also played in a bowl game in Hawaii and travelled there by boat which took about a week. During his senior year, Byng married Eudora F. Britten on January 31, 1941. Upon his graduation from UW in 1941, Byng played semi-professional football for the Seattle Bombers and Tacoma Indians while also working at Todd Shipyard. Byng began his teaching career with Seattle Public Schools as a physical education teacher. Byng taught for most of his career at Lincoln High School at which he was the head track and field coach, and asst. football and basketball coach plus the Dean of Students. He retired from the Seattle Public Schools in 1979. Byng spent his time outside of school painting houses, fixing things for his family and friends. He built two homes for his family, one on Camano Island and one in North Ballard. Byng and Eudora enjoyed dancing at the Elks Club and going on trips to places like Las Vegas, Ireland and China. Byng was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Eudora, his daughter, Patricia L. Ingraham, and his sister, Mickey McAllister. He is survived by his sons, Mike B. Nixon (Amy), Dr. Tim J. Nixon (Beccie) and his daughters, Kathy D. Madigan (Larry) and Maureen L. Setterberg (Dan) and sister-in-law, Patricia Bell (Bob). He has 13 grandchildren: Diane Dixon, Sandra Ingraham, Kathy Dorr, Dan Ingraham, Dave Ingraham, Bill Nixon, Sean Nixon, Kelly Madigan, Megan Madigan, Seth Setterberg, Nick Setterberg, Samantha Nixon and Blake Nixon. Byng also has 10 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson. Our family is very thankful for the wonderful care provided by the Warm Beach Senior Community Center for our father. Announcement: Flowers are welcome, however, if preferred, donation may be made to the: Hope Heart Institute or the American Heart Association.