Stephen Lightner Nourse, age 65, passed away on April 27, 2015, at his home in Winthrop. He was a practicing attorney and president of the Northwest law firm Carney Badley Spellman until 2015, when progressive lung disease forced his retirement. He suffered from ideopathic primary pulmonary hypertension.
Born in Salem, Oregon, to G.W Nourse and Helen Pennington Nourse, Steve grew up in and around his father’s construction projects in Venezuela, Guam, Hawaii, Alaska, Idaho and Canada. He graduated from West Vancouver High School in Vancouver, B.C., and received a degree in civil engineering from Stanford University in 1975. During vacations and holidays he worked as a journeyman pilebuck. Steve graduated from the University of Washington School of Law in 1978.
Nourse specialized in heavy construction litigation. He had his own firm until 1987, when he merged with Carney Badley Spellman. He received many awards throughout his career, and remained dedicated to the well being of the firm and his partners, associates and staff until his death.
Nourse was an active athlete and sportsman. As a kid he hunted, fished, skied, sailed and surfed. He lettered in every sport in high school and competed on the Stanford University track team until his education was interrupted by military service. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served as executive officer on the Intrepid carrier, a tank commander and competitor.
Despite practicing law in Seattle, Nourse’s heart and home were always in Winthrop with his wife, Jane Gilbertsen. The greatest joys of his adult life were his family, backpacking, roaming the mountains with his dogs, riding his mules, hunting with his buddies and windsurfing in Maui.
He is survived by his wife, Jane Gilbertsen, Winthrop; son Brent Nourse and wife Marie; grandchildren Emma, Peter and Jack, all of Bothell, Washington; and one sister, Lee Watkins, her husband Clark Watkins and son Tim Watkins of Arizona. He is also survived by two great friends, Dale Sekijima of Winthrop and David Shaw of Seattle and Winthrop.
The support of The Lookout Coalition at Room One in Twisp greatly benefited Steve and Jane during his last months at home. The free services of retired medical professionals allowed him to be away from his primary physician at the University of Washington. Jane asks that memorial donations in Steve’s honor be made to The Lookout Coalition, 315 S. Lincoln St., Twisp, WA 98856.
A Methow memorial is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, at the Methow Valley Community Center in Twisp, reception following at the Methow Valley Inn in Twisp. His firm will also hold a service at The Rainer Club of Seattle at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3.
