Page 118 - PGM Compendium

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Of

M⸫W⸫ Wayne J. Deming: 1970-1971

Most Worshipful Brother Wayne Joseph Deming was born in
Atwater, California, to Wayne Winfield Deming and Sarah Knowles
Deming on July 9, 1918. The family moved to Fresno and it was
there that our brother attended and graduated from the public
schools. On May 18, 1940, he and the lovely Anna Belle Perry were
united in marriage at Carson City, Nevada. He was employed by the
Pacific Gas and Electric Company and during World War II he
enlisted in the Navy and served with the Seabees in the South Pacific
until the end of the war.

In 1941, a son, Charles Wayne, was born to Wayne and Anna Belle.
At the end of the war the family was reunited and, in 1946, moved
to Bellingham, where an opportunity to go into business presented
itself, and for several years the business of electrical contracting
occupied his time.

The Masonic journey of our brother began in 1950 when he petitioned Bellingham Bay Lodge No. 44. He
would be Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on February 9, 1951. He was busy, then, learning
the ritualistic work and preparing himself for advancement in the Lodge. As he worked in the Lodge, his
son, Charles, was initiated into Chuckanut Chapter, Order of DeMolay. The family became much
engrossed in that. Mrs. Deming served as Worthy Matron of Maple Leaf Chapter No. 58, Order of Eastern
Star, and Charles became Master Councilor of Chuckanut DeMolay, and received many of the Honors of
the Order. Our Most Worshipful Sir became an officer in Bellingham Bay Lodge and soon advanced to
the office of Junior Deacon when difficult times came. He suffered an eye injury in his work which he
personally felt would prevent him from finishing up his work in the Lodge. After much counseling and
encouragement he decided to carry on and, as a result, became one of the most outstanding Worshipful
Masters the Lodge has ever had. His talent of leadership was soon recognized by others, and he was
appointed Deputy of the Grand Master in District No. 10 in 1963, then reappointed in 1964. As he became
better known, his light shone on many more and, as a result, he was appointed Junior Grand Deacon in
1966. In 1967, at the Annual Communication held in Yakima, he was elected by his Brethren to serve as
Junior Grand Warden. At succeeding Annual Communications he was advanced and was elected Grand
Master at the Annual Communication held in Tacoma in June of 1970.

All the while our distinguished Brother was advancing in the Fraternity, he also had moments of extreme
sadness. Sadness that only made him more determined that the great lessons must be carried on. His
beloved son, Charles Wayne, was now married and he and his wife, Elaine, were parents of two small

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