Leonard Harvey Henell died the evening of Thursday, June 5, 2008, following a long struggle with cancer. He was 61, and his passing brings to a close a life of courage, service, and friendship that would do credit to anyone.

Len was born on March 6, 1947, to Kenneth and Carol Henell in Jacksonville, Fla. Len’s father, a Coast Guard aircraft mechanic, moved his family back and forth across the country until retiring in North Carolina. Len attended a number of schools growing up, and graduated in 1965 from James Campbell High School in Ewa Beach, Hawaii. He also attended College of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, graduating in 1967.

Len followed in his father’s footsteps and entered the Coast Guard as an Aviation Cadet, enduring a rigorous program that combined Naval Flight Training and Officer Candidate School at the Naval Aviation Training Center in Pensacola, Fla. He graduated in 1968, with his commission as a Coast Guard Ensign and a set of Naval Aviator wings.

In 1969 he wed Verta Ellen Baskins, the love of his life and his high school sweetheart, in Elizabeth City.

1972 saw the family transfer to Barbers Point, Hawaii were Len flew and returned to college, graduating from Chaminade College with a degree in Psychology.

By the end of his tour in Hawaii, Len had picked up a taste for stock car racing that his wife Verta shared. Wherever they were stationed with the Coast Guard: Hawaii, Alabama and California they would race and did extremely well. In 1981 Len placed third in NASCAR’s Grand American Division at Ascot Park in Gardena, Calif. In 1982 Verta placed first in the Limited Sportsmen Division at Ascot making her NASCAR’s first female short track champion. At Redwood Acres Raceway in Eureka in 1984 the Henell’s placed first and third in the Super Stock Division. The Henell’s ended their racing in 1986 shortly after the paving of the track at Redwood Acres.

Len’s distinguished career with the Coast Guard spanned 20 years and by his retirement in 1987 he had logged over 5,000 flight hours in the Sikorsky HH-52 “SeaGuard”helicopter, making him one of the most experienced “52 Drivers” in the service. During his career Len earned the Coast Guard Achievement Medal, the Expert Rifle Medal, the Arctic Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.

Shortly after his retirement, both Len and Verta found work with Yakima Products in Arcata. He first worked in their facilities department and later moved to the engineering department. His stock car racing ability earned him the attention of Yakima’s senior staff and Len became Yakima’s “test pilot”, strapping loads on the company’s car top racks and running them through a grueling 60 mile back road course to evaluate durability. It was a regular dare among the engineers at Yakima to ride along with him, and whenever one rode along, Len accommodated them gracefully, stopping as often as necessary to let them “catch their breath”. It was a racer’s dream job. Len would often comment, “I can’t believe they’re paying me to do this.”

Len left the company in 2005, deciding not to relocate to Washington but rather to enjoy his home in McKinleyville with friends, flight simulators, and occasional trips to auto dealers to test drive vehicles, making local salesmen very nervous.

There is one thing that all who knew him said about Len Henell: he was his own man, and he did things his way. His determination, cheerful and unending persistence were rewarded by his eminently successful career with the Coast Guard and his long hobby of stockcar racing, and later with his career at Yakima. His independence, however, was always tempered by his love for his friends and for his wife. He was a warm and thoughtful man when at rest, given to gardening, photography, nature watching and reading.

Two weeks after Yakima closed its doors, Len discovered his cancer from nine years previous had returned and that the prognosis was terminal. He did not cower or give up; he lived on and enjoyed every moment. His death did not mark an escape from suffering but a dignified exit from a body that could no longer sustain him, and while we are sad to see him go, we can’t fault his timing or his grace in accepting what had become inevitable. His friends stood by him, and he stood by them, never letting go of his life. His last day was spent on the road, returning from a lengthy camping trip. His last night was spent at home in the company of his loving wife.

Len Henell was a good husband, a good friend, and a good man. All who knew him grieve at his passing, and we carry his memory in our hearts.

He is survived by his wife, Verta Henell; mother, Carol Henell; brother, Dan Henell; sister-in-law Elaine Henell.

His father, Kenneth Henell, preceded him in death.

A special thank you is sent to Bob and JoAnn Hart, Addie Segura, Scott Allen and the staff at Eureka Internal Medicine who all supported and stood by Verta and Len during these trying times.

Verta has requested that any donations in Len’s honor be made to the American Cancer Society.

Friends are invited to attend a celebration of Len’s life on July 19, 2008 at 2 p.m. at the Humboldt Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on Jacoby Creek Road in Bayside.