Eddie Root

Eddie A. Root was born in St. Helens, Oregon, to DeHart and Velna Root on August 30, 1939. He was welcomed into the arms of his Lord on August 31, 2026, one day after his 87th birthday. Eddie spent the formative years of his youth with his parents and sister, Jeannie, on Lake Louise in Lakewood, Washington, where he became an avid water skier and developed a lifelong love of motorcycles and cars. He was a frequent participant on the “hot rod” car show circuit with his award-winning 1948 Buick Fastback as recently as a few weekends ago. Eddie played football at Clover Park High School and held a school record in the men’s hurdles that stood for many years. He graduated from high school in 1957 and went on to proudly serve his country in the United States Coast Guard. Shortly after returning from service, he met the love of his life, Judy. They were married on September 30, 1961, and would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary at the end of this month. Their marriage was built on a strong, loving foundation that would stand the test of time.
Eddie and Judy settled in Puyallup, Washington, and began their family right away, welcoming three daughters—Marcie, Krista, and Ronda—between 1962 and 1965. Three babies in diapers in just under three years was not for the faint of heart, but Eddie embraced fatherhood with devotion, humor, and love. To this day, his daughters were an integral part of his life. When it came to travel and other events, the right to refuse was never an option, and we ended up creating incredible memories at home and abroad, from Italy and London to New York, Nashville, and most especially Palm Desert and Vashon Island. His girls were the light of his life.
Through a neighbor connection, Eddie found his way into the poultry business, working his way into a sales role with Pederson’s Fryer Farms in Tacoma, Washington. With courage, work ethic, and entrepreneurial spirit, Eddie made the bold decision to start his own poultry distribution company and eventually became the founding partner of EJ Poultry, Inc., in 1978. He retired in 2019 after more than
50 distinguished years in the poultry industry. When you see EJ Poultry trucks on the road, you can smile knowing that he passed his company into talented and capable hands, as it continues to thrive today.
Eddie (aka “Pops”) was a true patriarch—the heart and anchor of his immediate and extended family. He was loved and revered beyond measure. He found tremendous joy in his four grandsons, Hunter, Griffin, Will, and Ben, and treasured watching them grow from boys into men. He introduced Hunter and Griffin to bird hunting, creating grand adventures and lasting memories at the hunting lodge. He was an avid follower of Will and Ben’s football careers, proudly supporting Ben through his collegiate playing years and Will, now coaching at the D1 collegiate level. They all shared a love for sports—Mariners baseball and Seahawks football in particular. Eddie remained an engaged grandfather and steady pillar in their lives to the very end. He recently became a great-grandfather to Macallan, Harrison, and Everett, and was eagerly looking forward to welcoming his first great-granddaughter this October. And, of course, the apple of his eye remained his beloved youngest daughter, Ronda, who, as many know, is extremely special and will forever be his precious baby girl. It did not end there, as “Uncle Eddie” had a large network of nieces and nephews whom he loved as if they were his own. His impact on their lives was great, as theirs was on his.
Eddie was a true gentleman. His kindness, generosity, and quiet strength were evident to all who knew him. It is often said that the quality of a man is reflected in the family and friends who surround him. If success and wealth alone could be measured by this, Eddie would be the first to admit that he was truly a wealthy man. It was undeniable: he built a life rich in love, loyalty, faith, friendship, and purpose.