Sumner Announces Celebration of Life For Former Mayor Leroy Goff

SUMNER, WA — The City of Sumner will be celebrating the life of 'Mr. Sumner', Leroy Goff, with a ceremony honoring his memory later this month.

The public has been invited to attend a celebration of Goff's life at the Calvary Community Church this Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 3 p.m. Following that, there will be a reception at the Sumner/Bonney Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall.

Goff passed away last week. According to a memorial posted by the city, Goff first moved to Sumner in the 1920s and, barring his time in the Navy during World War II, he remained loyal to the city, working a variety of jobs in town — from driving an ambulance to working at a fruit cannery.

Goff served on the Sumner City Council for nearly 30 years, starting in 1985 and ending when he chose not to seek re-election in 2011, the Courier Herald reports. Goff also served as the sitting Mayor of Sumner from 1992 to 1994.

The City says he will be remembered as a forward-thinking leader with a keen insight and wicked sense of humor, who often could be spotted by neighbors riding around town on his bicycle, and wearing his iconic "Mr. Sumner" jacket.