Frederick Franklin Poyner III

Frederick Franklin Poyner III, age 83, passed away peacefully on November 3, 2026 in Everett, Washington. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

Fred was born on December 23, 1942, to Rachel Poyner (nee Danner) and Frederick F. Poyner II, in Everett, Washington. From an early age, he had a passion for the outdoors: swimming and fishing on the waters of Lake Ki; hiking, hunting, trapping, and camping the rivers and mountains of the North Cascades, at his Uncle Johny’s family cabin in Swede Haven as a young man. His love of the water made Fred a lifelong mariner, whether this was sailing on Puget Sound, or crossing the Pacific Ocean later in his life to explore the Hawaiian and South Pacific Islands in his ketch sailboat, RENICA.

After graduation from Everett High School, Fred enlisted in the United States Army, serving for three years. While stationed abroad in Germany, his role with the US Army Corps of Engineers provided him with professional training for later application as a Civil Engineer. Upon returning to the States from active military service with an Honorable Discharge, he returned to the Pacific Northwest and married Carol Elizabeth Bradley, his wife and lifelong companion of 60 years, on June 30, 1966. The couple lived in Bow-Edison, Washington, later briefly relocating their home to Arlington, Washington.

Fred earned both his Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) license and Civil Engineering certification with the State of Washington. In 1970, he and fellow land surveyor Riley J. Sipe opened Cascade Surveying & Engineering, Inc., in Arlington, Washington.

As the principal owner and CEO of Cascade, Fred built a customer-focused business from the ground up. In the 56 years of continuous operations that followed, his business employed hundreds of people, completed thousands of land surveys, and helped to build bridges, roads, houses, businesses, land, forestry and marine conservation projects, and public infrastructure across the Pacific Northwest. He and Carol made a life together with their family residence at Onamac on Camano Island, Washington. In later years, they enjoyed celebrating many family get-togethers at the Poyner Family homestead at Swede Haven, in the North Cascades, the once-longtime home of his Uncle Johny Fowler.

Fred was a longtime figure in Arlington, and enjoyed many adventures with friends and family whether this was sailing to Port Townsend over a weekend, swimming at the family cabin on the North fork of the Stillaguamish river, or hiking with his friends into a remote alpine lake and camping out under the stars.

Fred is survived by his wife, Carol E. Poyner (nee Bradley); his son, Fred F. Poyner IV, and daughter, Sara R. Rahman; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and several cousins, nieces, and nephews. He is proceeded in death by his parents, and three brothers.

Fred will be interred at Darrington Cemetery next to his Uncle Johny in a private gravesite ceremony, on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Boys Town Charity.