SEKIU — A body found floating in the Strait of Juan de Fuca east of Neah Bay on Monday has been confirmed to be that of missing fisherman Charles Swanson.
Clallam County Deputy Coroner Tellina Sandaine said the body was confirmed to be Swanson’s on Friday.
Swanson, 70, of Olympia had been missing since he left Olson’s Resort in Sekiu on a small fishing boat with a 1½-year-old golden retriever named Larry on June 13.
Swanson was described by family as a man who loved the water and left an impact as a coach, boss, husband, father and grandfather.
“Good or bad, the impact was true and he will be missed terribly by more people than he will ever know,” said Joey Swanson, Charles Swanson’s son, in a Facebook post.
Dog missing
Clallam County Sheriff’s Sgt. Ed Anderson said there were no signs of the dog or Swanson’s 17-foot boat as of Saturday afternoon.
Swanson’s body was found floating near milepost 4 of state Highway 112 east of Neah Bay on Monday afternoon.
Swanson’s boat was last seen anchored in the Strait between the mouth of the Hoko River and Sekiu Point in an area known as “the caves,” Anderson said.
Conditions were reported to have been “very rough and choppy” at the time of Swanson’s disappearance, Anderson said.
Port Angeles Pet Posse volunteers searched the area between Sekiu and Neah Bay on Thursday for Larry, a purebred golden retriever.
Pet Posse founder Shell’ey Van Cleave said the search for Larry would continue.
Andrea Fitzgerald, Swanson’s daughter-in-law, said the dog was able to swim “but we don’t know how well.”
“He’s a beautiful dog,” she added.
Anyone with information on Larry’s whereabouts is asked to phone Port Angeles Pet Posse at 360-775-5154.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
