Celebration of Life – John Halloran

Celebration of Life – John Halloran

John L. Halloran of Kenmore, Washington, passed away on May 10, 2021, after 83 years of an active and fun life. John was born March 26, 1938 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Katherine and Lionel Halloran.

John, or Dr. John, as we called him was a constant regular at the Rockin’ Horse Dance Barn in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He attended mostly line dance and pattern round dance classes and came Every Friday Night to our dances with his wife Darcy. But most importantly for me (Dave), he was a mentor and a huge help with making improvements to The Barn. He would be here all day helping me, sometimes for weeks working with me on a project. I’m looking forward to being retired someday when I can pay it forward.

Celebration of Life – Scott Steinmetz

Celebration of Life – Scott Steinmetz

Scott Steinmetz passed away June 18th after fighting courageously against cancer.

Scott’s wife Dawn Taylor’s announcement – It saddens me deeply to announce that Scott passed away. As many of you have followed his journey, it was a long hard road but a road he fought for dearly. He was a courageous soul and endured more than anyone I have ever known. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He was loved and will always be forever in our hearts.

Dave Serfling – Scott and Dawn took dance lessons at the Barn for quite a while even though they lived way up north. Jimmi and I met them for dinner and dancing up in their neck of the woods. He was a great guy and yes he will be missed by many.

Celebration of Life – Leta Bristol

Leta Bristol went to be with the Lord June 15, 2019

She enjoyed dancing and would come to the Barn with her daughter Joyce.  She especially enjoyed the New Year’s Eve dances, and other special dances held at the Rockin’ Horse Dance Barn.

Services will be held on Friday, June 21.

Tahoma National Cemetery – 18600 SE 240th Street, Kent, WA  98042 – Gather at 10:00 – Procession at 10:15

Followed by a reception at noon: Renton Bible Church – 973 Union Street – Renton, WA

Celebration of Life – Bernardo Perez

Celebration of Life – Bernardo Perez

Bernardo Benny Perez passed away May 9, 2019

He had been very ill lately and a heart attack finally took him. Bernardo Perez was a great dancer and active in country and West Coast Swing events. He enjoyed two special events. The Sweetheart Jamboree where he would be first in line to get a good table for the Saturday night dinner show. He also enjoyed the Seattle Easter Swing. He loved watching the pros and volunteering in the grand ballroom. Bernardo is survived by 6 children, 23 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren. He loved them all.

Dave Serfling: I remember every dance event I went to there was Bernardo’s smiling face. “Hey Vato” he would say to me and share that laugh of his. He was a great guy. I even saw him at restaurants with his family a number of times The Old Spaghetti Factory, Huckleberry Square etc.. We ran into each other many times.

Bernardo is definitely missed by a huge number of people: Lenda, his family, his friends and the whole dance community!

Celebration of Life – Myrt Penthany

Celebration of Life – Myrt Penthany

Dave Serfling’s Dance Cruise 2010

Celebration of Life – Lou Homa

Celebration of Life – Lou Homa

Celebration of Life – Fran Ogino

Celebration of Life – Fran Ogino

Celebration of Life – Eric Stone

Celebration of Life – Eric Stone

Passed away May 24, 2018

Eric passed away in Arizona with Joyce by his side

Eric Christopher Stone was born on August 19^th, 1946, and passed away on May 24, 2018.  He was born in Seattle, WA, spent his early years in Aberdeen, and lived the majority of his adult life in the Kent and Auburn, WA area.  He was a 6 year resident of San Tan Valley, AZ at the time of his passing.

Eric was devoted to God and Country, a loving husband, father, grandfather, and loyal friend to many.

Celebration of Life – Bill Tozer

Rosalia Sullivan

Passed August 17, 2017

As many of you know Rosalia Sullivan became very sick last year (2016). After numerous visits to Valley Medical and then finally a hospital stay at Harborview where they diagnosed her with Poems Disease.

She was in terrible pain but she fought hard to keep it together and to continue to build her strength back and walk. She was finally diagnosed at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance with a blood cancer and care was transferred to City of Hope in California where her family could be close.

Carolyn Tomich

Passed away June 27, 2017

Carolyn Tomich started line dancing at the Rockin’ Horse Dance Barn in a quest to become healthier and later added Yoga at the Barn. She also added dragon boating to the mix (she paddled on a cancer survivor team).

“When Carolyn was in a dance class she added so much joy and laughter. It was fun having her always in her favorite spot to my left. She has been missed by all of us that knew her.” Dave Serfling

You can leave a comment to her family or friends at the bottom of this post.

Doris Knight

Doris Knight passed away June 24, 2017

Doris danced at the Rockin’ Horse Dance Barn for several years. She enjoyed our line dance classes in the mornings. She was always cheerful even after recovering from some injuries and illnesses she would show up ready to dance. After line dance classes she would join the other students for coffee at Starbucks. We all miss her smile and intelligent conversations.

Ardis North

loved Ballroom and Line Dancing into her 90s. She started taking Line Dance classes from Dave Serfling at some of the locations he taught many years ago and then at the Rockin’ Horse Dance Barn. Read more about the upcoming “Celebration of Life – Ardis North” at the bottom.

“She was one of the sweetest ladies I had the pleasure to teach to dance and get to know over the years. She supported me through the good times and the hard times. I didn’t know her kids personally but she told me about them through the years. I had the honor of helping her celebrate at her BIG 80th birthday party with music and dancing. And I still brag about how she was still dancing into her nineties. She will be missed by many” Dave Serfling

Lynn Sherwin

loved to tap dance and especially Line Dancing. She started taking Line Dance classes from Dave Serfling at some of the locations he taught many years ago and at the Rockin’ Horse Dance Barn. Her husband John also joined her in some partner classes. After he passed away she continued her Line Dancing classes for years until she couldn’t do it anymore. Celebration of Life – Lynn Sherwin

Al Spencer

was a regular attendee of our Friday night dances for years. He was loved by all that knew him. He danced with all the women at the Rockin’ Horse Dance Barn when he was here. His favorite dance was the Foxtrot. He would request one or two every week.