Earl William Rix

Earl William Rix, 79, Post Falls Idaho was born on October 21, 1945, in Seattle Washington to Hiram Edgar Rix and Esther Bollone. Earl grew up in Seattle Washington, the only son of five siblings. He had four sisters: Patricia, Arlene, Jean, and Briona (aka Janeth). In 1958 at the age of 13, he won the greater Seattle Old Woody pitching contest and won the opportunity to attend the major league All-Star game in Baltimore with his father. He got to meet many major players and get their autographs. He was also in the Seattle Times newspaper. Earl served as an airman on the Coral Sea in the US Navy during Vietnam from 1966 to 1968 when he was honorably discharged. He married Cynthia Jo Eves in Seattle on May 1, 1971 and together they had three children, Alison Marie Rix born 8/2/73, Angela Jean Rix born 7/17/75 and Ryan Earl Rix born 9/9/79 all in Seattle. They later divorce divorced & Earl never remarried. Earl worked for the Seattle school district as a janitor for a period of time and later worked in construction with his father-in-law before joining the United States Postal Service in 1980. He worked at the Seattle processing and distribution plant for 32 years until his retirement in 2003. Earl spent his entire life living in Seattle and some of the various surrounding towns. After retirement, Earl moved to Arizona for a couple years so he could play senior league softball year-round, but he eventually moved back to the Seattle area. He came to Post Falls to live with his daughter, Angie, and son-in-law, Trey, 3 1/2 years ago once his health started failing. 

Earl was a baseball fanatic and had a lifetime love for the game. Through the years he coached his nephews and his son. He played in Jack and Jill leagues with his nephew, he played in various softball leagues and senior leagues, and he taught his grandsons to play and love the game. He traveled all over the US visiting major league stadiums with his son, avidly collected baseball cards and met countless players for autographs. Earl loved his kids and grandkids like no other- he was a very devoted father and grandfather who would do anything for his kids. His kids and grandkids were his world. He was so proud of his nephew, Dave Snell, when he was drafted out of high school and even more proud when Dave’s son was also drafted. He loved watching his great nephew play in the big leagues and loved to brag about him and his two Cy Young award wins! Earl lived and breathed baseball! Earl passed peacefully at his daughter and son-in-law’s home on June 3, 2025, in post falls surrounded by his daughter, son-in-law, and his grandchildren with his beloved Mariners playing on TV and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds playing in the background. He loved the Beatles almost as much as baseball.

 Earl is survived by his children: Alison Louisell (Keith) of Redmond, WA Angelia Severin (Trey) of Post Falls, ID Ryan Rix of Renton, WA His grandchildren: Anastacia Marie Rix of Spokane Valley, WA Brandon Nathaniel Ruehl (Hannah) of Gig Harbor, WA Christian Addison Ruehl (Hazel) of Post Falls, ID Great grandson Caspian Oliver Rix of Spokane Valley, WA His sisters: Briona Samek (widowed Gary) of Seattle, WA Jean Moran of Shoreline, WA Countless nieces and nephews in the greater Seattle area - most notably the Snells whom he was very close to. He was preceded in death by his parents Hiram Rix (1982), Esther Rix (1978), sister Patricia Snellenberg (2014) BIL Gene Snellenberg (2012), sister Arlene Snell (2007) BIL Dick Snell (2018), Aunt Cora Marie Brown (1992) Aunt Kathryn Crowe (2013)

 Earl did not want a funeral service and will be cremated. His only request was to spread his ashes in the Puget Sound & at his parents gravesite.