Francis Xavier Amato Jr.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM, Thursday, October 12, 2023 at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church in Everett, WA. Mr. Amato will be interred at Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery in Everett WA.

Frank was born June 15, 1935, in Oak Park, IL to Francis X. Amato Sr, also called Frank, and Catherine Veronica Carey Amato. His parents met while attending Notre Dame University for his father and St. Mary’s College for his mother. Frank grew up with a brother and three sisters in River Forest, IL, and St. Paul, MN, which he considered his hometown. He studied at Saint Mary’s University in San Antonio, TX and went to Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul MN. He met his first wife Martha Jean Corley in Chicago. They married in 1961, and were wed 14 years, living in Dallas TX, Chicago IL, Hobart IN, and Melrose Park IL. Frank and Martha had four children, nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Frank then moved back to Dallas TX in 1973, which is where he met and married his beloved wife Elizabeth Schiuma Amato in 1984, known as Liz. They resided in Carrolton TX. He gained three stepchildren and two grandchildren through Liz, each of whom he loved and called his own. They moved to Marysville WA in 1999. Frank and Liz were married for almost 39 years, and they loved each other dearly. They were devoted to each other and enjoyed their life together and their family immensely. Together, Frank and Liz loved all of their children and grandchildren.

During his long career as a Computer Field Engineer, he traveled many miles and was very successful in saving the day for a company with a failed computer system. Frank was very proud of his volunteer service to his country in the United States Army as Company Clerk, at Fort Carson in CO, Fort Lee in VA and Fort Leroy Johnson in LA.

Frank was also a wonderful artist, an avid reader and an excellent athlete. He played and lettered in ice hockey, football and track, and earned athletic scholarships to university. Frank loved ice hockey and football and was a huge fan of both sports. Go Kraken and Seahawks!

Frank was very proud of his family heritage, and of being both Italian and Irish. He lived his life as a gentleman, with honor, courage and fortitude and he did not know the meaning of giving up, as he was a fighter to the very end. He loved his life and he loved everyone in it. His legacy is the love, care, joy and protection he gave to his wife, his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild, as well as to his parents, brother and sisters, and his extended family and friends.

In addition to his parents, Frank X. Amato Sr and Catherine Carey Amato; Frank was preceded in death by his first wife Martha Jean Corley Amato Shaw of Wilkesboro, NC; his in-laws, Anthony and Virginia Schiuma of Brooklyn NY; his former in-laws, Robert Riley Corley and Jimmie Lois Corley of Itta Bena, MS; his brother Richard Joseph “RJ” Amato of Dallas, TX; his sister, Mary Ann Amato DeLacy of Osage Beach, MO; his brother-in-law Rick Toia, of Edina, MN; as well as his sons-in-law Wesley Wright Gregory III, of Wilkesboro NC, and Clifton ‘Ralph’ Singletary, of Mission Viejo, CA.

In addition to his beloved wife, Elizabeth Schiuma Amato, Frank is survived by a son, Dr. Francis X. Amato III and Gena Amason Amato of Blowing Rock, NC; and three daughters; Gia Amato Gregory of North Wilkesboro, NC, Michelle Amato Livingston and husband, Matt of Greenwood, MS, and Stephanie Amato Morris of North Charleston, SC; his daughter Lauren Fiore Singletary, of Marysville, WA, his son Robert Fiore, of Marysville, WA, and son, Steven Fiore and Hiromi Fiore, of Bothell, WA. Frank is also survived by eleven grandchildren; Chase Alexander Wylie of Las Vegas, NV, Justin Brady Morris, of Festus, MO, Gray Robert Brower of McKinney, TX, Madelaine Claire Amato Rankin and husband William Rankin of Chapel Hill, NC, Lillian Nicole Amato and Abigail Leigh Amato, both of High Point, NC, Shelby Layne Browning Warren and husband Caleb Warren of Tupelo, MS, Sarah Landreth “Laila” Browning of Greenwood, MS; Nathan Lewis of Big Sky, MT; Siena Fiore and Ryan Fiore, both of Bothell, WA; and a great-granddaughter; Amelia Warren, of Tupelo, MS; two sisters; Jeanne Amato Toia of Edina MN; Kathy Amato Rios, and husband Frank, of Mesquite TX; and his brother-in-law Mike DeLacy, of Osage Beach, MO, as well as a great number of nieces and nephews, as well as their children and grandchildren.

Frank was a devoted Roman Catholic, adhered to the tenets of his faith throughout all of his life, and he had a special devotion to the Miraculous Medal of Mary.

The entire family wish to say a special thank you to two of Frank’s children, Lauren Singletary and Rob Fiore, each of whom spent countless time for the last two years tirelessly loving, caring for, and cherishing both Frank and his bride Liz; and we are all so blessed and thankful that Frank had them in his life. Thank you also to Steve and Hiromi Fiore who spent so much time with Frank and Liz throughout the years and were also devoted to both of them.