Louis Musso, Jr., 88, of Newport, Washington, died September 23, 2022, at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Washington surrounded by family.

He was born November 17, 1933, the only child of Louis Sr. and Mary Musso, of Cle Elum. His grandparents, Anton and Genoeffa Musso and Dominick and Louisa Fassero, immigrated to Northern Kittitas County from Italy in the early 1900s. An outstanding athlete and Eagle Scout, he worked in the family-owned Economy Grocery until graduating from Cle Elum High School in 1951. After several semesters at Washington State, Lou enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. While stationed in North Carolina, he met Margaret Anne Griffin of Palatka, Florida, herself one of the few female active-duty Marines of the time. They married December 17, 1955, at the Cherry Point Naval Air Station, moving to Cle Elum, where their first child, Louis III, was born. Two daughters, Merrilee and Gina Marie, joined the family soon after. Lou and Margaret Anne celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary prior to her death in 2017.

Like many of his classmates, Lou decided on a career in teaching, with an emphasis on administration. Completing his degree at the Central Washington College of Education, he taught briefly in Kittitas before accepting a job as a history teacher and multi-sport coach in the Newport School District, where he spent the next few decades. He became the high school principal after earning a master's degree from Whitworth College. Retirement not being to his liking, in the early 1990s he began a second stint as assistant principal, athletic director and baseball coach at Priest River Lamanna High School, several miles from Newport across the Idaho line. Even after his second "retirement", he continued to volunteer as a pitching coach, until the spring of 2022. This seven decade coaching career, from the late 1950s to the early 2020s, may have set a Northwest record.

Known simply as "Coach" to generations of students, his dedication was both career and hobby.

Lou is survived by his son, Louis Musso III; his daughters, Merrilee Brumley (Dave) and Gina Musso; his grandchildren, Ben Brumley (Genna), Megan Dixon (Kyle), Cecily Musso-Britton (Ray), Jillian Musso and Alexis Musso; and his great-grandchildren, Troy Brumley, Brody Brumley, Eddie Roedel, Eli Brumley, Ellee Dixon and Hudson Dixon.

A Celebration of Life event has been scheduled for Saturday, April 15, 2023, starting at 1 pm at the Priest River Event Center. Not coincidentally, this coincides with a new baseball season.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the youth athletic organization of your choice.

Sherman Campbell Funeral and Cremation Services in Newport, WA is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends are welcome to visit their website at www.shermancampbell.com