Katrina Pierson
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Katrina Pierson entered the world on November 20, 1931 in Wenatchee, WA, and departed peacefully on March 4, 2021. She was the second of four children to her parents Russell and Lois Kohne of Everett, WA.
Katrina was valedictorian of Everett High School class of 1949, then attended the University of Washington and graduated from Washington State University in 1953 with a degree in elementary education and music. She was a member of Kappa Delta sorority, Mu Phi Epsilon (music honorary), and Pi Lambda Theta (education honorary). While in college, she worked two summers at Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier, summited the mountain in 1951, and completed the Wonderland Trail in 1953.
Following a year of teaching at Central School in Snohomish, she was united in marriage to Lyle (Bud) Pierson, a fourth-generation Skagit Valley farmer on May 22, 1954. After Bud completed his tour of duty with the US Air Force in Fukuoka, Japan, they built a house on family farm property on Cook Road, where they both lived until the ends of their lives. Two sons were born to them: Gregory Lawrence in 1956 and Chris Frederick in 1959.
As a community volunteer, she served on the boards of Musical Arts; Community Concerts; Skagit Valley YMCA; Skagit Symphony; and the La Conner Institute of Performing Arts. She was president of the Burlington-Edison PTA and was a member of the H.W. Hannaford Orthopedic Guild. Katrina was an enthusiastic practitioner of the domestic arts including cooking, canning, bread-making, needle-point, photo albums, and photography, and kept an impeccably clean home.
Katrina's great passion was classical music and was trained in piano, organ, violin, and viola. She played violin in the Everett High School and University of Washington symphonies, viola with the Whatcom and Skagit Symphonies, and was a member of various local string ensembles. She played for countless weddings, funerals and receptions.
Katrina belonged to several women's groups, forming many close and lasting friendships that she treasured. After retirement she served as a volunteer usher at McIntyre Hall in Mount Vernon which also brought her much fulfillment.
Katrina and Lyle were longtime members of the Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church, where she was the organist/pianist for some 39 years, retiring in 2004. She also served as a Sunday school teacher, as an ordained deacon and three-term elder, and as coordinator of numerous fellowship events for the women at the church. She was also the organist at Hulbush Funeral Home for 35 years.
Katrina was devoted to her family: her late husband Lyle (Bud); sons Greg (wife Ellen) of Austin, TX and Chris (wife Denise) of Pawcatuck, CT; grandsons Drew Pierson (wife Gina and daughter Amy) of Westfield, NJ and Brett Pierson (wife Jacqueline and son Ziggy) of Boston, MA; granddaughters Laura Dougherty (husband Sean and son Townes and daughter June) of Pearland, TX and Kelsey Pierson of Seattle WA; and step-grandsons Chris Moffett of the US Army and Brian O'Mara of New Hampshire. She is survived by sister Gretchen Armstrong of Kalama, WA and brother Wilmar Kohne (wife Karen) of Salem, OR, and eleven nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Lyle, brother Fritz Kohne, sister-in-law Ingrid Kohne, brother-in-law Dale Pierson, sister-in-law Margie Pierson, brother-in-law Bud Armstrong, and daughter-in-law Michele Pierson. She had many dear friends in Skagit County and maintained an active social life. She loved animals and was never without a special small dog or cat, usually a rescue or walk in. Her favorite quote: "Don't be sorry that it's over - be glad it happened."
Special thanks to Jamie Crichlow who along with her family provided ongoing care with compassion for Katrina and her home amongst the limitations and travel restrictions of Covid. This enabled Katrina to stay in her home for the majority of her life. We are also grateful to the kind caregivers of Eden Home Services (especially Pat and Suzette), Peace Health United General, Hospice of the Northwest, and the LaConner Retirement Inn who also provided her kind and gentle care. We are grateful for her dearest friends in Skagit Valley whose phone calls, emails and porch side gifts made the last months of her life meaningful and comfortable.
Suggested memorials are the Skagit Valley Humane Society (skagithumane.org), S.P.O.T. (Saving Pets One at a Time Home) of Burlington, Skagit Symphony (Skagit Symphony), or local food banks.
Please visit www.hulbushfuneralhome.com to share your thoughts and memories and sign the online guest register.
Arrangements are under the care of Hulbush Funeral Home, Burlington, WA.