LAURIE LOOMIS MALCOMSON

1932 - 2011

A resident of Skagit County since 2004, Laurie Malcomson died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, complicated by pneumonia, on March 10 at San Juan Rehabilitation and Care Center in Anacortes. Laurie was born in Seattle, WA to Ralph and Edith Loomis.

She was a graduate of Ballard High School and the University of Washington.

Laurie and Bill Malcomson were married in 1955 in Seattle. Following Bill's graduation from seminary in Rochester, NY, they lived in Princeton, NJ, where Laurie served as private secretary to the senior minister of the First Presbyterian Church. She and Bill welcomed Christi into the world at that time.

They next lived in Claremont, CA, where Scott was born. Then to Storrs, CT. Laurie was the local reporter for the Hartford Courant. After they moved to Kansas City, KS, Laurie earned her Masters in Social Work at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

Upon moving to Oakland, CA, where John was born, she began her career as a social worker among senior adults. She ran a number of senior activity centers in the Bay Area and also worked in a retirement community. She and Bill hosted a number of overseas tours during this era.

They lived in Greenwich Village in New York City for 18 months, where Laurie ran a senior center. In 1987 they moved to Laurie's home town of Seattle. When they retired, Laurie volunteered at the Wing Luke Asian Museum, the ACLU, and the surgery waiting room at Virginia Mason Hospital.

She loved to read, follow the Mariners, eat out, and travel. When they moved to the Skagit in 2004, they lived with Christi and her three children on Pleasant Ridge.

Laurie volunteered with the La Conner Chamber of Commerce and the Skagit County History museum. On most days she could be seen walking 2-3 miles in La Conner, and then drinking coffee and eating "death by chocolate" ice cream at the La Conner Fruit and Produce.

During her life she survived two life-threatening head injuries, a back fracture and a pelvic fracture. She was also an insulin-dependent diabetic for 49 years. She was a "poster child" for surviving because of self-discipline and regular exercise.

For the last three years of her life she was a resident of San Juan, and was in hospice for most of that time. San Juan was a perfect home for Laurie and she and the family are deeply grateful for the love and care exhibited by all of the staff in that marvelous place.

Laurie is survived by her husband of 55 years, Bill Malcomson; her daughter Christi and grandchildren Grace, Will, and Sarah of La Conner; her son Scott, his wife Becky, and grandchildren Ben and Hannah of White Plains, NY, and her son John and his wife Heidi of Seattle, as well as her best friend since junior high, Barbara Bell of La Conner.

If you would like to leave a message of condolence to the family, please do so at www.Washelli.com, under the obituaries section, or send a card to P.O. Box 1488, La Conner, WA 98257.

If you wish to give a gift in memory of Laurie, please send a check to Wing Luke Asian Museum, 719 S. King St., Seattle, WA 98104 or Seattle First Baptist Church Foundation, 1111 Harvard Ave., Seattle, WA 98122. Please mark the check in memory of Laurie Malcomson.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 1, at Laurie's church - Pilgrim Congregational UCC, 28th and Commercial in Anacortes at 3:00 p.m. A reception will follow.

Mortuary arrangements have been conducted by Evergreen-Washelli in Seattle.