Clarisse Louise Bennett

1929 - 2016

(1929-2016) Clarisse Bennett, "Crisse," 86, of Edmonds, Washington passed away peacefully Wednesday May 4, 2016, at the Better Living Retreat in Edmonds, Washington. Crisse was born May 8, 1929 in Brockton, Massachusetts to Ernest and Elena Goulder. She was preceded in death by her brother, Preston Goulder and survived by her sister, Jeanne Long, of Everett, Washington. Crisse was preceded in death by her husband, Chester R. Bennett (1988), and daughter, Leslie J. Butterfield (2001) of Edmonds. She is survived by her sons, Geoffrey B. Bennett and Cyndie (Edmonds), Peter W. Bennett and Leeanne (Edmonds), Leigh P. Bennett and Mary (Edmonds), Richard H. Bennett and Kiki (New York, N.Y.) and Alexander C. Bennett (San Diego, Calif.) Her grandchildren include: Whitney Bennett (Seattle, Wash.), Ralf and Cassie, his wife, Bennett (California) Nate Bennett (Seattle), Alex Claire Butterfield (Seattle), Andy Bennett (Seattle), Blair Bennett (Edmonds), Blake Bennett (Edmonds), Max Bennett (Edmonds), Sydney Bennett (Edmonds) Nicolas Bennett (California) Lexie Bennett (Florida). Crisse lived most of her life in the state of Washington as her father was a Methodist minister while her mother served as the church organist. The young family grew to three children as her parents served in several Methodist churches including Des Moines, Tacoma, Spokane, Pullman, Moscow, Idaho and Salem, Oregon. As a young girl, she very soon showed ability as an artist which would be her passion with her intention to pursue the study of art in college. In the mid 1930's her mother often entered her sketches into national art contests where she usually won. After graduating from Moscow High School she attended University of Idaho for freshmen year, spent two years at Oberlin College and her final year back at University of Idaho where she was a couple credits shy of her degree in Fine Arts. It was in her final year that she met and was married to Chet Bennett who was a senior at Washington State College. Shortly, after their marriage in Moscow, Idaho they would move to Oakland, California where Chet would attend law school at Hastings College in San Francisco. Upon finishing law school (1954) they would then move to Edmonds to settle and raise a family of six children. On and off during the early years of raising a family, Crisse sought out moments to once again resume her passion for art which was primarily water coloring and sketching. The family joined the Hughes Memorial Methodist church, as Crisse began to seek out the small town art world of Edmonds. As a long-time member of the Edmonds Methodist Church she was the "go to" person for art work on so many different projects from cookbook covers, flyers and the Madonna that once adorned the north end of the church at Christmas time. In the mid 1950's she joined the local Edmonds Music and Arts Club and slowly returned to her art. She was one of the original members of the artists who organized and started the Edmonds Art Festival, served on the City of Edmonds Art Commission and won awards for her artwork which included first place for the Edmonds Arts Festival Poster (1985). Additionally, she was key in helping start Gallery North in Edmonds and her paintings were among the top sellers. Lastly, beginning in the 1980's, she was a member of a small Watercolor Artist Group known as the "Quintessence" (Bainbridge, Rutter, Reeves, Stancik, and Bennett). Several of her paintings continue to be found in the City of Edmonds Municipal building. Did she ever finish the college degree in Fine Art? Yes, in 1970 she finished up her credits through the University of Washington, as a Husky, earning her B.A. of Fine Arts despite the fact that her husband and six children had all earned a BA in History from Washington State University... "Go Cougs!" Camping as a family and spending time in and around Mount Rainier, San Juan Islands, Mt St. Helens, the Olympics and ocean beaches near Ocean Park, Washington were among her very favorite summer time destinations. She loved Edmonds and especially enjoyed summer days painting and sketching at the local Edmonds beaches with her toes in the warm sand while her children played. She will be missed by her family, the arts community, her many book clubs and her dear friends, past and present, at the Edmonds United Methodist Church. The memorial service will be held at the Edmonds United Methodist Church at 928 Caspers Street in Edmonds, Saturday May 28, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the Edmonds United Methodist Church Food Bank.