Dorothy Pearce, a woman of great courage, strength, and talent; the devoted , always loving mother of five children, proud grandparent of six and delighted great grandmother of three; and a friend to many, passed away August 5, 2013 with family at her side in Stanwood, WA.
Dorothy was born December 15, 1919 in Atlanta, Georgia to Fred and Roxie Hosea. Her father was city commissioner of Miami Florida in the 1940's for 8 years. He and her mother raised 4 children and went on to develop Lake Hosea in Saluda NC which Dorothy always considered her spiritual home.
Raised in Miami, she graduated from Miami High School and attended Brenau College majoring in music. She married Phil Jones Pearce in 1938 in Coconut Grove, FL. She was active in volunteer work her entire life. She was president of the PTA at Miramar Elementary School in Miami and a Sunday School teacher. She and her husband lived in Greensboro NC, Tampa FL, Saluda NC and Atlanta GA. After her husband died she moved to the family summer home at Lake Hosea.
She was the church organist at the Church of the Transfiguration in Saluda NC. She taught adults to read at Literacy Action in Atlanta GA, and worked at the Georgia Retardation Center. Dorothy became more active in her creative life as her children were raised. She wrote for Downbeat magazine as their Atlanta Correspondent and was the editor of the Jazz Forum newsletter. She worked with Trend, the community mental health center in Hendersonville NC and served on the Alcohol/Drug Council of North Carolina. She was an accomplished watercolor artist and delighted in giving her hand painted cards to everyone.
She moved to Stanwood WA in 2006 to be closer to family. Her last 7 years continued to be productive with involvement in the arts community, teaching watercolor painting at Merrill Gardens, active participation in the Stanwood United Methodist Church, hiking, boating, swimming, and traveling to Atlanta, Florida, San Francisco, and New York to visit family.
Her greatest joy in life was found in her children and their families. She was proud of them all and lifted them up. We are all grateful that she lived a full and healthy life and passed on to us such grace. She will be missed tremendously and her spirit remains in us all.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband in 1979. She is survived by her daughter Marilyn (Dee) Edington, sons Phil (Tanya) Pearce, Nace (Martha) Pearce, daughter Trisha (Kathleen McKee) Pearce, and son David Pearce. ; Grandchildren David (Stacie), Meg (Jerry), Mary El, Lakisha (Rick), Oly Pearce, Geneva Pearce, and great grandsons Matthew, Jonathan and Ethan.
The family would like to thank Providence Hospice and Merrill Gardens Stanwood for their compassionate care.
Memorial service at Merrill Gardens Stanwood, Saturday 8/10/13 at noon. Donations may be made to Mary's Place in Seattle WA (www.marysplaceseattle.org), the National Alliance on Mental Illness (www.nami.org), or the charity of your choice. Arrangements through Gilbertson Funeral Home, Stanwood WA.
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