Natalie Rae Moellendorf

Natalie Ray (Anderson) Moellendorf, age 78, passed away May 28, 2025, after a long illness. She was born on April 30, 1947, in Renton, WA. to John R Anderson and Violet V Wilson. Her four grandparents had emigrated to Washington state from Finland. She grew up on a farm in Kent and graduated from Kent Meridian high school in 1965. At the University of Washington, she attended home and away Husky football games as part of the squad that flipped cheer cards at the time. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa in Education, she married Guy V Moellendorf, also of Kent, WA.
She graduated with the teaching certificate and taught at Maple Valley High School. In 1970 she and her husband moved to Eugene OR. There she taught language arts for 10 years at Madison middle school that allowed a teacher-developed curriculum. While teaching, Natalie earned her masters in English literature at the University of Oregon. In 1980 they moved back to Kent and built a new house on her parents farm. Natalie taught gifted language arts at Meeker Jr. high school until retirement about 1992.
The joy of her life was raising two daughters, Katie and Suzanne, who excelled in classes and in sports. Katie specialized in British Dance. Suzanne specialized first in dance, later in volleyball. Summers at Soap Lake, Washington, were her favorite vacation. After Kent public schools, both daughters attended colleges in Boston and went on to get their doctorates.
In retirement, Natalie enjoyed watching Washington Husky football, travel to Florida, New England, Costa Rica, Europe, and Hawaii.
Her older brother Bill is deceased. She is survived by her husband Guy, sister Nancy, sister-in-law Alice, daughters Katie and Suzanne, and four grandchildren. A celebration of her life will be planned. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Northwest Association for Blind Athletes, www.nwaba.org.