Mary Alice Peterson 1944 – 2023…
…was born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 2, 1944. She was a beloved mother, wife, teacher, friend, and passionate advocate for the education of girls and women. She was a woman of exceptional strength and grace who inspired all who knew her. She passed away on April 24, 2023. Mary Alice was the daughter of Roy Carl and Edna Houston (Taylor) Peterson. She grew up in Chicago, Illinois, until age 10 when her family relocated to Seattle’s Laurelhurst neighborhood. She was the granddaughter of Swedish immigrants and loved every opportunity to celebrate her Swedish heritage. Mary Alice was a 1962 graduate of Roosevelt High School in Seattle. She earned her BA from Western Washington University in 1966 and her MA in Education from Eastern Washington University in 1968. In 1964, she worked for the summer at Yellowstone National Park, an experience she cherished for a lifetime.
Mary Alice began her distinguished career as an elementary school teacher in a 4th grade classroom in Bellingham, Washington. She relocated to Olympia in 1975 where she worked for the State Office of Financial Management and the State Liquor Control Board. She then moved to the State Department of Emergency Services in 1979 where she served in a multitude of training and educational capacities. She received numerous awards and recognition for her work related to the National Radiological Emergency Preparedness Conference and was a founding member of a national steering committee for Nuclear Planning professionals. She was a Certified Emergency Manager for over 10 years and retired early at age 58 to spend all her days dedicated to family, friends, and travel.
Mary Alice was married to Michael Rentfrow in 1967 and they had two sons, Michael Jens and Mark Joel. Michael Jens died at age 10 in 1983. Mary Alice survived and overcame stage three breast cancer in 1990. She married Robert Harvey in 2006. Her grandson Bergen was born in 2008 and became her center and joy of her world.
Mary Alice devoted her life to supporting educational opportunities for women. She was a former President of the AAUW Olympia branch and part of its national Legacy Circle team. In recent years she was actively involved in organizing and awarding scholarships for Tech Trek, a STEM camp for middle school girls. She was also a stalwart booster of Western Washington University and its alumni association, and a champion for charitable giving, having directed many charitable endeavors for both organizations.
Mary Alice was an active and longtime member of The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Olympia, serving in numerous capacities as God’s faithful servant. She was a Cub Scout Den Leader, avid reader, culinary enthusiast, lifelong learner, creative-wiz, and bargain genius. She loved spending time with her grandson Bergen, who proudly shares her trademark red hair. Mary Alice delighted in the opportunity to attend theater and Broadway plays with her friends and family.
Mary Alice was a world traveler having visited over 40 countries across North, Central, and South American, as well as Eastern and Western Europe. She loved her country as well and visited 49 states. But beyond all her far away and distant visitations, her favorite place to visit was Whidbey Island, where she relished summers with family for more than 50 years.
Mary Alice was preceded in death by her son Michael, her father Roy, and her mother Edna. She is survived by her husband Robert (Bob) Harvey, her son Mark Rentfrow (Aimee), her grandson Bergen Rentfrow, her brother Robert (Bob) Peterson (Valerie), her niece Kristine Barnes, her nephew Dean Peterson (Christel), three grandnieces and a grandnephew.