Esther Pearson
ESTHER PEARSON
Esther Pearson passed away on April 21, 2009 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was born in La Conner, WA on May 2, 1919, the youngest of five children, to Swedish immigrant parents Carl and Agnes Hultman, and grew up with a love of gardening. After attending WSU, she settled in Seattle and worked in the Dorothy Neighbors Department at the Seattle Times. In 1942 she married Arnold C. Pearson, a Boeing aeronautical engineer and accomplished photographer. She established her own landscape design business and won acclaim with her work, which featured native plant material that highly complemented the best of Pacific Northwest modern architecture. Always a passionate learner and doer, she continued to take classes at the UW and SCC in art, history and creative writing. In 1980 she combined her interest in immigrant history and love of travel with Arnold’s stunning photography and the two of them co-authored Early Churches of Washington State, published by University of Washington Press.
During their 56 year loving marriage Esther and Arnold had two children, Carl and Sina, grandchildren Carin, Eric and Matthew and great-granddaughter Elena. She is also survived by her nieces, Robin Bajus and Joanne Long; nephews Carl and Wendell Hultman and Jim Hallead; and numerous grand nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by Arnold in 1999, and her brothers Norman, Paul and George Hultman and sister Louise Bettner.
Esther loved to travel with Arnold and found in every trip to Europe, Japan, New York or throughout the Pacific Northwest a way to reconnect with family, meet new people and establish lifelong friendships. She welcomed all to her comforting home and lush garden. She also made time to volunteer at the Seattle Art Museum and at the University Unitarian Church. Her stunning chancel arrangements for UUC were legendary.
Esther’s talents and generosity were immeasurable. Along with Arnold, she lived a life filled with art, photography, music, great food and gardening, and more than anything, love of family and friends. She will serve as an inspiration to all that knew and loved her.
A memorial service and celebration of Esther’s life will be held on June 27, 2009 11AM at University Unitarian Church, 6556 35th Ave. NE, Seattle 98115. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland, Alzheimer’s Association, or Evergreen Hospice, or to a charity of choice.
Friends are encouraged to share memories in the family’s online guestbook below.