January 5, 1924 – February 28, 2021
Shirley Peringer
Shirley Leora Peringer was born January 4, 1924 in Seattle, Washington, the daughter of Arthur and Leora (Brown) Anderson, granddaughter of D.W. Brown and Edith Leora Brown, great-granddaughter of D.C. and Mary Irene (Cook) Brown, all pioneers of Columbia City.
Shirley attended Franklin High School and graduated in 1942. She then attended Whitman College where she was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority, graduating in 1946 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music. It was at Whitman that she met the love of her life John Logan Peringer. John had a beautiful singing voice and Shirley was his accompanist. The two were married on June 21, 1947 and had four children. Music was always a big part of their lives together.
Shirley began taking piano lessons at a young age and continued playing for the rest of her long life, teaching piano to hundreds of students for over 60 years. She also played the organ for Sunday services at Columbia Congregational Church. She was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Washington State Music Teachers Association in 2002. This honor was for “outstanding musicianship, dedication and leadership”.
During the holidays she would have a big party for family and friends leading everyone in a Christmas carol sing-a-long on the piano, encouraging others to play whatever instrument they knew or perhaps wanted to try.
After her husband’s untimely death in 1982, Shirley rediscovered her love of art and began taking classes in watercolor painting. She became an accomplished painter and eventually her outstanding talent allowed her to showcase her paintings in a variety of venues. Her art gave her many years of joy and creative expression. She was a member of the Northwest Watercolor Society and the author and illustrator of several children’s picture books, in particular “Velveeta, the Cabin Mouse”, to the delight of her grandchildren and many others. She was a very talented and inspiring woman.
Shirley loved nothing more than to spend quality time with her family and friends. She was particularly happy when she was near the water having enjoyed many good times on Camano Island, Lake Washington and Hood Canal. She will be fondly and lovingly remembered.
She passed away peacefully on February 28, 2021 at her home surrounded by her loving family. She is survived by her four grown children: Sue Peringer of Redmond, Oregon, Stephen M. Peringer of Duvall, Cynthia C. Schmidt of Woodinville, and Sally J. Uno of Seattle; 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Shirley’s Life will be held on October 15, 2022 at the Lakewood/Seward Park Community Center, 4916 South Angeline St, Seattle, WA 98118, from 1:00pm – 4:00pm with shared remembrances at 2:00.
The post first appeared on Barton Family Funeral Service.