Obituary for Pauline Marie Mellon
Pauline Marie Mellon
4/22/1925 - 3/14/2023
Pauline Mellon of Mt. Vernon, WA passed away peacefully March 14, 2023 at age 97 while in residence at Mountain Glen Assisted Living Community under care of Hospice of the Northwest.
Pauline was born on April 22, 1925 to Otto and Elizabeth Reymer in Billings, Montana; the youngest of 4 children. She attended St. Mary’s College in Leavenworth, Kansas and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. After earning her degree, she took a job at Mercy Hospital in Denver, Colorado.
While in Colorado, she tried a new sport - snow skiing - and in that activity at Arapahoe Basin, met her future husband James F., a career Air Force pilot. After marrying on October 5, 1949 she accompanied her husband to Guam in conjunction with the Korean War, where her first son was born. Following that was a series of short postings in California where a second son was born, Idaho and Texas. Plattsburgh, NY was a final posting that lasted 13 years and saw the arrival of her daughter.
In 1968, a few years after Jim retired from the service, the family moved across the country to Seattle, Washington. Pauline resumed her nursing career in the early 70’s and spent most of this time working at Highline Community Hospital.
Pauline loved gardening, traveling, camping, hiking, RVing, skiing, and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She was actively involved in her children’s education as well as being a Den Mother for the boys’ Cub Scout Pack and sewing countless sequins on costumes for her daughters’ ballet recitals.
She was a member of the Mountaineers while in Seattle and went on many outings with the club, from hiking up to Camp Muir to staying at the clubs’ ski lodges at Mt. Baker and Stevens Pass. She even went on a llama-supported backpacking trip in the Wind River Range of Wyoming and rafted the Grand Canyon, both while in her 70’s.
Pauline remained active well into her 90’s always up for a walk even if it was just around the block or to the local market, just to look.
Pauline was a keen supporter of her husband’s volunteer work with Lions Clubs for multiple decades. She was an avid reader and loved art. Pauline was a member of the West Seattle Art Club; the second oldest art club in the state. Members gathered once a month in each others' homes for study, lectures, the occasional guest speaker, and luncheon. Topics ranged from Navajo Blankets to Picasso.
She enjoyed active and educational travel with Elderhostel and like organizations. Her experiences ranged from explorations of ancient sites in Turkey to a trip to China shortly after its opening to westerners that examined healthcare systems and practices. After travels spanning four continents, there were still places on her wish list.
Pauline is survived by her three loving children; James A. (Kande), Richard (Sheila), and Christine (Emilio), three grandchildren Gina (Bryan), James Jr. (Kayla), Heather (Ben), and five great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by Jim, her husband of 66 years.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Lions Club Sight and Hearing Foundation, World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, or KCTS (Public Television).
The Mellon family respectfully requests that you not send flowers.
4/22/1925 - 3/14/2023
Pauline Mellon of Mt. Vernon, WA passed away peacefully March 14, 2023 at age 97 while in residence at Mountain Glen Assisted Living Community under care of Hospice of the Northwest.
Pauline was born on April 22, 1925 to Otto and Elizabeth Reymer in Billings, Montana; the youngest of 4 children. She attended St. Mary’s College in Leavenworth, Kansas and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. After earning her degree, she took a job at Mercy Hospital in Denver, Colorado.
While in Colorado, she tried a new sport - snow skiing - and in that activity at Arapahoe Basin, met her future husband James F., a career Air Force pilot. After marrying on October 5, 1949 she accompanied her husband to Guam in conjunction with the Korean War, where her first son was born. Following that was a series of short postings in California where a second son was born, Idaho and Texas. Plattsburgh, NY was a final posting that lasted 13 years and saw the arrival of her daughter.
In 1968, a few years after Jim retired from the service, the family moved across the country to Seattle, Washington. Pauline resumed her nursing career in the early 70’s and spent most of this time working at Highline Community Hospital.
Pauline loved gardening, traveling, camping, hiking, RVing, skiing, and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She was actively involved in her children’s education as well as being a Den Mother for the boys’ Cub Scout Pack and sewing countless sequins on costumes for her daughters’ ballet recitals.
She was a member of the Mountaineers while in Seattle and went on many outings with the club, from hiking up to Camp Muir to staying at the clubs’ ski lodges at Mt. Baker and Stevens Pass. She even went on a llama-supported backpacking trip in the Wind River Range of Wyoming and rafted the Grand Canyon, both while in her 70’s.
Pauline remained active well into her 90’s always up for a walk even if it was just around the block or to the local market, just to look.
Pauline was a keen supporter of her husband’s volunteer work with Lions Clubs for multiple decades. She was an avid reader and loved art. Pauline was a member of the West Seattle Art Club; the second oldest art club in the state. Members gathered once a month in each others' homes for study, lectures, the occasional guest speaker, and luncheon. Topics ranged from Navajo Blankets to Picasso.
She enjoyed active and educational travel with Elderhostel and like organizations. Her experiences ranged from explorations of ancient sites in Turkey to a trip to China shortly after its opening to westerners that examined healthcare systems and practices. After travels spanning four continents, there were still places on her wish list.
Pauline is survived by her three loving children; James A. (Kande), Richard (Sheila), and Christine (Emilio), three grandchildren Gina (Bryan), James Jr. (Kayla), Heather (Ben), and five great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by Jim, her husband of 66 years.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Lions Club Sight and Hearing Foundation, World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, or KCTS (Public Television).
The Mellon family respectfully requests that you not send flowers.