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Anna Marie Peterson passed away October 5, 2022, at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Washington, with her family at her side.

Born on July 18, 1934, to Vera Elverta (Stasner) and Lee Roy Reynolds in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Anna moved with her family to Bremerton, Washington at the age of 10. In addition to acclimating to the Pacific Northwest’s unique weather, she also had to attend special education classes to help her overcome her southern drawl.

Anna graduated from Chehalis High School and married local stock car racer Wendell “Wendy” Peterson in December of 1952. Their family grew with daughter Shelley, in 1954, and son Allen in 1956. In 1958, Anna and Wendy built a home in Tumwater, Washington, where they lived together for 30 years. They enjoyed swimming in the backyard pool and hosting friends and family for barbecues, heated badminton, and ping-pong tournaments. Eventually they added a getaway on Hood Canal at Beacon Point in Lilliwaup, in Washington where they continued to host friends and family for crabbing, shrimping, and shucking oysters on the beach. A move to Capital City Golf Course fostered a new love of gold and inspired them to become annual snowbirds in Palm Desert to play golf year-round.

Anna worked for all three branches of Washington State government. Served her community with the Departments of Institutions, General Administration and Social and Health Services, the Marine Employees Commission, the Transportation Commission, the Washington Supreme Court, and the Office of the Governor (Dixie Lee Ray). She also worked for the Washington Education Association and served as a union steward. She was a founding partner of the public and media relations firm Peterson and Smith, advocating for multiple referendums and initiatives and writing Booth Gardner’s Pierce County Executive election campaign. Peterson and Smith later joined three other women to form the Driver Guides of America, with offices in Portland, Seattle and Vancouver B.C., providing multilingual drivers and tour assistants to help foreign tourists explore the Pacific Northwest.

After Wendy’s passing in 1998, Anna continued her independent and active lifestyle. A former member of the Tuesday Trotters, she hiked the Pyrenees Mountains in Spain and the trails of San Jacinto State Park. She joined water aerobics while in Palm Desert and met friends for weekly rounds of golf right up until death.

Anna fiercely loved her family and friends, and is survived by her daughter Shelley Sadie-Hill and her husband Ronnie Hill in Olympia; son Allen Peterson and his partner Wendy Owen in Bellingham;  grandchildren Holly Jacobus in Centralia, Nassra Machiela and her husband Chad in Rainier, Adam Sadie in Las Vegas, Colin Peterson in Seattle, Megan Peterson in Bellingham and great grandsons Zac, Kyler and Cody Bickle in Centralia, and great-great grandson Kane. Anna is also survived by her nephew and his wife Paul and Charla Gomez, with whom Anna was especially close.

A celebration of life will be held at a future date. Gifts in memoriam may be donated to the American Heart Association and Planned Parenthood.