Catherine Ann Pearce passed away Wednesday, February 12, 2014, at home with her family around her.

She was born in Olympia on March 20, 1928, to Joe and Attona Leonard. Her father was a logger and she and her sister, Leona’s, early years were spent in logging camps with one room school houses and the family later lived on Hood Canal, next to Waketickeh Creek.

After High School she attended the Moler Beauty School, graduating in 1948.

She owned and operated her own beauty shop in Hoodsport, where she met the love of her life, Bob Pearce. They were married on March 18, 1950. They lived in Shelton and then Olympia, settling in 1969 in Sequim, as co-proprietors of Sequim Lumber Company.

Catherine, known fondly as “Shorty” to friends and family, was a gifted craftswoman, specializing in ceramics, doll making, quilting, needlepoint and painting. She loved gardening and will be remembered for her lavish and beautiful flower gardens.

She loved holidays, especially Christmas, and would create all year long, transforming her entire house into a magical wonderland of Christmas joy for her entire extended family and friends, each year a new theme.

She loved to work puzzles, have a hot mocha, shop, play the slot machines, collect agates at Lincoln City, wear beautiful jewelry, and never missed getting her hair done on Friday.

Her true specialty was making people feel loved and important and she did it with joy and true caring. Everyone was welcome in her circle and instantly fell in love with her warmth, kindness and generosity. Her favorite thing was spending time with family and friends. Her grandkids, Jacob and Emily Carel, were the light of her life.

Catherine was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; their infant son, Walter; her niece, Pam Hereford; and nephew, Joe Mazzoncini; and brother-in-law, Bill Mazzoncini.

She is survived by her daughter, Jill Carel, of Sequim; her grandchildren, Jacob and Emily Carel, also of Sequim; her sister, Leona Mazzoncini, of Tacoma; and many nieces and nephews and their families.

There will be a Memorial/Celebration of Life held in her honor on Saturday, February 22, 2014, at the Sequim Prairie Grange, 290 McLeay Road, in Sequim at 1:00 p.m., immediately followed by a buffet and time for reminiscing together.