Gerald Charles Pierson

A graduate of Bellingham High School, he soon enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he honorably served for four years. Once a Marine, always a Marine — throughout most of his 89 years, he kept his hair in regulation order and appreciated a call on the Marine Corps birthday more so than his own!

After his service, he began his career as an educator, culminating as the principal of Olympic Middle School, in Chehalis, Washington. Known as Jerry to his friends and family, and Mr. Pierson to many years of students and parents, he worked extremely hard to provide his students with the best education possible. His work as an educator had an immeasurable positive impact on thousands of students.

Jerry married Janet Crook in 1956, and over the course of the next 28 years raised three children in Chehalis. He successfully managed his busy work schedule well enough to always provide interesting and memorable summer vacations, many of which involved loading up three always-pleasant teenagers and mountains of food into a travel trailer for a few weeks. He also began spending more family time in the San Juan Islands of northwestern Washington, which continued throughout most of his life.

In 1987, Jerry married Pamela Russell, which began his next adventure of over 37 years. Those adventures, aided by his retirement, allowed for many more boating trips through almost every island in the San Juans and Gulf Islands of British Columbia. He was a very skilled mariner, navigating dangerous shoals and strong currents with ease. Jerry and Pam began wintering in Casa Grande, Arizona, and for 12 years enjoyed sending photos of picturesque hikes, fresh citrus fruit and sunny landscapes to his often-waterlogged children still in the Pacific Northwest. Several trips to Alaska, Kauai and Maui resulted in many more stunning photos documenting various adventures; many photos were sent to the still rather jealous children.

Jerry was a skilled outdoorsman, and he enjoyed fishing, duck hunting and huckleberry picking whenever he could. His last sojourn to the huckleberry fields in the Cascade mountains was in 2015, when he cleverly noted that the hillsides had somehow grown steeper as he enjoyed his 80th year.

On Dec. 3, 2024, Jerry quietly succumbed to the effects of Parkinson's disease and dementia. The family extends our heartfelt thanks to the fine folks at Chehalis West Assisted Living Memory Care for the kind and compassionate care they provided over his last difficult days.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Pam; daughters, Laurie (spouse, Bob Schissler), Julie (spouse, Skip Voetberg), son Blake (spouse, Patty) and stepdaughter Shawna (spouse, Sam Burbee). He is also survived by legions of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and former spouse Janet.

There will be no memorial service, as per his request, but cards can be sent to 112A Roberts Drive, Chehalis, WA, 98532.