Nancy Anne Zahn

Nancy Anne Ramsey Zahn passed away peacefully on the morning of her 83rd birthday, March 9, 2025, at Whatcom Hospice House in Bellingham, Washington. The past several years she suffered from Alzheimer’s disease but never forgot her girls, Karen and Kristine, for which we are grateful.

Nancy Anne Ramsey was born March 9, 1942, early in the morning in Portland, Oregon to Kenneth and Jessie Ramsey. She grew up in Eastern Oregon and Washington as her dad moved the family to work on dams in the Northwest. They lived in Dorena, Oregon; The Dalles, Oregon; and Pasco, Washington where she graduated valedictorian from Pasco High School in 1960. She received a scholarship to attend Washington State University, the first in her family to attend college. While there she was president of her dorm, Duncan Dunn, and with other women leaders worked with the Dean of Women to allow women students to wear jeans on the weekend, against male faculty and leadership’s wishes. She majored in Sociology and received an offer to work for the Washington State Family Services and Child Welfare Services before graduating in 1964 with highest honors, Phi Beta Kappa.

She met her future husband, Rudolf Zahn, at a friend’s Halloween party in October 1964 and married the following May 1965. Together they built a house in Woodinville in 1970. They had two daughters, Karen was born in 1966 and Kristine in 1972. Though she was a diehard Cougar, she earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Washington in 1978.

Nancy’s career spanned four decades of dedication to children and families. She often said parents should attend parenting classes before leaving the hospital with their newborn. Far fewer children would be at risk. Throughout her career, Nancy received numerous awards including the Governor's Sustaining Leadership Award. Early in her career she was the designated Indian specialist for Family Services and Child Welfare Services, which led to lifetime of close friendships with tribal partners. She held a variety of area and regional administrative roles in Everett and Seattle and ended her career as the Director of Division of Licensed Resources for Children's Administration in Olympia. After retirement, she was a consultant and expert witness on several cases for the Tort Division of the Attorney General’s Office.

Nancy deeply loved her family and appreciated the individual personalities of each of her children, sons-in-law, and five grandchildren. She made a point to treat everyone fairly and equally. Every summer, she and her sister Shirley took the grandchildren on road trips around the Northwest creating special memories with them. She was a role model for us all on how to honor and respect each other.

Nancy is preceded in death by her parents Kenneth and Jessie Ramsey, sister Shirley Ramsey, and husband Rudolf Zahn. She is survived by her brother Donald (Sandy) Ramsey, nephew James Ramsey, daughters Karen (Steve) Peila and Kristine (Ryan) Mumma, grandchildren Jessica Peila, Curt (Erica) Peila, Jared Mumma, Kyle Mumma, and Justin Mumma and great grandchild Markus Peila.

While we cherish the sentiments of giving flowers, we kindly ask that you consider giving a donation in honor of her instead to Planned Parenthood, Alzheimer's Association, Whatcom Hospice, or a charity of your choice.

A private graveside ceremony will be held for the family followed by a Celebration of Life with family and friends on April 4, 2025, at 1 pm at the Carnegie Building, 105 Cedar Avenue, Snohomish, Washington. Please share your memories online at Nancy Zahn Obituary - Snohomish, WA (Bauer Funeral Chapel, Snohomish, Washington).