Mollie Venables Pepper
February 6, 1929 - January 18, 2015
Obituary
MOLLIE VENABLES PEPPER
February 6, 1929—January 18, 2015
Born in Spokane Washington, February 6, 1929 to Raymond J. and Margaret Hamel Venables, Mollie was the beloved daughter in a household that included her two older brothers Harry and Don and their grandmother Julia Eschbach Hamel. The family moved to Seattle in 1931, residing in Mount Baker. Mollie attended John Muir Elementary and the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Forest Ridge where she made many lifelong friends.
At the University of Washington Mollie was affiliated with Delta Gamma sorority and majored in Home Economics (where she concentrated on fashion merchandising). Upon graduation in 1950 she worked at Frederick & Nelson.
In 1953 she married Lou Pepper. It was the start of over 61 years of “successful compromise”. As they raised their four children, Mollie loved playing tennis at the Seattle Tennis Club, especially with her “Tennis Ladies” and spending winter weekends at Crystal Mountain. On her 30th wedding anniversary, she remarked that her greatest accomplishments were that neither their wedding anniversary nor the births of their children interfered with Lou’s squash games!
In 1995 Mollie and Lou moved full time to their home in LaConner, “Bountiful Acres”. Mollie spent hours planning and working in her gardens there. Tables were festooned into the fall with her beautiful flowers arranged simply in her collection of vases. The past fifteen years Mollie and Lou spent winters at Smoke Tree Ranch in Palm Springs, where they often hosted family and friends.
Her interest in textiles and design led to Apparel Design awards in her name at both Washington State University and Seattle Central College. When Washington Mutual was sold to Chase Bank, Mollie suggested to Lou that they use money from their charitable fund at the Seattle Foundation to help start the Washington Mutual Alumni Fund, which provides assistance and scholarships to people who had worked at Washington Mutual.
Mollie belonged to the Junior League of Seattle, The Seattle Tennis Club and the Sunset Club.
She served as a trustee on the following boards: Holy Names Academy, Lakeside School, The Museum of Northwest Art and the Governor’s Mansion Foundation.
Mollie was predeceased by her parents and brothers and is survived by her beloved husband, Lou Pepper; her children, Lou “Pep” Pepper (Ruth Williamson), Margy Pepper (Dan Roth), Betsy Pepper Larson (Chris), Willie Pepper Milo (Yori) and six grandchildren Mollie Pepper (Kee Hinckley), Kady Glessner (Margot Shumway), Pepper Glessner, J.C. Glessner, Lucie Pepper and Jack Pepper; her nieces and nephews, and many lifelong friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph’s Parish, 732 18th Ave. E. on Monday, January 26, 2015 at 11:00 AM.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Department of Apparel, Merchandising, Design, Textiles, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland, 424 Snoqualmie St., Mount Vernon, WA 98273 and Holy Names Academy Scholarship Endowment Fund, 728 21st Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112.
Mollie was a lovely woman who bought calm and grace to every occasion. She’ll be so missed. The Angels welcome her. My prayers with affection for Lou and the entire Pepper family. cmf
What a wonderful person. If the world was populated with all Mollie Peppers what a great place it would be.
Mollie was such a warm and classy woman! She loved her family and will be missed by our entire community. My thoughts go out to all of you!