Thea Pyle

Thea Pyle, 66, of Grays River, died November 20 at Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria. Her death followed 10 years of courageous and challenging coexistence with ovarian cancer.

Born on Mercer Island in 1947, formerly resident in Chelan, Thea had lived since 1984 in the historic H.P. Ahlberg home by the Grays River Covered Bridge with her husband, writer Bob Pyle. She was active in Friends of Skamokawa as book buyer, volunteer, and former manager of Redmen Hall, and in other roles around the Lower Columbia. Her art, especially wildflower prints and cards, are well known throughout the region. Thea was a superb botanist, gardener, and cook, who loved walking, reading, weaving, and especially mushrooming. Her ashes will be returned to her favorite places, to mingle with the flowers, the butterflies, and the chanterelles.

A celebration of Thea's rich but too-short life will be held in the spring, date to be announced. A full obituary will appear here at a later date. Thea was a kind, intelligent, and uncommonly lovely person, beloved by all who knew her. She will be deeply missed by her family and her many friends around the county, the country, and beyond.