Lucinda Angeline Pederson

Lucinda Angeline (Lou Ann) Pederson passed away on February 18, 2014 in Glendale, California. Lou Ann was born on May 2, 1930 to Elmer and Jessie Danielsen in Seattle and grew up on Puget Island. She married Kenneth Pederson in 1949 they celebrated their 65th anniversary this year.

Lou Ann lived an active life of community service. She was a past PTA president of Julius Wendt Elementary School; she spent many years teaching Sunday and Vacation Bible School at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church; and was a Girl Scout Leader. Lou Ann also served many years on the Board of Directors of the Cowlitz and Wahkiakum Mental Health Counsel. Improving community mental health care was a life-long special interest.

She worked for Bob Hendrickson at the Cathlamet Meat Lockers and was a staff writer for the Wahkiakum County Eagle. She was appointed Director of Emergency Services for Wahkiakum County and in 1974, was appointed Director of Emergency Services for Cowlitz County. During her tenure, Lou Ann was selected as one of the Women of the Year for Cowlitz County by the Longview Daily News.

In 1981, Ken and Lou Ann took early retirements and set up homes in various locations including Long Beach and in Hemet, Calif. They settled in Hemet and became “rain birds,” wintering Southern California and spending summers on their beach property on Puget Island.

Lou Ann was preceded in death by her parents and her three brothers, Wilbert, Edwin (Joe) and John Danielsen as well as her first grandchild, Stuart Hardesty. She is survived by her husband, Kenneth, her daughters, Ann and Jean (Stephen Radecki), her grandson, Mark Hardesty, and their unofficial step-daughter Vicki Gregory.

By request, she wished to be cremated and to eventually be interred with the ashes of her husband. At that time, a joint memorial service will be held to celebrate both of their lives.