Eva Esther Petersen

Eva “Eve” Esther Petersen, 92, passed away at home on Nov. 2, 2015, in Gearhart, Oregon, under the loving care of her family and hospice. She was born on Sept. 8, 1923, in Menahga, Minnesota. She lived most of her life in Oregon and Washington state. She finished grade school in llwaco, Washington. She graduated from Astoria High School in 1941. Elman “Pete” Petersen Jr. and Eve were married in 1943, and operated the Petersen Grocery in Jeffers Gardens for 15 years. A major part of her life was raising and caring for her family. She was a charter member of the Pacific Art Guild in Astoria and a member for many years. She served as its vice president in 1958, its president in 1959, and its secretary/publicity chairwoman in 1960. After moving to Arch Cape, she had an art gallery, “Studio One,” in the late 1960s. For 1979 and 1980, she served as second vice president on the executive committee of the Oregon Coast Association. She was a director from Clatsop County from 1979 through 1982. She served as first vice president on the executive committee for 1981 and 1982. She was a charter member of the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., and was a member until her death. Slides of her six paintings “Journey into Blindness” are being used for instruction at the Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health and Science University Medical School in Portland, Oregon. She was the artist, owner, and operator of the Twin Trees Art Gallery at 88646 U.S. Highway 101 in Seaside, Oregon, from 1974 until she completely lost her vision. She was also an avid gardener, an amateur photographer, and an enthusiastic camper. Eve was proceeded in death by her husband Elman “Pete” in 1999 and her daughter Carol Petersen in 2006. Eve is survived by her son Jack Petersen of Seaside, Oregon; daughter and son-in-law Mike and Peggy Harrison of Seaside, Oregon; and granddaughters Lisa Hofmann of Astoria, Oregon, and Cassie Knop, formerly of Seaside, Oregon. Eve has requested no formal memorial services.