Gretchen Ann SWANSON 

Gretchen Ann Swanson was born in Seattle on October 6,
1924, the only child of George L. Pace and Doris
Sullivan Pace. She died September 16, 2006 in Seattle.
After graduating from Lincoln High School, she
attended Central Washington College in Ellensburg. At
a school dance, she met her future husband Kirby W.
Swanson, who was attending the college for his
training in the Air Force. Married in Reno, NV, they
moved to Nebraska, and after he was discharged from
the service, they moved to Kirby's home town of
Crescent City, CA. Gretchen and Kirby eventually moved
to the Lake City neighborhood in Seattle to be near
family. In 1953, they adopted their daughter, Melody
Ann. Although they eventually divorced, Kirby and
Gretchen remained good friends. Gretchen worked for
Senior Services for the Meals on Wheels program until
she retired. She was an avid stamp collector, and had
a soft spot in her heart for stray kittens and cats.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and her
ex-husband and friend Kirby Swanson. She is survived
by her daughter and son-in-law, Melody Ann and Dale
Burson of Seattle. At her request, services will not
be held and her ashes will be scattered in Puget
Sound. We thank mom's friends at Bayview Towers for
being part of her extended family. 

Published in print on 9/20/2006. 
Seattle TImes