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Our classmate Wendy Morseth passed away recently. We understand that Wendy's family does not plan a memorial or obituary in the near future, but we have heard from two of our classmates.
From Ann Truax: Our classmate, Wendy Morseth, passed away in the morning of October 22nd at Hopewell House in Portland, Oregon, after a year-long struggle with leukemia. She is survived by an extended family, including triplet grand nephews, of whom she was very proud. At this point, no memorial is planned.
From Tami Markham: Quiet, wise Wendy passed this past weekend. It has been such an emotional loss. She was a wonderful friend and neighbor. Bob [Hansen] and Ann [Truax] also spent time with her while she was in hospice over her last days. The last day that I sat with her at Hopewell House was Friday morning. This is a tough loss on all of us.
I miss her quiet presence with her dog, Finn, on this street that we shared. Her soft, quiet presence and deep convictions and passion for nature certainly matched her name… oh my, I miss her so much.
In response to a question about Finn, Tami added: Wendy found a working farm on the southern coast where Finn can do what his working breed’s genes desire. The people who own his farm sent Wendy pictures of her loyal companion regularly. He was so protective of Wendy right up until she lovingly re-homed him, thankfully into a perfect placement.
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Creig Gillis, Tom Foolery
I have a fond memory of Wendy when she joined Ann Truax and I on a backpack to my favorite lake in Montana. She brought along a Tenkara rod for fishing, but despite my having a great time catching nice big cutthroats for release and dining, she didn't fish. Finally, the day we were breaking up camp to hike out she decided to give her rod a try. Bang, a big cutthroat was in her hands! She immediately went back to our nearly packed up camp and fried up her catch, happy as a kid at Christmas with her catch, she sat there on the ground feasting!
Ann Truax
Since elementary school at Roosevelt and through junior high and high school at CHS, I remember Wendy although I didn't know her well. She kept a low profile during those years. (Little did I know that she was already living an unusual life as a teenager -- making money salmon fishing out of a dory in the Pacific with her younger brother, Grant, and also going to various summer events running a popcorn cart.) We reconnected at one of our CHS reunions (maybe the 40th?) and discovered we had mutual interests in cross country skiing and the outdoors. Our friendship slowly began to develop.
A group of four Portland transplants, Kathy Asbury Giacetti, Tami Oberson Markham, Wendy and I began to get together occasionally for lunch, walks in Forest Park or kayaking on the Willamette. Wendy was an expert kayaker and fearless outdoors woman who was known to do solo kayaking and camping.
She was also a successful professional. She had a PhD in Psychology from Pacific University and maintained a therapy practice in downtown Portland until covid hit, when she served clients through video and telephone sessions, which she continued until shortly before her death.
Wendy was an artist. We used to go sketching together in scenic places like Frenchman's Bar on the Washington side of the Collumbia. She was determined to improve her skills with watercolor; she joined an online group and continually practiced with great results.
In 2022 she bought a small house in Garibaldi on a hill overlooking the Pacific. Not long after her purchase, she was diagnosed with leukemia. She continued to enjoy her beach house as much as she could. She felt calmer and happier there. Last June I visited her in Garibaldi. I was so impressed with how she had distilled life to its essence -- walks in nature with her beloved dog Finn, eating good food, and being creative every day. She introduced me to her favorite places on the northern coast -- Kilchis Point, a secret trail to Nehalem Bay, a cooperative farm where she volunteered, and a shop with the best smoked salmon I've ever eaten.
A month before she died, she celebrated her 76th birthday with a party and live music at her Portland house.
Wendy was a quiet, unpretentious, and brave woman whose wisdom was profound. I will truly miss her friendship.