Mildred 'Millie' Peterson Heath

Millie passed away April 22, 2007, in Spokane after a brief illness. She was born Oct. 28, 1920, to John and Effie (Morgan) Peterson in Marcus, Wash., and was raised in Spokane. She graduated from John R. Rogers High School in December 1937, just a few months after she turned 17. She attended Eastern Washington College for two quarters before entering the University of Washington in the fall of 1938. Millie graduated from the UW with a bachelor of science degree in nursing in August of 1942, eight months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and enlisted in the Navy Nurse Corps.

While in basic training in San Francisco, she took the mandatory Navy swimming test in the rooftop pool of the Fairmont Hotel. Millie was a beautiful swimmer and while in the Navy was a member of a water ballet team that performed for Admiral Chester Nimitz. She retained her love of physical fitness throughout her life and enjoyed golf, dancing, aerobics and daily walks wherever she was. She completed several Bloomsdays, the last at age 77.

It was when she was stationed in Oahu during World War II that Millie met a fellow Washingtonian, Army Captain Edmund Heath, a WSU graduate. They married on Dec. 7, 1945, in Tillamook, Ore. Millie and Ed lived first in Yakima and then Pateros, following his career as a field man for the Wenoka Federation. In 1950 they established Heath's Nursery, a commercial grower of fruit trees. Their business brought them in touch with customers from throughout the United States and Europe. After the construction of Wells Dam flooded their Pateros home in 1965 Millie, Ed and their six children moved to Brewster where she resided for 21 years. She returned to Spokane in 1986 after her husband's death.

Mildred worked as an RN in Yakima prior to the birth of their first child. She volunteered with many organizations throughout her life including the Camp Fire Girls, Sacred Heart Altar Society, Brewster PTA, Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane and in the classrooms of each of her children. Her interests were broad and she never stopped learning. She was a truly wonderful mother and perhaps the best tribute Millie could be given is that her children had happy childhoods. Above all she will be remembered for her warmth, grace, compassion, sunny disposition, genuine kindness to others and quiet dignity.

Millie is survived by her children Carol (Howard) Haston of Oceanside, Calif., Connie O'Connor of Vancouver, Maureen (Lyle) Berndt of Spokane, Jeff (Janet) Heath of Cashmere, Mary Elizabeth (Michael) Cressey of Spokane, Tom (Jill) Heath of Moses Lake; her brother John (Jane) Peterson of Oak Harbor; grandchildren Nathan Haston, Elizabeth Halverson, Erin, John and Brian O'Connor, Paul Berndt, Meg and Matthew Cressey, Kelsey Miller and Kendra Heath; five great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews and several close friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ed, her parents, sisters Ruth Caird and Pauline Chamberlain and son-in-law Bob O'Connor.

Funeral services will be held Friday, April 27, at 1 p.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, with a graveside burial service taking place in Brewster on Saturday, April 28, at noon. Memorial contributions may be made to the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery, 1004 8th Ave., Spokane, WA 99202 or the Spokane Public Library. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hennessey Smith Funeral Home.