Obituary of Marcella Marie Pearsall Rattie

Marcella Marie Pearsall Rattie peacefully left this world on April 27, 2021, at her home, surrounded by, and lovingly cared for, during her last days by her family. 

 

Being able to say goodbye to her family and friends was very important to her and she was able to call, write or see most of them in her final days. 

 

Marcella was born on November 14, 1930, to Ralph Taylor Pearsall and Marcella Hayes Pearsall in Aberdeen, Washington. She grew up in Elma, Washington, attending Elma schools and graduating from Elma High School in 1949.  

 

Marcella married Russell Rattie in 1959 and they enjoyed their many years together, sharing their love of the Olympic rainforest, photography, camping, playing cards, and traveling. She wrote that she most enjoyed trips to Yellowstone, Canada and cruises to Alaska, and that Lake Quinault and the Hoh River were her favorite and most sacred places: her "chapels." 

 

Marcella worked for Elma Public Schools from 1971 as a learning specialist, teaching and caring for students with disabilities, until her retirement in 1991. 

 

She volunteered and organized countless events and activities throughout her life and her commitment to the community was apparent to all who knew her: high school reunions, Elma all-class reunions, monthly lunches at the casino for classmates, family and friends, 4-H, Hope From Horses, Relay For Life and so many more. 

 

Her interests were varied and included photography, birding, camping, ecology, wildlife, beekeeping, environmental issues, mushrooming, and the great outdoors. 

 

She loved her little farm with Russ and her family, raising animals, gardening and tending to her flowers. 

 

She was an accomplished horsewoman and shared her knowledge and love of horses with her children, grandchildren and her 4-H club. 

 

Marcella also loved to bake and was known for sharing her blueberry muffins with merchants, at gatherings, and with friends and relatives.

 

Marcella was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Stephen Taylor Pearsall; and son, Richard R. Rattie. 

 

She is survived by her husband, Russell Rattie, of the family home in Elma; her brother, R. David Pearsall, and sister-in law-Ginnie of McCleary; and her remaining children, Linda Fitzgerald of Elma, Loni Fitzgerald of Olympia, and Frank Ratte of Elma.

Marcella had six grandchildren, Shannon Curl Schneider (Bryan), Jaime Curl (Alisha), Adam Catterlin (Erin), Stevie Fitzgerald, Jessica Hawthorne Morris (Nick) and Connor Hawthorne. She was also blessed with 16 great-grandchildren, Taylor and Tanner Sample, Sam, Reina, Jackson and Luke Schneider, Lucia Curl, Clive and Austin Morse, Liam and Finley Catterlin, Seth, Rhet, Christian, Ashton and Lincoln Morris. Marcella also leaves her beloved sisters-in-law, Shirley Fitzgerald Henneck and Joan Pearsall Stevens; and many nieces and nephews. 

 

Special thanks to Bonnie McReynolds ARNP, the staff at Harbor Home Health and Hospice, and Catherine Ayers for their loving care. 

 

In lieu of flowers, Marcella asked that people plant a tree in her memory and continue our connection to nature.

 

Please leave condolences or share memories and photos on the Tribute Wall to the left.

 

 

 

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