Janet E. Peterson
March 4, 1935 – May 8, 2026
Janet Elizabeth Peterson was born March 4, 1935, at Grace Hospital in Seattle. She passed away with her family by her side on May 8, 2026, at Wesley Bradley Park in Puyallup.
The oldest child of John Alonzo Carkin and Maud Ella Egbert, Janet spent her early years at 111 West 53rd Street in Seattle. She was soon joined by her brother, John Douglas, in 1936 and her sister, Colleen, in 1939. The family later moved to East 58th Street, and Janet attended Bryant Elementary, where her sharp mind allowed her to skip a grade. In 1946, the family moved to Auburn. Janet graduated from Auburn High School with the Class of 1952.
As a teenager, her mother playfully described her as “boy crazy,” leading to summers spent in Easton, Washington, with her Uncle Harry and Aunt Vi. Ever industrious, Janet spent those summers selling newspapers on the train when it stopped in town.
One of her first jobs was at the Auburn Avenue Theater working for Henry W. Mullendore. Janet often shared stories of the lessons she learned from Mr. Mullendore—lessons she carried throughout her life. It was during this time that she met Lowell Peterson. Lowell would drive from Buckley to Auburn to see her, often nodding off at the wheel from exhaustion. To ensure his safety, the couple decided to move their wedding up, marrying on November 1, 1952, at her parents’ home in Auburn.
The newlyweds settled into their first home in Puyallup, chosen for being “close, but not too close” to both sets of parents. In that neighborhood, they established lifelong friendships with the Mahaffie, Adams, and Bauman families. Janet worked as a service representative for Pacific Telephone and Telegraph in Tacoma until 1955.
In 1956, they welcomed their first son, David, followed by Larry in 1957. While raising her boys, Janet was active in a women’s bowling league at Daffodil Bowl and later served as a Room Mother and PTA member at Meeker Elementary. She also played in a women’s slow-pitch softball league coached by her mother’s partner, Rudy, alongside her sister-in-law, Jean Carkin.
Janet was a woman of many talents and careers. In 1964, she obtained her real estate license and began selling property during the early days of Ocean Shores. She later sold World Book Encyclopedias for many years. As her sons grew more independent, she returned to full-time work in the office of Rhodes Department Store in downtown Tacoma. When the downtown retail landscape shifted with the opening of the Tacoma Mall, she transitioned to Liberty House (formerly Rhodes) at Villa Plaza, retiring in 1974. Not one to stay idle, she joined LeRoy Jewelers in downtown Tacoma as their credit manager in 1976, where she worked until her second retirement in 1998.
In 1979, Janet and Lowell moved to a new home they built on five acres on South Hill, living next door to their son, David. They remained there until 2003, when they moved to Graham—a home Janet dearly loved. Following Lowell’s passing, Janet moved to Wesley Bradley Park in 2020, where she enjoyed independent living, assisted living, and eventually memory care.
Janet had an adventurous spirit. She and Lowell explored most of the Western United States, Hawaii, and Alaska. They traveled to Florida, the New England states, North Carolina, and Tennessee, and made annual trips to visit Larry at Disneyland. She loved hiking at Mt. Rainier and visiting the ocean.
Above all, Janet loved people. She never missed a birthday or anniversary, and the staff at Hallmark knew her by name. Her signature gift for children was a birthday card with one dollar tucked inside for every year of their age. Janet had a “fear of missing out” before the term existed—she loved being where the action was, whether it was a groundbreaking, an open house, or even appearing in the background of a news photo. One of the family’s favorite memories is spotting Janet and her grandson, Adam, in a video of a “Thriller” dance performance at Pioneer Park.
Janet was predeceased by her parents; her siblings, John and Colleen; her husband, Lowell; her grandson, Eric Peterson; and her sister-in-law, Jean Carkin. She is survived by her sons, David (Patricia) Peterson and Larry Peterson; her grandson, Adam Peterson; her nephew, John (Julie) Carkin; and her nieces, Debra and Pamela Royer.
Memorial Will be May 30
Services will be held at Powers Funeral Home in Puyallup, Washington, on May 30, 2026. Viewing will begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by a service at 11:00 a.m. Janet will be laid to rest at Buckley Cemetery alongside her beloved Lowell.
The family extends their deepest gratitude to the staff of Wesley Bradley Park and Wesley Hospice for their exceptional care.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you honor Janet’s memory by spending time with your loved ones and saying the things you need to say—a practice the family is so grateful they shared with her.
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