Sharon Hogue Larson

Sharon Hogue Larson, 85, passed away peacefully, from metastatic cancer, surrounded by the love of her family.

Sharon was born in Seattle, Washington on June 22, 1940, to Jack C. Hogue and Elizabeth (Thomas) Hogue. Sharon was raised in West Seattle, the eldest of four children and like her parents, loved the outdoors. In her youth, she would swim at the neighborhood Lincoln Park beach and she became an accomplished skier and a member of the Snoqualmie Pass Ski Patrol. At West Seattle High School, she was a song leader and was voted, ‘prettiest girl’ in the class of 1958.

Sharon was a Seafair princess, representing West Seattle in parades, floats and store openings. She chose early on to become a nurse and received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Washington in 1962 and was the first in her family to graduate from college. At the University of Washington, Sharon had many lifelong friends through the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and other nursing students. It was with her nursing friends that she met Duane Larson, a medical resident, in the hospital cafeteria. Sharon Hogue married Duane Larson on September 23, 1961, in West Seattle. In 1964 they moved with daughter Jill to Everett, Washington where son, Todd and daughter Anne Marie were born.

Sharon loved the roles of mother, grandmother and homemaker and through the years in Everett, was an ardent school volunteer, room parent and PTA member. She supported her children’s clubs, sports and numerous activities and was a Camp Fire and Girl Scout leader.

Her British Columbia and Welsh heritage contributed to her interest in gardening and culinary arts. Sharon became a skilled gourmet cook and shared her knowledge of cooking and baking with her children, grandchildren and their friends. She cooked many holiday meals for family and enjoyed decorating their home to suit the occasion. Sharon loved flowers, particularly red geraniums and hydrangeas, and had a thorough knowledge of plants and the best environment for them to flourish. Every spring she’d plan her garden, especially her summer planters of annuals, herbs and tomatoes.

Sharon and Duane loved to travel, and some of their favorite memories were walking tours in Europe with U of W Alumni travel groups. They shared these adventures with slides and cuisine, cooked skillfully by Sharon.

Sharon enjoyed beach living, and she and Duane loved to entertain, inviting friends and family to their summer home at Tulare Beach for seafood barbeques, boat rides, swimming and walks on the beach. In the winter, they enjoyed time spent on Maui and became part of a community of friends on the island, where they enjoyed potlucks and island excursions.

Community, the Arts and Faith were important to Sharon, and through her love of reading and community libraries, was a member of the Everett Women’s Book Club; Women’s Bible Studies and was a Deacon and Sunday School teacher through First Presbyterian and later, Our Savior’s Lutheran Churches. She had an interest in theater and studied theater at the local community college to provide background knowledge for the plays she and Duane attended. She joined an investment club, where she learned about companies, their financial statements and participated in the market, trading and sharing information on equities with her club members. Sharon was an active community volunteer and engaged in many ways to improve the lives of her family and the community at large.

Sharon was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Duane Larson, MD and her sister, Margaret Peyovich.

Sharon is survived by her brothers, Michael Hogue (Tricia) of Danville, Vermont and Scott Hogue (Gail) of North Bend, WA. Her daughter, Jill Turner (Kyle) of Everett, WA, son, Todd Larson, MD (Wendi) of Highlands Ranch, Colorado and daughter, Anne Metz (Doug) of Tulare Beach, Tulalip, WA and her cherished grandchildren, Joseph (Grace), Hailey, Ellen, Lydia and Alanna, whom she loved dearly with all her heart.

Memorials can be made to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Interfaith Family Shelter, Providence General Foundation or the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

A Memorial Service will be held on January 31 at 11:00 AM at Evergreen Funeral Home in Everett.