Harriet Ann Lee

Harriet Tremper Lee died on December 20, 2022 in Olympia after a short illness. She was born March 1, 1928 to Edward and Doris Tremper of Bellevue. She was raised on the family's holly farm on Yarrow Point. Living on Lake Washington, she grew up swimming, sailing, waterskiing and paddle boarding with her two brothers Jack and Bill and friends. She attended Bay School, took the ferry to Garfield High School and then attended WHitman College before marrying her childhood sweetheart Bill Culliton. Their courtship began with Bill flying Harriet over the mountains to Throp where his parents had a ranch. They raised five children on Hunts Point, exploring all that the Puget Sound and San Juan Islands had to offer; sailing, boating, fishing, crabbing and shucking oysters on Dabob Bay.

Later in life she married Don Lee, and they honeymooned backpacking in Olympic National Park. Their hobby became exploring backroads of the Northwest, and the trails, streams and rivers of the Olympic Peninsula. She instilled the love of nature, adventure and inquisitiveness in her grandchildren when they visited at their home on the Quilcene River, where they mildly re-engineered the river and ran unfettered in the woods.

Harriet was down to earth, literally. She loved gardening and knew most trees, shrubs and flowers by name and often expanded her garden with cuttings made from her travels. She was an avid Mariners and Seahawks fan, loved knitting, crossword puzzles and she always had a book or two going. Her happy place was anywhere she could throw out her towel and bask by a river, lake or ocean.

She was amazingly vibrant and able to right up until the end, and brought joy to so many each day. Thanks to the special people at Brookdale, Ralph's Thriftway and Budd Bay Cafe in Olympia who enriched her life with their kindness over the years.

She is survived by her brother Bill Tremper, and her children, Bill Culliton (Dorothy), Nancy Dupar (Skip, Deceased), Ann Toelle (John) Mary Groskopf (Dan) and Jane Culliton, Sherry Lee, Mindi Lee, and nine beloved grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren...so far.

A private memorial will be held for family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Eastside Heritage Center in Bellevue.