Christie Anne Fevergeon Obituary (2023)

Christie Anne Fevergeon was born to Robert and Alda Prichard in Bremerton, WA, on December 16, 1942. The middle of five children, Christie spent her childhood in Tacoma, playing on the beach, exploring the woods, and swimming in the Puget Sound. She was active in school, church, and scouts, and her home life was brimming with people and fun. A shy little girl, with a sparkling smile, Christie fostered a lifelong love of adventure. She and her siblings enjoyed many road trips together and numerous hikes in the Olympics and Cascades. She was the first in line at the fastest roller coasters, even as a grandmother! Christie graduated from Clover Park High School in 1960 and attended Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, the two years after. During college, she continued swimming and life guarding, even learning to scuba dive with her brother Denny. One scuba trip, they caught an octopus. Despite Christies intense dislike of seafood, they decided to cook it for dinner, smelling up the kitchen for weeks. Shortly after turning 21, Christie and her good friend Margie Roberts embarked on a four-month adventure through Europe. Stopping first in Germany, Christie purchased a new Volkswagen Bug and used it to drive through Eastern Europe before shipping it home to the states. Upon her return, she worked as a service representative for Bell Telephone in both California and Washington. In 1970, Christie married Richard Leroy Fevergeon in Issaquah, WA, and welcomed his three children, Mark, Michelle, and Michael, as her instant kids. Two years later, she helped Dick pursue his lifelong dream of owning and operating a small farm in Longbranch, WA. It was there that their son Paul was born. Christie continued her career with Bell Telephone, commuting 60 miles each day with Richard to and from Bremerton. They would park the car at the ferry dock, where she would walk to her office and he would cross over to Seattle for work. They would meet up again at the end of the day for their drive home. In 1978, they moved to Ellensburg, purchasing a 240-acre hay and cattle farm in Badger Pocket. Christie worked faithfully alongside her husband in all the farm chores as well as keeping house and tending a large garden. (She loved to regale her grandchildren with stories of helping to inoculate cattle in freezing temperatures.) On top of her farmwork, she accepted a position as an administrative assistant in the counseling office at Morgan Middle School and, a few years later, transferred to Ellensburg High Schools counseling office. In 1982, they sold the farm and Richard and Mark built a house in Kittitas where their youngest son, David, was born. Transitioning from farmer to financial advisor, Dick moved the family closer to town and Mark built their forever home in Grasslands. In the early 90s, Christie took an administrative position in the Graduate Studies Department at Central Washington University and walked alongside countless students as they earned their masters or doctorate degrees. She also served faithfully on the governing board at Mercer Creek Church. While working full time, she finished her BA in Business Administration over seven years, taking one class each quarter. Christie embodied loyalty and commitment to finishing what she started with steadfast tenacity. Sweet and hard-working, Christie was known for her kindness, bright smile, and unshakeable faith. When she retired in 2004, she was awarded CWUs Distinguished Civil Servant Award and was beloved by all who knew her. In retirement, Christies spirit of adventure reemerged, and she swept Dick away on trips to Europe, Australia, Canada, Hawaii and Alaska. Christie loved her family, church, and community, committing countless hours to driving her sons to swim meets, attending her grandchildrens school and sporting events, praying for her family and Bible study ladies, and serving behind the scenes. She delighted in reading in the bathtub, boating, Jazzercising, enjoying the harvest of her garden, and family celebrations. On October 21, 2023, at the age of 80 and after a swift battle with cancer, Christie passed peacefully surrounded by loved ones. She is survived by her husband Richard, children: Mark and Joanne, Michael and Joanne, Paul and Margo, David and Stephanie, and Michelle and Shawn Matlock; siblings: Dennis and Jan Prichard, and Robin Prichard; 19 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. While our hearts grieve and we miss her sweet presence, we take comfort in knowing that she is with Jesus experiencing the greatest adventure of all. Celebration Of Life Mercer Creek Church Friday, November 17, 2023 1:00 PM 1410 N. Main St. Ellensburg, WA 98926