Jean Marie Peterson Mattson

(December 1925 – December 2024)

It is with both sadness and immense gratitude that we announce the passing of our remarkable mother, Jean Marie Mattson, just 10 days after celebrating her 99th birthday. Jean was a true extrovert who lived life to the fullest and her passions were many including world travel, hosting lively parties, writing, exercise, murder mysteries, and producing award-winning Chokecherry syrup.

A fierce advocate for political and social causes Jean could also be found participating in forums and protest marches. She was authentic, creative, intellectually and spiritually curious, non-judgmental, optimistic, and above all fun to be around.

Born in Ottumwa, Iowa, Jean and her brother, Wayne, were raised by their mother, Elvira, after the sudden death of their father, Alex, in 1933. After high school, Jean attended Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, where she became captain of the Pep Squad, earned a chemistry degree, and met the love of her life, Al Mattson.

While Al completed his undergraduate studies after serving in the Marines, Jean worked as a chemist in Washington, D.C. They married in 1949 and settled in Rock Island while Al attended seminary. His pastoral internship at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Butte, Montana, sparked a lifelong love for the Big Sky State. In 1953, they returned when Al received a call to serve the Swedish Lutheran Church in Anaconda. Jean embraced her role as a pastor's wife with independent spirit and flair, directing the youth choir and leading the Luther League. (The Luther Leaguers never forgot their train adventure to New York and Washington, D.C.)

Jean's enthusiasm led to the purchase of five acres in Bear Gulch in 1955 with dear friends, fellow seminarian John Nasstrom and his wife, Mary. Jean cherished summers there for the next 70 years, hosting family and friends in the cabins they built.

After seven years in Anaconda, the Mattsons moved to Missoula. While in Montana their two daughters and son were born. Al earned his master's degree while serving as the Lutheran campus pastor in Missoula, and Jean pursued her passion for playwriting and published her first play "Forgive Us Our Chicken Coops", a religious satire.

In 1963, the family moved to Connecticut for Al's doctoral work, with Jean supporting them as a case manager for the Department of Social Services. In 1966, they relocated to Grand Forks, where Al took a professorship at the University of North Dakota, and Jean earned a master's degree in theater arts. Their time there was tragically cut short when Al passed away suddenly from an aneurysm in 1971.

The next year Jean moved her family to the Pacific Northwest to be near close friends and raise her children. While performing in a community theater production she agreed to help fellow actor Paul Nelson with his Christmas puppet show—an act of kindness that launched a nearly 50-year career. Jean and Paul founded the Seattle Puppetory Theatre, a nonprofit dedicated to

puppetry arts. When Paul moved out of the area, Jean continued to work with a variety of talented puppeteers for the next few years. Then the perfect match came along, Joan King. Joan's gifts as an artist, designer, and computer whiz were the ideal complement to Jean's writing, directing, and producing skills. For over 30 years, the duo educated and entertained thousands of children in schools, libraries, community centers, theaters, and homes throughout the Pacific Northwest, nationally, and internationally.

Jean served on the national board of the Puppeteers of America and worked as a script consultant. She was also active in the international puppetry organization UNIMA and worked with the Puppeteers of Puget Sound to host regional workshops and festivals. In 1997, she published Playwriting for the Puppet Theatre through Scarecrow Press. Jean was especially proud of the Puppetoy Theatre's two made-for-TV puppet productions: Once Upon a Ptarmigan, an energy conservation show for Seattle City Light, and The Rat Before Christmas, which won a local Telly Award.

Jean's puppetry career also fulfilled her dream of world travel. Her first international trip was in 1976 to the International Puppetry Festival in Moscow, sparking a love for adventure. She went on to explore Europe, Japan,Korea, India, China, Southeast Asia ,and Africa- sometimes performing at puppetry festivals and conferences, other times adventuring or elder-hosteling with family and friends. Perhaps her greatest adventure was with best friend Selma Johnson when the pair were in their 70's. A Safari in Tanzania was followed by their multi-day climb up Mount Kilimanjaro and notoriety on the front page of the Seattle Times.

Jean took on a new title in 1998. She was present for the birth of her only grandchild, Montana, and proudly announced herself as "MorMor" (grandma in Swedish). At 73, she had thought this role was unlikely. The pair shared a special bond and many precious moments—baking holiday treats, hiking, traveling, and reading together. Jean attended every school concert, play, and piano recital, while Tana supported Jean's performances, even appearing in The Rat Before Christmas TV production and performing in Japan during Jean's final tour.

In 2020 Jean moved in with her daughter's family on Camano Island. While there, friends visited often and summers in Bear Gulch continued. She delighted in the technology that allowed her to see and hear loved ones on her I-Pad and also attended services at Seattle First Baptist Church from her recliner.

Jean was survived by her daughters, Monica Mattson (Robert Quam) and Audrey Mattson (Martin Engelbach); her son, Vin Mattson; and her granddaughter, Montana Quam Mattson. She also leaves behind dear friends, godchildren, and extended family.

A celebration of life will be held at 1:30 p.m. on March 22 at Cama Beach Café on Camano Island. Memorials may be made in her honor to Doctors Without Borders, Amnesty International, or the charity of your heart.