Dolores Rae (Dee) Usher, 89, of Bainbridge Island, died on October 16, 2018 at her home. Born September 4, 1929 in Seattle, WA, she grew up in Three Tree Point. She loved music and swimming, and she continued her love of music throughout grade school and beyond, including years in Sweet Adelines. She graduated from Highline High School and proceeded to business college and modeling school. She went on to be the first female insurance claims adjuster in Seattle.

She met her husband Don Usher (deceased 1990) while visiting Indianola, WA at twenty-one and then married June 20, 1951. They later moved to Richland, WA, Bellingham, WA, Mt. Vernon, WA, and other Seattle-area locales. The family moved to southern CT in 1963, where she raised children, boxer puppies, and applied her talents to designing gowns and costumes for local theater, local artists, charity events and awards shows. They then returned to the PNW, moving to Bainbridge Island, WA in 1979, where they exported their last child and built their dream house two blocks down from where Don Usher lived as a child, in beautiful Pt. Madison. She shared their solar treehouse home until 1990.

She lived the last quarter of her life in her waterfront home making many long lasting friends who referred to her as “the kid” when she first moved in.

Dee has an older brother, Don, a younger brother, John, younger sister Kathy, and many nieces and nephews. Dee is also survived by son, Robert Usher, of Bainbridge Island, daughter Julie (husband Chris) Mills of Indianola, son Scott (wife Christine) Usher of Bremerton, eight grandchildren, and four (plus one on the way) great grandchildren, some of whom are in the area. Son Ric predeceased Dee this past year.

One small year. It’s taken all of us to get here.

You faced your challenges bravely.

You taught us how to love, most of all you gave us the gift of letting you go a little bit every day. You faced your challenges with laughter, tears, frustration, and reassurance. We know you felt loved and that you were not alone.

Here’s hoping you face your next journey with all the braveness, grace and adventure that you lived your life here, every day.

There will be a celebration of Dee’s life at her condominium, 400 Harborview Drive SE on Bainbridge Island, WA beginning at 2:00 pm on November 4th. Plan to drop in and share your memories. Whether or not you can attend, the family would appreciate your sharing copies of your photos and written memories with us.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice in Dee’s name. Some of Dee’s favorite organizations were Island Volunteer Caregivers, Helpline, and the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum.

Arrangements are entrusted to Cook Family Funeral Home.