Marguerite Olson | Passages

November 18, 1936 – May 21, 2026

Marguerite Olson, age 89, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 21, 2026. She was born in Bellingham to Jacob Ladd Smith Sr., and Charlotte (Roth) Smith on November 18, 1936.

Marguerite attended Campus School in Bellingham and Crofton House School in Vancouver, BC graduating in 1954.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Washington and was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She attended Western Washington University for continuing education for her teaching credential.

While attending UW, Marguerite met Robert B. Olson and they were married on September 14, 1957, in Bellingham. They lived in Seattle, briefly on a houseboat on Portage Bay then on Capitol Hill. Marguerite was active in the Children’s Orthopedic Guild and was a beloved tutor of remedial reading at Epiphany Day School.

Marguerite spent her childhood summers on Orcas and continued to do so with her own family until they moved to Orcas in 1971, opening the Sears Catalog Store on Prune Alley in Eastsound. Marguerite quickly became immersed in the island community. She taught 6th Grade from 1973-1975. She was involved in the inception and growth of the Orcas Center. She appeared in numerous plays and musicals, and enticed newcomers to the stage via her Reader’s Theater productions. Marguerite was an active member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, serving on the Vestry and leading the charge at Market Day. She was an accomplished and diverse artist, enjoying painting, pottery, textiles, needlepoint, quilting, beach glass, stained glass, and blue glass; extending her creativity to poetry and her home and garden. Marguerite was an excellent competitive bridge player who enjoyed introducing others to the game.

Her greatest joy was her four grandchildren, regularly driving long distances to spend time with them and relishing their visits to her.

She was preceded in death by her former husband Bob Olson, and her brother Jake Smith. She is survived by her daughter CC Kelly, husband Frank, and their daughter Grace; son Dr. Craig Olson, his wife Renee and their children Danielle, Jordan and Michael; her sister-law Gayle Smith; and a host of adoring relatives.

A memorial service will be held at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Eastsound, Washington on Friday, November 20 at 1:00 PM.

Memorial donations for the professional development of reading specialists can be directed to the Marguerite Olson Memorial Fund at the Orcas Island Community Foundation.