Echo June Peterson passed away peacefully at her home in La Quinta on November 18 with Celon, her beloved husband of 64 years, by her side. They had lived in Pacific Palisades for 37 years until he sold his dental practice, and they retired to the desert in 1990. Echo June was born May 28, 1920, in Isabel, South Dakota, to Virginia and Edward Moulton. She grew up in Seattle, Washington, spending summers at the beach and developing a love for the ocean, art and design. She attended the University of Washington and met Celon A. Peterson, a pharmacy student, in 1940. They were engaged before he went overseas in World War II and married upon his return in 1943. Their early years of marriage were happily spent at Fort Benning, Georgia, followed by dental school at the University of Washington, thanks to the GI Bill. Their two children, Jack and Carol, were born, and upon graduation in 1951, the Petersons headed to California and sunshine to establish a dental practice and raise their family. They traveled down the coast and discovered Santa Monica: close to perfect, they thought, until they happened upon Pacific Palisades, which was even better. They moved there in 1953. Echo June became involved in community activities, including Rotarians, and enjoyed duplicate bridge, golf and dancing. She continued her education with art and design classes and established her own business as an interior designer. She was passionate about creating and appreciating beauty and always enthusiastic about helping her clients, friends and relatives with their projects, especially those of her children and beloved nieces. Landscape design was another great interest, and she had a reputation for knowing both the common and Latin name of every plant. She trained as a docent at LACMA, thrilled with the extensive education in art history and the experience of touring groups of children through the museum, teaching them how to see the color and beauty in art and the world around them. Echo June loved to travel and was fascinated by other cultures, appreciating their history, art and people with the interest and enthusiasm she brought to all of life. She and her husband had the opportunity to learn about and explore Africa in depth when her brother Jack worked in Kenya as a veterinary pathologist in 1967. When her daughter and son-in-law lived in Okinawa for a year in 1978, Echo June and Carol traveled together for six weeks all over Asia and shared experiences and created memories that they talked and laughed about forever after. The Peterson home is filled with art collected in Africa, Japan, Thailand and the Philippines. When Echo June and ‘Pete’ celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1993, with a cruise in the Caribbean on the Holland America line, they were surprised to discover that the ship had a dentist working on board. Echo June was delighted at this wonderful new opportunity for their retirement years. Soon they were traveling the world with Echo June attending lectures and enjoying life aboard ship at sea while Dr. Pete was available to the crew and passengers. Some passengers with serious dental problems would only take cruises that Dr. Pete was on, so he could take care of them in an emergency. The highlights of their years cruising were a two-month trip around the world and a six-week cruise in the Mediterranean. The Petersons’ 64-year marriage was a true love affair that impressed and inspired all who knew them. They shared qualities of kindness, thoughtfulness, enthusiasm and optimism, making them exceptional life partners who were loved by their family and friends. His devotion to her as she courageously dealt with Alzheimer’s disease over the last eight years was extraordinary, and he was rewarded by her remaining beautiful, sweet and loving to the end. Echo June is survived by her husband Celon; her daughter Carol Ross (David) and granddaughters Lindsay and Kelsey Ross of Pacific Palisades; nieces Sally Borges of Davis and Collette Czulager of Santa Barbara; and nephew William Moulton of Marin County. Her son Jack predeceased her in 2004. A memorial service will be held this Sunday, December 9 at 1 p.m. at the Palisades Presbyterian Church on Sunset Boulevard. The family will receive friends at the Ross’s home after the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Alzheimer’s Research Association, accompanied by prayers for quick progress toward a cure.
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