Anne Marie Peaslee—a devoted mother, gardener, florist, teacher, and free spirit in the truest sense—passed away on July 31, 2026, at the age of 74.
Anne was born in Seattle, Washington, on August 24, 1951. She attended the University of Washington, but her life was shaped less by convention than by curiosity, independence, and heart. At 19, she and a girlfriend hitchhiked all the way to Mexico, an adventure she would still reminisce about years later.
In her early twenties, Anne moved from Seattle to Portland, where she met Michael Michalowski, her partner through nearly all of her adult life and the father of their four children. Together, they built a life that carried them through Oregon and California.
Anne and Michael moved to Southern Oregon, living in Takilma and Cave Junction. Anne would later say it was her favorite place she had ever lived—the place where she felt most free. It was there that she had her two oldest children, Caspian and Elijah. The family later moved to Estacada, Oregon, where Anne had her daughter Autumn and worked as a Head Start teacher.
Shortly after Autumn was born in 1981, the family moved to Lynwood, California, and lived in the home of Michael’s grandmother. The family eventually grew to six with the arrival of Colin. While living in Lynwood, Anne transformed the front yard into a flourishing garden. It was so unlike anything many neighborhood children had seen that they came on field trips to visit it. Wherever Anne lived, she made things grow.
During those years, Anne made sure her children could attend strong schools and take part in after-school activities, driving them each day to Lakewood. She also worked alongside Michael in the carpet business and was one of the rare women doing the physical work of laying carpet at the time. When Michael’s grandmother grew older, Anne cared for her until she passed away.
After two years in Idyllwild, California—a return to the kind of natural setting Anne loved—the family moved back to Estacada. There, Anne eventually founded Anne’s Flowers. For roughly 30 years, she created floral arrangements for people throughout the community, bringing her instinct for beauty, color, and growing things into the important moments of other people’s lives.
Anne was a hippie in the very best sense: independent, openhearted, politically progressive, deeply connected to nature, and willing to build a life on her own terms. She was an avid gardener who loved hiking and being outdoors. She loved books and shared that love especially closely with Autumn. She appreciated the arts and was a far better artist—especially at drawing—than she ever gave herself credit for.
Anne seemed outgoing to everyone who met her, though she always said she was shy. She had an easy connection with young children and a delightfully silly sense of humor. She loved jokes so bad they became good again.
More than anything, Anne loved her family. Her children—Caspian, Elijah, Autumn, and Colin—were her pride and joy, and caring for them shaped every chapter of her life. She is survived by Michael, her longtime partner; their four children; and seven grandchildren.
Anne will be remembered as someone who made room for things to grow—in gardens, in children, in a family, and in a community. She found freedom in nature, beauty in the everyday, humor in the ridiculous, and her greatest purpose in loving her children.
The family will honor Anne’s life at 1 p.m. on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at Eagle Fern Park, in Picnic Area 2 beneath the large A-frame. All who would like to join are welcome.
In honor of our mom, who loved to read, we invite those attending to bring a favorite book—new or used—to exchange with someone else, if they would like. It might be a story you love, a book that reminds you of Anne, or simply one you think another person would enjoy. We will have a small collection of books she loved to begin the exchange. We hope the stories shared that day will carry something of her curiosity and spirit forward.