Anne Louise Gregor, 92, a lifelong animal lover, violinist and nurturer, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024 at Highgate Senior Living in Wenatchee. A native of Wenatchee, Anne was the younger daughter of Nixon and Helen Battey.
She grew up in the Wenatchee Valley, played in the Seattle Youth Symphony and graduated from Wenatchee High School in 1949. She entered Western Washington College of Education, graduating in 1953 as a music specialist with a degree in Education.
That year, she married Alton Gregor, whom she had met in college. She taught second grade at North Bellingham Elementary School for one year before the couple moved to Kirkland, where Alton was a teacher and principal in the Lake Washington School District.
During their 43 years in Kirkland, Anne and Alton raised a daughter, Nicki, and a son, John.
Anne, who had played the violin since age 5, joined the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra and remained a member for 37 years. Playing in a symphony orchestra was the greatest thrill of her life, she said.
A lifelong interest in medicine culminated in Anne’s returning to college at Seattle University, where she finished a course in medical records. After passing the registration examination, she became a registered record administrator in 1970 and worked for nine years as assistant director of medical records at the University of Washington Hospital.
In 1979, Anne accepted a position at Overlake Hospital in Bellevue, retiring in 1993. During her years of work in medical records, she served as state president of the Medical Records Association.
Anne and Alton moved to Bellingham in 1997 and enjoyed their retirement years, living in a home they built on the beach at Lummi Bay where the sunsets are often spectacular. Anne took care of the birds and the dogs at the beach, cultivating the hummingbird population and whacking the raccoons off the deck when they came after her birdseed.
Anne had a green thumb, growing all species of flowers, including orchids and African violets, which bloomed year after year. She loved being outside, was a talented seamstress – she made her daughter’s wedding dress – and she enjoyed reading, especially nonfiction. Anne had a keen eye for agates and for people who needed help. She gave teddy bears to people sick or having surgery or who simply needed a boost. She made friends’ favorite pies or bought their favorite candy.
Anne and Alton were active members of Christ Lutheran Church of Ferndale and of Whatcom’s Good Sam chapter. Anne’s love of music continued as she played in the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra, retiring in 2010.
Anne is predeceased by her husband as well as her sister, Barbara Hetherington of Emmet, Idaho.
She is survived by her daughter, Nicki Isaacson of Wenatchee; her son, John Gregor (Candy) of Beaufort, S.C.; granddaughters Jill Thayer (Glenn) of Wenatchee and Katelyn Watland (Ben) of Meridian, Idaho; grandson Kyle Isaacson (Lahela) of Portland, Oregon; and 11 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held in the spring following a private burial Jan. 16.
Memorials may be made to the Whatcom Humane Society, the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra or Bellingham Lighthouse Mission.
