Adrienne Moen, 96, died June 18, 2023 on Bainbridge Island.
She was born Oct. 24, 1926, in Los Angeles, California to Robert and Doris Johnson. When she was 5, her family moved to Kitsap County to survive the Great Depression, first to Port Orchard and then Bremerton. She worked at the officer’s vlub at the Bremerton shipyard during World War II and was featured in the book, “Victory Gardens and Barrage Balloons” by Frank Wetzel.
She graduated from Bremerton High School in 1944. While attending a dance, she met a handsome sailor named Harlem Moen of the battleship USS Washington. They were married on June 30, 1945, at Memorial Lutheran Church in Bremerton.
Adrienne and her husband relocated to Washington, D.C., so Harlem could complete his stint at the Navy School of Music. Later, Adrienne became a professor’s wife as Harlem took a teaching position at Pacific Lutheran University. They then moved to Hood Canal and started a family, before moving to Seattle in 1955. These were some of Adrienne’s happiest years.
While living in Seattle on Green Lake, her main focus was on raising her children, Jeffrey and Rachel. She also worked at Craftsman Press, took college courses and studied the piano.
After moving to the Olympic Peninsula, first to Quilcene and then to Brinnon, she worked several years for the U.S. Postal Service before embarking on a successful real-estate career. In her later years, she moved to Kitsap County to be near her family.
Adrienne liked classical music and was an accomplished pianist. She liked the outdoors and gardening. Her idea of heaven was to read in front of a warm fire in her wood stove. She liked the San Juan Islands, especially Lummi Island.
Adrienne is survived by son Jeffrey (Gloria) of Bremerton; daughter Rachel (Lloyd) of Bainbridge Island; and granddaughters Hillary Pritchett of Atlanta, Georgia; Geneva Hughes (Tommy) of Issaquah, and Sonya Pritchett of Seattle; in addition to numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased in death by husband Harlem Moen; parents Robert and Doris (Cowden) Johnson; sister Frances Shaffer; and brother Stuart Johnson.
Adrienne’s intelligence, independence and dignity will live on in her family. She will be greatly missed. Forever in our hearts.
