Josey Ann Peterson

(Obituary from Port Orchard (Wash.) Independent)

Josey Ann Peterson, 30, a resident of Portland, Ore., died May 28 in Portland. She was born on May 12, 1974, in Bremerton to Randall and Marion (Breiland) Peterson. She graduated from South Kitsap High School in 1992 and attended Lutheran Bible Institute in Issaquah. She was a co-manager for Blue Moon Camera and Machine in Portland. She enjoyed photography, family, animals and hiking. She was a Lutheran. She is survived by her sister Jamey Peterson of Port Orchard; maternal grandmother Anna Breiland and paternal grandmother Doris Peterson. Visitation was held on June 4 at Rill Chapel and will be held on Sunday, June 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at First Lutheran Church in Port Orchard prior to service. A funeral will be held at First Lutheran Church on June 6 at 3 p.m., followed by interment at Sunset Lane Memorial Park. Arrangements were under the direction of Rill Chapel’s Life Tribute Center. Memorial donations can be made to First Lutheran Church, 2483 Mitchell Rd. SE, Port Orchard, WA 98366. Please visit the online memorial at www.rill.com.

-----

my last photograph of Josey, circa December 2001

She was born on the same date - 57 years later - as my maternal grandfather.

I was not there. In fact, I don't necessarily remember the day that I first met Josey. I do, however, have a ton of fond memories that surround the days and nights the two of us spent together while she lived in Colorado. Man, did she ever live in Colorado

Josey convinced me of a lot of things.

She was there when I, filled with doubts and confusion about my talent, was plodding my way through college as a photojournalism major. She always told me that I would someday make it as a photojournalist. I started my first full-time photo gig at a newspaper one day before she took the train to photograph heaven with a Holga. (**I wanna see that contact sheet**)

A few years later, I have essentially made it. Still, I can't help thinking that greater pictures and richer stories are still somehow beyond me and my abilities. Maybe they are simply just ahead of me, in part, because she is above me.

She convinced me of a lot of things.

Her sense of fashion was definitely a defining part of her personality. In her purple Chuck Taylors and fishnet stockings, she often looked like a character in a vividly dark Tim Burton film. She liked Tim Burton and I loved her. She was the friend I never knew I needed before I truly needed her to calm my soul. I remember spending hours one night sitting on the front porch of her rented home. We talked about life, love, God and photography - all topics she seemed to know quite well. Remembering the spunk in her voice and laugh brings a funny smile to my face.

I visited her memorial site and found the picture that made me remember hearing this story about Josey after she moved to Portland to work at an eclectic little camera store. This is a classic case of the story likely paling in comparison to the reality.

She apparently walked into a thrift store - she loved thrift stores, dive bars and toy cameras - and walked out with a pair of purchased wings. She promptly boarded a public bus wearing her newfound flair and engaged just about every passenger in friendly conversation without any fear of judgment. It was probably amazing and was the kind of act for which Josey was known and cherished.

A lot of things.

Angels do exist. They wear fancy wings and fishnets, shoot a Diana camera and love unconditionally.

-----