Callie Patterson Chellson, of Camano Island, died on Aug. 31, 2009, at Skagit Valley Hospital in Mt. Vernon with her family and best friend by her side.

Mrs. Chellson was born in Newport Beach, Calif., on March 12, 1955, to Sally and John Patterson. She was a remarkable woman, strong in spirit, courageous, loving and compassionate. She graduated from Mercer Island High School, class of 1973, and was honored to be their Homecoming queen that year. She attended the University of Washington and was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority.

Mrs. Chellson had numerous passions. Her younger life was filled with sports, gymnastics, the Mercer Island Parks Department’s first girls track team, Gazelles, skiing and later teaching skiing at Snoqualmie, scuba diving and kayaking. She always liked the Pisces water sign in her being. Her many creative talents included block carvings, printings and photography. She had a great interest in gardening, where she and her husband developed and nurtured a fine garden of flowers, edible plants and fruit trees. She had a piercing intellect, which drove her to extensively research everything.

Mrs. Chellson is survived by her husband, Clifford Chellson, of Camano Island; mother, Sally Wood, of Mercer Island; sister, Keri Young (Dave) and niece, Haylee Young, of Bellevue; her Chellson family, Hank and Lois Chellson, of Bellevue; Lindy (Chellson) and Barry Van Sickle, of Camano Island; Mark Chellson (Mary Pat), of Bellingham; and many other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her father, John Patterson, and dad, Roger Wood.

The family thanks Joanne Taylor Stoner, Mrs. Chellson’s lifelong friend, for providing Mrs. Chellson with support and love during her bout with cancer this past year, and the close and caring helpers at Cancer Alliance.