Zona Lorraine (Cobbs) Piper passed away on July 19, 2015.
Zona was born in Seattle on March 27, 1930, to Elna (Englen) and Luther M. Cobbs. She graduated from Seattle’s Lincoln High School and then began working for Pacific Telephone and Telegraph.
She met and married James T. Kearney and moved to West Seattle. They eventually moved to Lynnwood, where she sang in the choir at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Edmonds, and with their two children, she was a busy Blue Bird Leader, a Cub Scout Den Mother and PTA president. She also volunteered for the Seattle Milk Fund.
The family moved to Bainbridge Island in December 1964. Zona worked as office manager for dentist Frank Kitamoto, until her marriage to Jim Piper in February 1971.
At that time, she joined Jim in his home in Bellevue. In this family “merger,” Zona had her two children, and Jim had his five, and the kids’ ages ranged from 11 to 20. Zona’s many managerial skills were quickly put to the test!
Zona had loved living on Bainbridge and after a few years, she and Jim built a new home there. Together they enjoyed dancing and playing golf at Wing Point Golf & Country Club. They also traveled extensively. Zona and Jim were founding members of Grace Episcopal Church on Bainbridge. Throughout most of her life, Zona was an accomplished seamstress and quilter. She also enjoyed arranging cut flowers and, over time, she created bouquets and flower arrangements for many weddings and celebrations. Zona had a lovely singing voice and singing brought her much joy her entire life.
She was preceded in death by husband Jim Piper in 2009.
She is survived by daughter Sue (Kearney) and husband Dave Lindsey; son J.T. Kearney and wife Tam-me Bosler; son Jim Piper and wife Suzie; daughter Mary and husband Steve Diederichs; daughter Janet and husband Tim Jorve; son Jack Piper and wife Jinks; and daughter Patty and husband Steve Stivala. There are 14 terrific grandchildren, along with an expanding troupe of amazing great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8 at Grace Episcopal Church on Bainbridge Island.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Grace Episcopal Church, 8595 NE Day Road, Bainbridge Island, 98110.
