Gretchen Elizabeth Evenson Drury was born April 6, 1940 in Seattle to Margaret Waltz Evenson and William Ellsworth Evenson. She joined her Lord on April 3, 2021. She married Don Mowat Drury April 6, 1962 in Plymouth Congregational Church. She is mother of Andrew Mowat Drury (Alissa Schwartz) and Peter William Evenson Drury; grandmother of Ayo Alston-Moore, Max and Cedar Drury, and Rowan and Cora Drury.

Gretchen attended John Muir, Laurelhurst, and St. Nicholas schools, and the University of Washington. A member of Delta Gamma, she studied Nursing and Interior Design. As Senior Class Officer, a highlight was sitting on the elevated stage with President John F. Kennedy, in Edmundson Pavilion, as he spoke on the occasion of the University Centennial.

She wore a lovely white ball gown as a Debutante in Seattle’s Christmas Ball and later blossomed into a Kitsap County gardener in blue jeans and a flannel shirt. Formative among her lifelong influences had been being a camper, then a counselor, at Camp Nor’wester (Hendersons) in the San Juan Islands.

Moving to Bainbridge Island in 1972, she volunteered with the Bargain Boutique (Seattle Children’s Hospital), Bainbridge Arts & Crafts, Helpline, Bainbridge Performing Arts, and activities of her children. She was co-owner of Drury Construction Company for 40 years. She served on the Board of Directors for IslandWood and the Bremerton Symphony. She was an art docent in public schools with the Junior League. Together with her husband, Don, they were honored as Outstanding Philanthropists (the Hannah Langer Spirit of Philanthropy Award) by the Kitsap Community Foundation.

She loved family, friends, and the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest and became a steward of God’s landscape. A woman of deep faith, her spiritual life was centered in the garden, the community, Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church (Bainbridge Island), and All Pilgrims Christian Church (Seattle).

The Drury home was open to foster children, young people in crisis, adults in unique situations, and a beloved exchange student, Arturo Cardenas. She loved her dogs, and the home on Bainbridge included one of the earliest Pickleball courts and hosted an annual Pickleball tournament.

A private family service will be held in her Seabeck garden. A public celebration of life will be held June 5 at IslandWood on Bainbridge Island. Memorial gifts are suggested to Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church, IslandWood, Wellspring Family Services, Kitsap Community Foundation, or a charity of your choice.