Tatiana M. Roats, age 84, an island resident of 54 years, died Aug. 29 at Messenger House.

She was born Jan. 25, 1919, in Kharbarovsk, Siberia. When she was a toddler, her family was forced by the Communists to flee to China.

Two years later, they immigrated to Seattle with few possessions and little money.

At age 17, she attended the University of Washington. While secretary of the Russian Students’ Association, she met its president, George Roats. They were married in 1940 at the St. Spiridon Russian Orthodox Church.

They later moved to Hawaii, where they were living during the Pearl Harbor attack. They moved to Alaska and Panama also, as George’s work with the Army Corp of Engineers took him to many places and assignments.

They moved to Bainbridge in 1949 and designed and built their dream home in 1950.

Tatiana’s interests and accomplishments were legion. Before marrying George, she was working toward being a concert pianist.

While in college, she majored in medicine but changed to art, which began a prolific career. She earned a master’s degree in art in 1964.

From her teen years, she sculpted, painted and created jewelry. She was also a masterful seamstress, designing and sewing all the costumes for Bainbridge Light Opera, in which she and her husband participated for many years.

In the early 1970s, the couple migrated each winter to their second home in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., where they enjoyed tennis and college courses on rocks, plants and bird life. Tatiana continued painting, with her subjects including the Southwest desert.

They also enjoyed cruising the San Juans on their motor vessel, the “Tatiana.”

The subject she made famous was mushrooms. Her myriad paintings showed not merely scientific knowledge, but a love for the feel and structure of her subject. A lifetime member of the Women Painters of Washington, she won many awards in juried shows, and exhibited in the Pacific Science Center, the Frye Art Museum, and Bainbridge Arts and Crafts.

After her husband died in July 1987, she continued her world travel in search of mushrooms and adventure. Africa, India, Malagasy, Thailand and the Middle East were among the places she visited.

She is survived by three children, Gregory Roats of Poulsbo, Tania Hoenes of Hailey, Ida., and Maia Bentley of Bainbridge; and two grandchildren, Lauren Bentley of Lake Tahoe, and Nicholas Jacobs of Bainbridge.

A celebration of life will be held at 4 p.m. Sept. 6 at the Roats home on Bainbridge Island.

Remembrances can be made to Hospice of Kitsap County, PO Box 3416, Silverdale, WA 98383-3416.

Arrangements are under the direction of Kass Funeral Home.