Carolyn Sue Wilkins Blethen was born February 27, 1944 in Virginia to Herbert and Cecilia Wilkins. She grew up in Rockville, Maryland and her early years were spent with her dad in the forests and streams of Maryland & Florida. Here she developed a deep love of nature.
In 1963 Sue attended Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio which allowed her to live and work in Paris, Switzerland, and Mexico. She majored in art education, and became fluent in both French and Spanish.
Sue migrated west, living and teaching in Seattle where she studied fine arts at the University of Washington. Sue then moved north to Bellingham to marry John Blethen. She had two wonderful daughters, Caitie and Elissa, as well as her two beloved step-daughters Jennie & Marilla.
In the 1970’s she helped start Good Earth Pottery, a cooperative pottery studio in Fairhaven, and she continued to throw beautiful and functional pots and sell them at craft fairs.
She spent many of her summers on Waldron Island, raising her daughters and staying in the cabin that she built with John. She continued to enjoy her friendships and time on Waldron throughout her life.
Sue earned her Masters Degree in Science Education from Western Washington University, combining her love for teaching with her love of the natural world. Using her many talents, she taught both ceramics and science at Sehome High School. During this time, she became famous for escaping snakes and making fermented pickles with her classes. She transferred to the recently remodeled Bellingham High School where she had her own pottery studio. She retired from teaching in 2010 and enjoyed her neighbors, book club, mushroom club, traveling, reading, gardening, time on the island, art projects and her grandchildren.
Sue died on a sunny June 21st with her loving family in attendance. She is already greatly missed. She is survived by her ex-husband John Blethen of Bellingham, daughters Caitlin (Bryan Smith) of San Juan Island, Elissa (Jesse) Stanton, step-daughters Jennifer (Chuck) Pittis, Marilla (Jay) Walker and eight grandchildren: Lauren, Emily, Iris, Charlotte, Cecelia, Oliver, Owen and Amelia.
A celebration of her life will be held in the upstairs room at the Fairhaven Library on Saturday, October 19th from 3:30-5:30. Her family wishes to thank her wonderful friends and neighbors for all the care and support they have provided.
