Beverly Bier-Pedersen, a Key Peninsula character, died peacefully of lung cancer July 7 following brief hospice care. She was 82 years old.
Bev last resided at the Mustard Seed Village for three months, where she loved living and made a big impression. She was a popular local artist who had studied art since her youth in Pittsburg and continued after moving to California in 1962 with her first husband, Ray Bier, and their two children, Lori and David.
After divorcing in the early 1970s, Bev refined her artistic techniques at the Sir John Cass School of Art in London and the Sorbonne in Paris. A motorcycle accident in her high school freshman year resulted in repeated hospital visits for more than a decade. At 33, in 1975, her damaged leg required amputation — twice. She learned to ski in her late 30s and was a multiple medalist at the Handicap National Championships.
She relocated to Washington in 1979, where she signed her paintings as Beverly Bier-Marsh.
Beverly operated The Upstairs Gallery in Federal Way, where she met her second husband, Andy Pedersen. Together they built a farm in Lakebay where they lived with his three sons, Bjarne, Finn and Robert.
Beverly was active in the Key Peninsula community, lending her artistic skills to causes such as leading children’s art projects to benefit elementary schools and many fundraisers for the KP Civic Center. Bev worked at the Key Center fire station for 11 years and at the Art Barn, where she painted and taught. She was always an avid gardener who loved roses and dahlias as well as fresh vegetables.
Beverly had many friends on the Key Peninsula and wanted a party instead of a memorial. She envisioned an art scholarship to be established in her name. A combination party and auction of her remaining art pieces is planned to commemorate her 83rd birthday in October.
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