Celia Weaver Meredith

Celia Weaver Meredith, a long-time resident of Mercer Island, passed away on July 18, 2026. Celia had just turned 93. Celia was born in Portland, OR to Glen and Effie Weaver. She grew up with brothers Roger K. Weaver, Lee R. Weaver, as well as her lifelong friend, Anne Reed Smith whom she met in fourth grade. She graduated from Salem High School and received a teaching degree from Oregon State University. She attended Teachers College- Columbia University for her Master’s degree in Education.

Celia taught at Tigard Elementary school until becoming a mother after marrying H. Dale Meredith. Mothering was a role she reveled in. During her time as a stay-at-home-mom, Celia had a second career as a ‘professional volunteer’. Always an active member of church, Celia contributed to church and a variety of organizations often filling leadership roles.

One church friend recounted, “Celia was the first friend I made. I walked into the church kitchen, and everyone was laughing at something your mom had just said. That’s one of my favorite things about your mom. Her laughter was frequent and contagious.”

Celia grew up in the Disciples of Christ denomination. She became Episcopalian after marriage. On Mercer Island, Celia attended the Episcopal Church and Mercer Island Covenant church where she was an active volunteer. In her later years, she also volunteered in the church library at Bellevue First Presbyterian.

One of Celia’s earliest library volunteer jobs was initiating and organizing the library at Verdugo Woodlands Elementary School in Glendale, CA. She also helped start a HeadStart program in that community. Her leadership development was shaped by her time as a church volunteer in migrant labor camps during her youth. It was during this time she developed an awareness of the disparities in American society. As a result, she held a strong belief in the value of education as a way to tackle problems, as well as a compassion for people that propelled her to actively help others.

After her children, Allison (Meredith) Mattocks and M. Kent Meredith (married to Samantha K. Meredith), were raised, Celia became the Activities Director for Covenant Shores, now Covenant Living at the Shores. As the activities director, she regularly took residents on day-long and overnight adventures. Her easy laughter endeared her to residents both as activities director and later when she became a resident herself. Celia retired after almost 20 years at the Shores and again turned to volunteering. The Issaquah Village Theater, Seattle Opera and Seattle Symphony were beneficiaries of her time and talent. Celia supported the arts because of her belief that the arts make life better for all people.

As an active member of P.E.O., a philanthropic educational organization that focuses on education for women, she engaged in activities for over 70 years. Her involvement with the Mercer Island Lion’s club included running the club Christmas tree lot, where she often brought her signature hamburger soup to warm fellow volunteers. There were many other ways Celia’s desire to make life better for people manifested itself. For instance, once she quietly made sure a local family had a fully decorated Christmas tree when the ‘breadwinner’ lost their job and few people knew. In another instance, for many years she shouldered responsibility for a neighbor who had no family and had a serious health condition.

Travel, learning about places and people, kept Celia busy for many of her retired years. She visited family and friends as well as faraway lands, but always made time for her four granddaughters, Meredith Mattocks Siragusa, Mikayla Mattocks, Emma Hanis and Jade Pierce. She lived long enough to welcome a great grandson, Daniel (Emma) and a great granddaughter, Amara (Meredith). Her hospitality was endless and her interests were numerous. An ordinary day held possibility for celebration and Celia was adroit at making things fun.

Celia’s loving care and concern will be missed by those who knew her and benefitted from her humor and goodwill. Those of us who knew her are confident she was received into eternity with the words, “Well done, faithful servant.”

A service celebrating Celia’s life will be held on September 5. 2026 at 1 p.m. at Encounter Church on Mercer Island (formerly Mercer Island Covenant Church). In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of Celia’s favorite non-profit organizations:

P.E.O. Chapter FH, c/o Ruth Maloney 7810 85th Pl SE, Mercer Is., WA 98040

Equal Justice Initiative, 122 Commerce Street, Montgomery, Alabama, 36104. www.eji.org