Mona Gay Perdue

Mona G. Perdue passed away on September 3, 2025, after a brief battle with heart trouble. She was a teacher, world traveler, published author, a caring mom, wife, and grandmother. She was 86 years old.

Mona was born to Lee Otto and Edna Ruby Schmalbeck on July 4, 1939, in Grand Junction, CO. The family moved to Washington state in the 1940’s, and she grew up in Seattle, graduating from Franklin High School in 1957. She earned her teaching degree at Western Washington University and her master’s degree at the University of Washington.

While Mona was studying journalism at Washington State University, she met and married Edgar Joseph Perdue, a Korean War veteran, on April 24, 1959. They were married for 48 years before he passed away on July 1, 2007. They had two sons, Joseph and Andrew.

Mona was an elementary school teacher for 32 years in the Bremerton School District, teaching kindergarten, first grade, and second grade. She taught at Westpark Elementary, Armin Jahr, Kegel, Crown Hill, Haddon, Ridgetop, and View Ridge, retiring in 1998.

Even though Mona loved teaching, it wasn’t her first career choice. She wanted to be a foreign news correspondent. While that career path never materialized, she made up for it by traveling all over the world. She trekked to England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Jerusalem, Egypt, Turkey, Portugal, India, Myanmar, and Greece, just to name a few. All in all, she traveled overseas more than 50 times.

In 1980, Mona took a vacation with her parents and youngest son that followed the trail of Martin Luther through Germany (east and west). Included with this was a week in the Middle East, including Israel, Jordan, and a stopover in Beirut. She enjoyed herself so much that she returned two years later to spend the summer in Israel and Egypt. She later made trips to all the countries across North Africa.

On a trip to Southeast Asia, Mona fell in love with Burma, a country she returned to several summers in a row. One summer there, she spent several weeks teaching at a Buddhist nunnery. Her last few trips took her to Greece, where she loved exploring ancient sites and islands.

Mona never let life’s challenges slow her down. One year, she had both hips replaced in May, and by October, she was hiking in the Himalayas. While on that trip, she sat with the Dalai Lama (yes, THE Dalai Lama).

Mona always put her family ahead of herself. Whatever endeavor her sons would undertake, she wanted to know what she could do to help them be successful. Whenever a family member was sick and needed help, she’d say, “I got you. I’m here for whatever you need.” More than once, she put her life on hold so she could give every moment to helping them navigate through their illness. Nothing mattered more to her than her family and the relationship she had with them.

Mona was preceded in death by her parents and husband. She is survived by her sons Joseph (Rob) in Allyn, Andrew (Melissa) in Richland, granddaughter Niranjana, and numerous family and friends.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Mona from 12-3 pm on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the Port Orchard Eagles, 4001 Jackson Ave SE, Port Orchard, WA. Everyone who knew Mona is invited for an afternoon of sharing memories with family and friends. Light snacks will be provided. Live stream details to be announced later.

Arrangements entrusted to Cook Family Funeral Home of Bainbridge Island, WA.