Kathleen Peck, 77, A Natural Charmer

Few suspected that Kathleen Peck, whom reporters dubbed "The Northwest's First Lady of Charm," was once a Texas tomboy whose fastball was the pride of her high-school softball team.

Few among the 20,000 women who studied at her charm schools would believe it if she told them.

But she was different. Blessed with wavy blond hair, a dimpled smile and long legs, she showed athletic grace in every stride or pose. Her sense of drama made photo-shoot directors and department-store bigwigs single her out for the lead in group pictures. And her ability to keep cool while sizing up competitive business situations enabled her to own the first and longest-running model-and-charm school in the Northwest.

"She was a tomboy," said her daughter Patricia Albrecht of Woodinville. "She hated admitting that because she was so feminine and a woman of charm. . . . But high-school teams she played on went to state in women's softball and track.

"She also played tennis and skied. To show you the type of woman she was, she wanted to fly in the women's branch of the Army Air Forces, but her parents prevented her (from) doing so."

Miss Peck, of Bellevue, died Monday (Sept. 8) of complications from a fall. She was 77.

Born in Blair, Okla., and reared on a farm in Olney, Texas, she developed a graceful, confident carriage and outlook. She came to Seattle in 1938 and modeled for The Bon Marche while attending the University of Washington.

In the mid-1940s, she modeled furs and gowns for the I. Magnin

store in San Francisco.

In 1946, she opened her model-agency, charm-school and fashion-show firm in Seattle. She opened Kathleen Peck Finishing and Modeling School in Bellevue in 1975.

She sold out to Albrecht in 1980, taking time for her 15 grandchildren. She also coordinated weekly fashion shows for Bellevue's Red Lion Hotel.

"Whenever anyone finds out I am Kathleen Peck's daughter, they always tell me how much she meant to them," said her daughter Karen Edwardsen of Lake Forest Park.

"She was ahead of her time, balancing career and family, and managed both with grace and dignity," said her daughter Janet Peterson of Redmond.

Miss Peck took promising models to New York City. She also helped select some Miss Washingtons, but hated the noisy confusion of one selection proceeding.

"She did a two-fingered whistle really loud," said Albrecht, "and quieted the room in seconds."

Miss Peck's other survivors include her children Pam Ferrell of Kent; Kirk Eland, Tempe, Ariz.; Kathy Dittmar, Brier; and brothers Arden Kirkpatrick and Henry Kirkpatrick, both of California.

Services are at 4 p.m. Monday at Acacia Funeral Home, 14951 Bothell Way N.E., Seattle.

Carole Beers' phone message number is 206-464-2391. Her e-mail address is: cbee-new@seatimes.com