Cori Christiansen

Cori Christiansen was born in New London Connecticut to Mary Winifred Christiansen (née Critchlow) and Gordon Secrist Christiansen. She and her three older brothers were raised in faculty housing on the campus of the Connecticut College in New London where her father taught chemistry and was chair of his department. Cori was named after Gerty Cori who was the first woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Cori’s parents were prominent in the peace movement, and her father published many articles on nonviolent direct action and criticism of deterrence theory and the United States civil defense program.

When she was 14, Cori and her dad, mom and dog embarked on an epic travel adventure touring across the United States, Canada and Mexico in a yellow school bus that they converted into an RV, sporting tie-dyed curtains made by Cori and a BMW motorcycle strapped to the back. After her parents' breakup the following year, Cori went to live with her oldest brother, Steve, in Yellow Springs Ohio where he was attending Antioch College. Steve became Cori’s guardian and was responsible for her during her high school years. After Steve graduated from Antioch he and Cori briefly lived in Coos Bay Oregon, but Cori returned to Yellow Springs to complete her senior year and had the good fortune to live with her best friend Becky Northway’s family.

In 1974 Cori moved to Olympia Washington to attend The Evergreen State College and graduated with a BA in 1978. Thereafter she began work at the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe located near Kingston, Washington, where she created an art studio for tribal youth programs. There she taught silk-screening techniques to young artists on the Port Gamble S’Klallam Reservation to explore their Pacific Northwest Indian heritage creating cards, calendars, t-shirts and limited edition prints of original youth and community Pacific NW Indian designs.

Cori and Tom Laurie met at Evergreen and got know each other while working at the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe and were married in 1985. In 1987 they started a family with the birth of their first son Evan and moved back to Olympia where their second son, Matt, was born in 1990.

Cori and her business partner founded Orca Books on 4th Avenue in downtown Olympia in 1992 and together built Orca Books into one of Olympia’s best-known institutions and a community treasure. In 2005 Cori moved to online book selling which she continued until health issues caused her to retire in 2018.

Cori approached life with compassion and a creative eye. Her passions were family and friends first. She also enjoyed many hobbies including gardening, books, garage sales, walking, biking, kayaking, badminton, writing, ocean hiking, clam digging and enjoying the natural beauty and adventure of the Pacific Northwest. And occasionally getting down with that funky music. She was also handy and creative with do-it-yourself projects such as building and refurbishing furniture, home repair and remodel, and landscaping and creating yard art. Over the years she led her family on several travel adventures to Zihuatanejo, Cancun, Florida Keys and along the East Coast. She was an active parent with school activities, scouts, soccer and baseball. And she loved her boys more than anything.

When her mother developed severe dementia, Cori brought her to live at the family home and became her caregiver for the next five years. Cori also traveled with her mother and her mother’s friend, enabling them to go on cruises and trips to many beautiful and exciting places across four continents.

Cori was preceded in death by her parents and her bothers Steve and Roger.

Cori is survived by her brother Scott Christiansen; her son Evan and grandson Owen; her son Matt and daughter-in-law Inne and granddaughters Mina and Ara; and her husband of 41 years, Tom Laurie.

Thanks to the Olympia Garden Courte memory care team who made a real home for Cori for two and half years as she lived with dementia and cancer. They provided great care for Cori and a welcoming environment for frequent family visits. Also thanks to Puget Sound Hospice for their care and attention to Cori’s needs over these past months.

In lieu of flowers please browse your local independent book store for something interesting or go out and find some local music to enjoy.