Gretchen Natalie Hult Pierce

Gretchen was born on July 7, 1945, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene, Oregon to Nils and Jewel Hult of Horton, Oregon. She lived her first six years in the small mill town of Horton. She had two older sisters, Linda and Jane, who taught her all the good hiding places in the forest, and all the best places to catch crawdads. They also set up a mock schoolroom for Gretchen and younger sister Carol and as a result when Gretchen started public school, she skipped a grade making her the youngest in her class through her school years. In 1952, the family moved to Eugene and Nils built their home with lumber from his mill. He also built a large barn for the girls’ horses. Gretchen became an accomplished rider and joined her sisters as a member of the Lane County Girls Mounted Posse, which met on Saturdays at the Lane County Fairgrounds. She and her horse Lucky participated in the Walk, Trot, Canter Race during the County Fair. She was never afraid to try something new. She attended Bailey Hill Elementary School and then Jefferson Junior High. She graduated from Eugene High School in 1962 and remained involved for many years as one of the reunion organizers. Both of her children would later attend South Eugene High school as well. She enrolled at the University of Oregon where she laughingly told everyone she majored in Bridge, a game she loved and played for many years. At a Career Day held at the University of Oregon, Gretchen was interviewed by Boise Cascade, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Boise, Idaho and was subsequently hired as a research analyst upon graduation. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business in 1966. From 1968-1984, she was the director of information administration, which basically gave her free rein to tackle whatever job she thought would further the company’s success. She worked her way up to become the third highest ranking woman in the corporation. While at Boise Cascade, she represented the corporation during the Nixon price control era. She was sent to Harvard University for an intensive program for Business Management candidates. Gretchen met Howard Pierce on a return flight from Harvard to Boise, and a connection was made which led to marriage six months later, December 26, 1970, in Eugene, Oregon. Gretchen and Howard went on to have a son Eric Nils in 1975 and a daughter Hailey Lynn in 1977 while living in Boise, Idaho. After her father, Nils Hult, died suddenly in 1985, she was named executor of the estate, and the one to take over management of the family real estate and investment company. After careful consideration, Gretchen made the difficult decision to leave Boise and gave notice to Boise Cascade. She and her family moved to Eugene in 1986. Her association with the University of Oregon continued most of her life. In 1981, she became the University’s first female executive in residence (EIR) and the only one to be invited back for a second time. In 1984, she received the Webfoot Society Distinguished Alumni Award. She served on the University of Oregon Foundation from 1996-2019 and served as President from 1997-1998. She helped plan the 50th reunion for her classmates in 2016. Gretchen believed that every successful person begins with two beliefs: The future can be better than the present & that she had the power to make it so. As such, she participated in business and cultural activities in Eugene and Lane County, serving on many boards and foundations. She became a trustee of Sacred Heart Hospital, 1987-1991. She was President of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce in 1992 and a member of the Oregon Economic Development Commission in 1993. She was a lifelong member of the Hult Endowment Fund and was instrumental in directing how the funds were disbursed. She served in Eugene, the better part of 40 years. Additionally, Gretchen served as founding member and chair of the board for Summit Bank and served as a board member for PacificSource and Siuslaw Valley Bank. She served on the board of PeaceHealth Hospital for 18 years, where she oversaw the land purchase and building of Riverbend Hospital in Springfield. Gretchen, along with Larry Hirons, was a strong advocate for women in business and was instrumental in starting the Women on the Move Conference in Eugene from 1986-1992 and was its chair from 1988-1990. In 1992, Gretchen was diagnosed with a large intrusive tumor in her brain and finding no one locally qualified to operate, she went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After a successful surgery to remove the tumor and several weeks of recovery, she returned to work overseeing the construction of the Class A Office Buildings, which would bring even more local businesses to downtown. She also finished her term as president of the Eugene Chamber, picking up right where she left off. Gretchen was a lifelong member of the Republican Party. Yet, when asked to be a member of the executive transition team for Democratic Governor Kitzhaber in 1994, she agreed to serve. (Her daughter joined her as part of a Public Service internship.) Gretchen was also the Vice Chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Education and the Economy, and she served as an Oregon Economic Development Commissioner for four years. Gretchen was honored with many awards throughout her business career. In 1990, she received the White Rose Award for Women of Achievement. In 1972, she received the Eugene Mayor’s Recognition Award and in 1998 the Eugene Chamber’s Shining Star Award. In 1999, she was named a Eugene First Citizen making history as the first father and daughter recipients of the award. Her father, Nils Hult, received the award in 1980. In 2001, she was designated Lane County Outstanding Citizen. Between 2001-2021, Gretchen was recognized throughout Eugene, as one of the most influential woman to have lived and worked in Eugene, just like her father Nils Hult who came before her. She was a serious University of Oregon sports fan most of her life. She and her husband were among the first to attend Oregon Women’s basketball games in the 1990s, when their daughter Hailey played for the team. Originally, the University didn’t provide season tickets for the women’s games. Gretchen and her basketball friends advocated for them, and the University got the message. She was a season ticket holder for both basketball and football, where she kept her father’s football tickets at Autzen Stadium and was a faithful fan. Her son Eric attended Oregon State and received an Engineering Degree with her entrepreneur like mindedness. He also played football for the Beavers, creating some fun Civil War memories. Her Daughter Hailey followed in her footsteps and attended the University of Oregon, from 1995-1998, where she received a Political Science Degree and a Minor in Business. Gretchen also managed to make time for friends, family, travel, and sports. From a young age, she took opportunities to travel to Europe, and later to Japan with her mother Jewel. She and Howard enjoyed trips with Carolyn Chambers to Africa, India, Mexico, and New Zealand. Nearly every February, Gretchen and Howard could be found on Kaanapali Beach in Maui where many of their friends also spent time. Howard predeceased Gretchen in 2017, after returning from a family trip to Maui, losing the battle to Emphysema. Gretchen’s sisters, all four of them, were important to her and she started Sister weekends in February 2007 with a trip to Palm Springs to celebrate her sister Carol’s 60’th birthday. This was followed by weekends in Florence, Seaside, Depoe Bay, Maui and back to Palm Springs for Carol’s 70’th Birthday. Culminating in 2020 with all five of the sisters to include her youngest sister Vickie, who had moved back to Oregon after living in California for 40 years. It is what Gretchen always wanted, for the five sisters to reconnect and be a family. Gretchen is survived by her two children, stepson, eight grandchildren, and her great grandson. Son Eric Pierce of Portland, his children Stryker and Lexi. Daughter Hailey Altamirano and husband Luis of Placentia, California, their children Isabella, Sabrina, Joshua, and Caleb. Stepson Michael and his wife Linda of England, their children Daniel and Rosie. She is also survived by her four sisters Linda Strait of Portland, Jane Ohlemann and husband Sig of Eugene, Carol Lee and husband Robbin of Lake Oswego and Victoria Hollenbeck of Harrisburg. She also leaves behind 5 nieces, 3 nephews and many cousins. The family would like to express their appreciation to Visiting Angels and Peace Health Hospice for their loving care. A Celebration of Life is planned for August 22 at 1:00 pm in the lobby of the Hult Center. Gretchen would say, “Hold the tears, bring your smiles and laughter, and Go Ducks!” In lieu of Flowers, contributions may be made to the Hult Endowment Fund for the Arts in care of the Oregon Community Foundation and/or the University of Oregon Women’s Athletic Fund.