Remembering Chris Himes:1929–2025
- RHSociety
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
By Paige Norman
Christine Emily Tennyson was born April 6, 1929, to George and Emily (Zimmerli) Tennyson. Her mother worked for the Senate Secretary of the Governmental Operations Committee, under then-Senator George Aiken. Chris remembered having lunch with her mom in the Senate Dining Room and meeting senators of the day. “I grew up thinking it was normal that everybody worked for the government.”
When she met Jack Himes at the University of Maryland, she was majoring in education. They married after he graduated, and had their first two children, before moving to the Seattle area, when Jack took a job as a sales representative for Hanes Hosiery. They lived on Mercer Island, which, at the time, was “rural” compared to the D.C area. After Mercer Island, they moved to Bellevue, then to Redmond in 1964.
In an interview with Marsha King at the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), Chris remembered that Redmond, at the time, had one traffic light and a population of about five to seven thousand.
The family of seven had purchased horses and joined the Redmond Trailblazers, a family-oriented saddle club that offered classes, playdates, and trail rides. Jack also had horses that they raced at Longacres. Chris, along with other members of the community, asked the Redmond City Council to annex Farrel-McWhirter Park to build trails and an equestrian center.
Along with funds from Forward Thrust initiatives, Chris worked with John Couch, the Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Redmond (1968–2000), on a bond issue for city parks and trails, the restoration of Hartman Park and Little League fields, and the completion of Grass Lawn Park.
She was then encouraged by friends and colleagues to run for City Council. By this time, her youngest child was 15, and she had been involved in a number of community endeavors, including the Leary Way Historical Society, Redmond’s Bicentennial Committee, and the Nokomis Club. She had been the vice-president of the PTSA, on the Board at Faith Lutheran Church, taught Sunday School, volunteered at Horace Mann Elementary, and tutored Vietnamese students in English at Redmond Jr. High. There hadn’t been a woman on the City Council for decades, and although she won her race, it wasn’t an easy term. The council and the community were divided on what to do with the golf course property (Redmond Links), and the shopping center proposal split the lines even further. Her Council term ended in 1977, and she ran for mayor, winning with a 63% vote and serving from 1980 to 1984.
Serving as the first female and first full-time mayor of Redmond wasn’t the goal. Her daughter Valerie recalls that she cared more about working with people, achieving shared goals, and meeting community needs. It was Chris’s first paying job, after a lifetime of serving her family and her community as a volunteer. When asked about her qualifications, she answered, “If I can raise five children that weren’t in any trouble, and didn’t go to jail, it was pretty good.”
Chris was a strong advocate for parks, trails, and recreation programs, worked on the designation of 14 historic buildings in Redmond, and was the chairperson on the Redmond Bicentennial Committee in 1976. She also assisted with Microsoft and Nintendo locating in Redmond, and the development of the 85th Street Bridge.
She lost her second race for mayor to Doreen Marchione, but continued to be involved in the community and in the workings of the City. As one of the early members of Redmond Historical Society, she recognized the importance of history and the relationships that build community, served on the Board of Directors, and served as president from 2008 to 2014.
John Couch Parks Director from 1968-2000, remembers her as a change agent. “She was plugged into a lot of organizations and had connections with people, both political and in the public.”
“Chris was a pioneer in her own right—showing that activists can make a difference. And that inspired me to collect and share our history as a way to bring our town together and, when needed, to protect places that matter.” ~ Miguel Llanos
Her daughter, Valerie, said, “Mom had an incredible faith. Faith that she instilled in us kids, not only by being active in church, but also by modeling through her natural service to others and being a consistent, loving presence in our lives. She meditated on Bible scriptures every day and lived out her faith.”
“Chris was true to her relationships, offered quiet strength and support, didn’t push her own agenda, and gave unspoken support. We shared a bond of being born on the East Coast and moving our lives to Washington State, as well as our time on the Redmond Historical Society Board, and of course, as former Mayors.” ~ Rosemarie Ives
“We don’t always know our paths. But I’m a big believer in prayer and in giving back to the community. I’m very fortunate to have so much love in this life. It’s been a great ride!” ~ Chris Himes
Mother of five, Grandmother of 13, and great-grandmother of 18; Christine Himes passed away on December 30, 2025, leaving a hole in our hearts, but a lasting place in the history and community of Redmond. For more information on Chris Himes's life and her place in the history of Redmond, visit the Redmond Historical Society website.
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