Tribute

Life was never dull with Kathy. She married her high school sweetheart, Rich, at the end of the same week she completed her nursing education. After a short honeymoon, she went right to work in the medical field she loved; labor and delivery at Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland, Oregon. Not many years later, Bob, the firstborn, arrived and she was off to Puerto Rico with her husband for a year before moving back to Portland and her work. Soon after Mike, son # 2 arrived. It wasn’t long before she had to leave her work behind to follow her husband to New Jersey when daughter Debi arrived on a plane at JFK and the family was complete. It was at this point in her life that she reunited with her birth father, and to her delight, found out that she had a wonderful Texas family complete with a sister and two brothers. Meanwhile, she lost her only sister in Oregon to addiction. While the kids were growing up Kathy was busy with her love of crafting and sewing for the family. She later took up sewing dresses for girls in Appalachia which turned out to be a lifelong commitment. Turbulence arrived in her life as the kids were heading to adulthood, and she fell into depression and addiction. After a rough period for her and her family, she found Bill W.’s program. She became very active in local and district service work and enjoyed attending regional, national, and international conferences. She was sponsored and sponsored many others throughout the rest of her life. At the same time, she moved to Pennsylvania and as a lifelong Episcopalian joined St Stevens Episcopal Church. This led her back to nursing by working at and later running a free health clinic based at the church for a number of years. When she passed away, she proudly had over 34 years of sobriety. She and Rich were married for over 60 years and were friends for 65. Kathy loved to: Cook and bake, especially new recipes, Travel with good friends, Fish for halibut and salmon, embroider shirts, towels, or anything she could work with on her Viking Embroidery machine, wear her kilts and attend annual gatherings with her Scottish Maitland Clan, read and collect books. Kathy especially loved: Her children Bob, Mike and Debi and their families, Her grandchildren Morgan, Colin, and Henry, Her sister Elaine, Her Texas sisters and brothers, Bob, Glenda and Joe and their families, Her many pet dogs, especially Snow and Nala, her many friends, and she was loved back.

Friends & Family