Katherine Parker, age 64, passed away peacefully at Liberty Shores in Poulsbo, Washington, surrounded by her family and dear friends.
Born on June 6, 1955 in Seattle, Washington to parents Barbara and David Parker, Katherine was brought home to nearby Edmonds where she joined her three siblings. In 1960, the Parkers—having grown from four children to seven with new baby on the way—moved to rural Bainbridge Island.
Katherine attended kindergarten through high school on Bainbridge, graduating from Bainbridge High School in 1974, together with her sister, Mary.
While Katherine appreciated growing up on Bainbridge, her real home was Poulsbo where she was active in her church, Liberty Christian Center. Katherine was a faithful Christian who truly adored Jesus. She formed many lasting friendships at her church and within the community.
Katherine had a fun sense of humor, a radiant smile, and a unique, sometimes complex way of looking at life. She enjoyed children, dogs, jewelry design, photography, beach outings, parks and picnics. She sang beautifully and could easily memorize song lyrics.
From a very young age, Katherine appreciated beauty. Whether it was a beautiful song, drawing, someone’s eyes, a piece of jewelry, flower or dress—she noticed intricate details like a lilt, flow, shine, sparkle, fragrance or hue. And yet she was a minimalist at heart, preferring to keep life simple and not to acquire many things.
While Katherine had given up driving decades earlier, that did not keep her from exploring the beauty of Kitsap County on her own. One of her favorite things to do on a sunny afternoon was to travel by bus to Sequim’s lavender farms. She not only loved the fragrance of lavender, but gardenia, roses, and nasturtium too.
Katherine passed from Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. She is preceded in death by her mother, Barbara Heppenstall Parker, and survived by her father, David Teague Parker (age 97) of Hansville, and seven siblings, all residing in Washington State: Teague Parker (Susan) of Kingston; Cecilia “Ce-Ann” Parker (Howard Block) of Bainbridge Island; Mark Parker (Barbara Schmidt) of Hansville; Mary Parker-Hale (Jeffrey Hale) of Guemes Island; Rebecca Lundin (Lloyd “Butch”) of Poulsbo; Eugenie “Jinks” Piper (Jack) of Ellensburg; and David Wykeham Parker (Sherry) of Seattle. She is also survived by 10 nieces and nephews and eight great nieces and nephews.
A small family memorial is planned for her in Longview, Washington in the spring. The family expresses their deepest gratitude to everyone who supported Katherine this past year especially the staffs at UW Hospital, Park Ridge in Seattle, Liberty Shores Senior Living in Poulsbo, and CHI Franciscan Hospice.
Katherine’s beautiful spirit touched people wherever she went. She will be dearly missed.
