I met only a few years ago at the YMCA, but immediately wished I had known her my whole life. From day one, I was grateful for knowing such a good and warm hearted person and calling her my friend. I will always be grateful for having known her and for how she  made the world a better and more hopeful and light filled place to be.  

Kate’s brother Steve and I were married in 1992. We lived in Colorado, so I had not met his siblings. Steve and I gave birth to Maureen in 1993. Our family included Lucy, Anny and Maureen. I was surprised and touched when we received baby shower gifts in the mail from the siblings. Kate had knitted a sweet, tiny sweater with wooden buttons. The next year our family drove to Irrigon, Oregon for the yearly Fourth of July reunion. This is when I met the family and Kate. We gathered at different hotels each summer. Kate always took time to talk and catch up. I met Jack and Rose and witnessed all the love Kate showed each of them. Kate was the type of person who took the time and showed true interest in people. No wonder everyone loved Kate. She was a beautiful person.

Kate’s brother, Steve, my husband died in 2015. At the funeral I sat with all the sisters and somehow the subject of Steve travelling to New York City a year or two back came up. Steve went for work and promised me that we would go to New York City together soon. That trip never happened due to Steve’s health problems. One of the sister’s suggested a sister trip to New York City. That was the beginning of our every two-year sister’s trip. We all had so much fun and I felt loved by these women who called me a sister too. This is when I realized that besides being fun, Kate was also a kind and sensitive soul. Thank you, Kate and sisters, for wonderful memories.

Love to you Kate,

Cecelia

I met Katie when we began nursing school at what was then called University of Oregon Health Sciences Center, in 1976.  Katie (Jones "Bones") Thomas, Karen (White) Oglesby, and Michelle (Wiley) Potts and me, Linda ("Chest" West) Gaudin became fast friends and spent many non-school hours dancing at the Last Hurrah ladies' nights (Crazy Eights!), hanging out together, and going on adventures (took a road trip to Canada one summer).  Our friendship continued after nursing school, and Katie and I even worked in the same small clinic for awhile, teaching people with kidney failure how to do home peritoneal dialysis.  She quit that job to go back to school to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.  She met Chris when taking a sailing class and that was it.  They were married, and they started their life of adventure together.  We had our first kids, Jac and Anna, around the same time, so would get together for play dates.  We were in a fun knitting group for years, where we rarely knit, and would organize celebrations and parties with our big group of friends.  We lost contact a bit when she and her family moved to Eugene, but we would see each other occasionally, and it seemed that no time had passed between us.  Katie was a smart, funny, warm, dedicated person, and we will all miss her.    

Very sad to hear this. I worked with Katie at Peace Health's South Lane Medical Group in Cottage Grove for a number of years. She was a skilled practitioner and a wonder person with the world's best smile. Prayers for her family to find the strength needed now, and the comfort of fond memories in the days ahead. 

I met Katie at Suttle Lake Camp in 2019. When we volunteered as camp nurses.  She was such a warm, loving person.  The kids just adored her. She exuded kindness and compassion and she will be missed.

This news was truly heartbreaking & a shock. I worked with Katie for many years at HealthFirst that turned into Metropolitan Pediatrics. We lost touch after she moved away, only connected through Facebook. I was not aware of her cancer.  Katie was the warmest soul & kindest doctor I knew. I will never forget her caring nature, excellent advice & her warm smile. I'm so glad to have had the time with her I did. My thoughts & prayers are with her family during this trying time. Know that she is at peace in the Lord's arms, no longer in pain. 🙏❤️