Kathleen Jo Martin

Kathleen Jo Martin was born at Swedish Hospital in Seattle on February 28, 1947 To William Donald Martin and Borghild Pauline Nybakken. Her father died when she was 3, and she and her brother were raised in “old town” Poulsbo by her mother who never remarried. She is preceded in death by her parents and her sister-in-law, Jeanene Martin.

Kathleen graduated from North Kitsap High School in 1965. After high school she went on to earn an Associate of Arts degree from Olympic College, two Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Washington and a Master’s degree in Library and Information sciences from the University of Washington. During her career as a librarian she worked at the University of Washington, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of North Carolina at Greensboro,University of Nevada at Las Vegas, and Las Vegas public library system.

As a young person Kathleen played the accordion in a local accordion band, participated in blue birds and campfire girls, loved reading, learning about and making art. Those interests and curiosities followed her throughout her life, over time opening to the new and always going deep. She read and enjoyed a variety of genres; mysteries, science fiction and history were a few of her favorites, she had a varied and comprehensive collection of music, including classical, jazz, and rock and roll. She was also an avid knitter, seamstress and cook. She loved nothing more than to figure out the how and why. She also enjoyed getting out and exploring new places, and trying new things. But, most of all she was a kind and thoughtful auntie. The majority of photos of her with her young nieces and nephews were of them curled up on her lap being read to, or tackling a baking project in the kitchen.

Kathleen is survived by her brother, William Martin, nieces: Lisa (Andy) Miller and Julie (Dan)

McIntyre, nephews: Duane (Sandy) Martin, Brian (Melissa) Martin, John Martin, and Erik

(Megan) Martin, as well as 18 great nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed.

In lieu of donations, take time to read to the children in your life, or bake with them; these are

gifts that last a lifetime.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmdowntownmortuary.com for the Martin family.