Christine Merlin Pitkin

She is survived by her husband, David Ross Pitkin, her children James Howell, KC Letterman, Samantha Letterman, Randy Pitkin and Steven Pitkin.

She loved her grandchildren, Evan, Damien, Iseah, Christopher, Evelyn, Aubree, Athena, Kallee, Memphis and Kaylie. She is also survived by two great grandchildren, Tyr and Faela.

Every holiday Christine would be found carrying baskets of fruits and candies to all of the merchants in Gold Bar to let them know how much we appreciated their kindness to our “residents”. During her illness these same merchants have asked about how she was every day.

She was known by all for her ability to come up with the corniest of jokes known to man. She knew that laughter was the best of medicines and dispensed it with abandon.

For thirty-five years Christine and Dave Pitkin operated Skyland Ranch in Gold Bar, Washington, which is a residential recovery facility for men who suffered from drug addiction or alcoholism.

More than 600 men passed through the ranch on their way to recovery and successful lives.

Christine cherished each one of them and believed that each was “special”. Her kindness and caring was the source of strength that gave hope to hopeless men.