Katherine Helen Stark

Katherine was born on March 30, 1922, to Anton and Hermina Schlechter. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank, and one sister, Minnie. She is survived by her brother, Jack, and seven children - Allan, Kathy, Kenny, Kevin, David, Susan and Jerry. She was blessed with eight grandchildren - Brian, John, Michael, Lisa, Joel, Andrew, Alyse and Jesse and one great granddaughter, Fatimah.

Katherine married Frank J. Stark on March 3, 1945 in California. They were married for nearly 60 years when Frank passed away in January of 2005, and for most of that time they lived in the same home in southeast Portland, not far from their childhood homes.

Tole painting showcased the artistic part of her life, along with sewing, crafting, reading, crosswords, golfing (for a while), cooking and baking, especially for her kids. Her chocolate chip cookies were often requested. She always made sure she had extra available to take home with you. And we all know from experience that, by the time we made it a block away, the cookies were open and gone before we even got a couple of miles down the road. She stayed active right up to her last days but she always made sure she had time for others.

Never one to attract attention to herself, Katherine always showed great humility and wouldn’t want a big fuss made over her. Her family was paramount in her life, above all else. She was constantly looking for ways to have a pizza party or treat us to dinner out…and one could be assured there would be some sort of homemade dessert waiting at home.

So indulge us this one time, Mom, if we do fuss. There was never a more special woman – you are already deeply missed.

I have fought the good fight,

I have finished the race,

I have kept the faith.

(2 Timothy 4:6-8)

God’s Garden

God looked around his garden and he found an empty place.

And then he looked down upon the earth and saw your tired face.

He put his arms around you and lifted you to rest.

God’s garden must be beautiful, he always takes the best.

He knew that you were suffering; he knew you were in pain,

He knew that you would never get well on earth again.

He saw the road was getting rough, and the hills were hard to climb.

So he closed your weary eyelids, and whispered, “Peace be thine.”

It broke our hearts to lose you, but you didn’t go alone,

For part of us went with you, the day God called you home.