Katherine Elizabeth Hughes

Nov. 14, 1960 ~ Nov. 21, 2009

Long-time Bothell resident Katherine E. (Betsey) Hughes died suddenly in Seattle on November 21 of an as yet undeter mined illness. Born November 14, 1960 in Tacoma, Betsey moved with her family to Bothell in early 1961.

Betsey attended Northshore schools including the Secondary Academy for Success (SAS), graduating from Bothell High School in 1980. She also attended Overlake School in Redmond. While attending Shoreline Community College, she was elected a member of the student senate governing board. She transferred to Western Washing ton University at Bellingham to study communications and music until health conditions forced her to suspend further higher education. While attending college, she served as north region distribu tion manager for her family oper ated publication, The Enetai, a news feature magazine of Puget Sound. Returning to Bothell, she held production positions at the family newspaper, the North shore Citizen, and in the early days she worked in the office and food bank of the Northeast Multi- Service Center (now Hopelink). She later volunteered at the Northshore Senior Center in food service, and, as a member of the Episcopal Church of the Redeem er in Kenmore, volunteered at the church-sponsored thrift outlet, The Butterfly. During years she attended Emmanuel Presbyteri an Church in Bothell, she was a member of the choir. She had coped for several decades with the diagnoses of schizophre nia and adult-type diabetes, struggling without complaint to live independently to the best of her ability.

At the time of her death, Betsey held a food service position with the Keystone Resource Center in Seattle, a group living facility for the men tally ill. Her family is indebted to Betsey's many friends, co-work ers and care providers who were so encouraging and supportive throughout her life. In addition to being a highly reliable correspondent who rec ognized holidays and the birth days of many, her favorite past- times were as a fan of football, Huskies basketball and political discussion. Her passions were music, dancing and movies. She was an enthusiastic participant in family outings on Camano Island and in the San Juan Islands.

Betsey is survived by her par ents, Nan and John Hughes, Bothell; brothers Tom Hughes (Jessica) of Seattle and Walter Hughes (Nicole) of Bothell; sister Patricia Skinner (Bob) of Seattle; nephew Bobby Skinner of Seattle; aunt Betty Alvord Johannson (Doug) of Medford, Oregon; and cousins in Oregon, Seattle and Idaho. Betsey was preceded in death by her nephew, Harley Young Hughes.