Katherine May Houser

Katherine May Houser, pioneer, redhead, domestic goddess, trendsetter, exemplary citizen of Tumwater, rejoined her true love Art on January 30, 2014 at the age of 86 after a brief battle with pneumonia.

She was born May 12, 1927, to pioneers Alicia (Harris) and Andrew Furlong in Garden City, WA (formally located at Summit Lake). Kathy was the foretold redheaded child, who according to family legend is born every other generation. She attended school in a one-room schoolhouse where the Summit Lake Community Center now stands. At the age of 12 she found herself facing life as an orphan. Instead of being daunted by her time spent in various foster homes after the loss of her parents, she drew from those experiences the wisdom that served her all her life: that independence of spirit and courageous imagination can overcome any obstacle.

She was a perpetual “red-headed lady” in more than just hair color, and a tall woman in more than just stature. Her hair was like a flame, which never dimmed in its intensity, a glimpse of her burning joie de vivre. She assured her height and posture by insisting on milk with every meal. Unafraid of standing out in a crowd, and a queen of turning to stylish vesture, she always chose the “scenic cow route” through life.

After graduating from Olympia High School in 1945, Kathy enjoyed the local scene. It is speculated she met her first husband, Thomas Scibelli, during one of her social visits to the Spar. Thomas was in the Northwest by way of his naval service. The couple fell in love and moved to Westbury, New York where Kathy would be welcomed with open arms. She reflected on her time in New York fondly – giving birth to two sons, seeing Frank Sinatra live, learning Italian recipes from the Scibelli family, and working as a model and store detective for Macy’s.

Kathy was always ahead of her time and faced challenges with her head held high. Making the tough decision to leave her support system in New York and head back West as a single mother in the 1950s was an example of her courage. When she arrived back in the Northwest, she landed a job with the State of Washington which paid $90 a month. Her salary appended with part-time fieldwork allowed for her to support her family of three. She never missed a sporting event for her children and even as adults was sure to be present for significant career achievements and family events.

In 1960 she met Arthur Houser. The two shared 32 years together before his passing in 1992. During her time with Art, Kathy was able to explore her interests and passions. This included creating extraordinary wedding cakes at her own bake shop called The Upper Crust. Her trendsetting and elegant cakes would have won competitions on the Food Network if it had existed then. Her grandchildren often wondered if she was able to turn a profit due to their not-so-sneaky, late-night cake eating sprees. Revenge was Kathy’s though – despite searching, they will never be able to find a buttercream as delicious as hers. Her high standard for food was not limited to cakes. Drawing on her early Italian cooking lessons, she participated in many local cooking and dinner clubs. She even taught local cooking classes. Her meals were not only good food and drink but also multi-course feasts to surprise and awaken recipients of what good food other cultures produced. Many times she would serve a second or third course, then shock seated guests with additional courses up to seven, leaving them dumbfounded and totally full or unable to finish their meals. This always gave her great pleasure. A few of her favorites, to those lucky enough to be invited, included her famous seven course Italian dinners, baklava, bouillabaisse and cioppino, the latter two always served with bibs. Some of her later meals also included wonderfully made multi-layer cakes, a spinoff of her cake-making business.

Generosity was another hallmark of her exquisite personal style, and it took many forms. One was her painstaking research into the history and genealogy of the area surrounding Olympia, WA, ensuring that those outside of conventional roles (such as George Washington Bush, a multiracial man who settled the Tumwater area) would be included in the region’s vision of its past. One of the many gifts she left her family was a rich and detailed account of their origins and ancestors. In 1995, Kathy was recognized as Tumwater’s “Citizen of the Year” for her efforts on the city’s Sesquicentennial Celebration. The newspaper article about her award opened with the line “Tumwater couldn’t have gone 150 years without Kathy Houser.” An effort that was so encompassing, her family boasts the fact that they can each properly pronounce and spell the word “sesquicentennial.”

Kathy’s love for history didn’t stop with research. She spent many hours hosting Tumwater’s Crosby House museum. Her grandchildren can still recall much of the inventory of the Crosby house – in particular the painted baby dolls whose eyes would follow you. Kathy often shared her hobbies and passions with family and friends, sometimes recruiting them for her cause – as was the case of dressing her grandchildren in painted boxes and enrolling them in a parade to raise awareness for the donations needed during the Amtrak Centennial Station construction.

Another form of giving was the ongoing lessons that she ladled out to her sons and grandchildren along with her soul-nourishing Italian feasts. Did they know how to cook for themselves? Sew their own clothes? Throw a great party? Manage their money? Type with both hands? Pause for a sunset? Dress for success? Say No gracefully, and Yes with all their hearts? If they didn’t when they walked in the door, Kathy made sure they did when they walked out.

In 1995, doctors discovered an aneurysm in Kathy’s brain. They were successful in removing it, but the surgery resulted in a long recovery period. After her recovery, Kathy’s interests changed but her quick Irish wit, love of life, and independence persisted. She began to explore her interest in all things Irish. About this time, Michael Flatley danced his way onto her TV screen and left the stage with her unwavering fascination. Her passion for her indoor cats caused concern for her family when she arranged for a hole to be cut in the side of her house and an “al fresco cat condo” built on the other side. Her cats took pleasure in this new addition.

While she valued work, independence and public service, Kathy also “liked to have a good time.” Although these few words are a radical understatement of how deeply she loved her life, her family, and her community, they do sum up the zestful spirit she sparked in every life she touched. She inspired those around her to live life the way she cooked: a recipe is just a place to start. Where you go from there is up to you. Make it rich with love, fill it with beauty, and share it joyfully with whoever comes to the table. She insisted on everyone wearing a seatbelt long before it was a law but once everyone was safe, she focused on enjoying the ride. Should you hesitate to don your harness, her trademarked hand squeeze might reach across the bench seat and meet your wrist. Throughout her life, she never lost her grip strength!

Kathy was not a woman of regrets. She was even able to fulfill her life-long dream of visiting Ireland for her 80th birthday. Her life taught us much about building community - no matter where you start, striving for excellence, exploring your passions, and sharing those pursuits with others enriches more than just yourself.

Kathy is survived by her brother Peter Furlong, her sisters Alice Adams and Letitia “Tish” Reynolds, her sons Gene (Laura, previously Nancy) and Steve (Jeanette, previously Mary) Scibelli, five grandchildren; Nicole, Jamie, Angela, Andrew (the red-headed grandchild foretold in the family legend) and Haley, and three great-grandchildren; Claire, Sophia and Farley.

Mills and Mills Funeral Home in Tumwater is arranging a private burial service. A celebration of Kathy’s life for all her friends and family will be held on Sunday, March 16, at Pellegrino’s Event Center, 5757 Littlerock Rd. SW, Tumwater, from 10am – 2pm.