Kathleen Marie FitzRoy

Kathleen Marie FitzRoy passed away quietly while in Hospice in her home on September 20, 2024. Kathleen was born in Sayre, PA to Michael and Marjorie McMahon and was one of seven children. Five of her siblings, Joseph, John, Patrick, Rita and Paul preceded her in death. Kathleen is survived by her husband Damian FitzRoy in North Las Vegas, children Erica FitzRoy in Phoenix, AZ; Peter FitzRoy in Livermore, CA; Megan FitzRoy in Palm Springs, CA; Nicole Kinzer in Pasco, WA; grandchildren Akira FitzRoy-Klemm in Palm Springs, CA; Ashlynn Kinzer in Seattle, WA; Arawin Kinzer in Pasco, WA; Trystan Hatch in Pasco, WA; her sister Eileen McMahon in Waverly, NY; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

​Kathleen graduated from Sayre High School then completed her BA in English/Education at Pennsylvania State University. Upon completion of her university studies, she relocated to San Francisco in hopes of getting a teaching position, but in 1971 those positions were very hard to find so she secured a position with Bechtel Corporation. She quickly demonstrated her administrative skills and become the lead Document Control Coordinator for the Skagit Nuclear Power Project. Kathleen met Damian who also worked at Bechtel in 1972, and they were married in November 1973.

​Being employees of a major international company had its perks as Kathleen, Erica and Peter accompanied Damian on an international assignment to Saudi Arabia in 1979. Kathleen loved travelling and she particularly loved going to countries that were culturally different where she could learn how different people lived. She took advantage of this opportunity and travelled to Jordan, Egypt, Kenya, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Macao and many countries of Western and Central Europe. This time was very significant in Kathleen’s life as Megan, her third child was born in Saudi Arabia, and she developed personal relationships with friends from England, Australia and Croatia that have lasted the test of time.

Kathleen’s time overseas had its exciting and trying moments – a flooded house in Saudi Arabia (yes flooded); a not-so-slight panic when three year old Peter crossed a near invisible border from Macao into the Republic of China and would not listen to pleas to return as guards with automatic weapons watched; and being told to stay in her African cottage at night because crocodiles sometimes frequented the people footpath. After four years in Saudi Arabia where she developed a taste for shopping in the souk and eating Arabic and Mediterranean cooking with exotic spices (not hot!), but never got used to frequent prayer calls, Kathleen returned to the United States and settled in the home base of Oakland, CA. In Oakland, Kathleen was dedicated to the children - volunteering in the school, being a substitute teacher, and being chief cook and chauffeur for the kids while she pursued a career in Real Estate.

Upon relocating from her beloved Oakland to Kennewick, WA, Kathleen began a new chapter in her life, but as usual, the children were her first priority. It was there that Nicole Kinzer entered our lives and became part of our family. Kathleen continued in her Real Estate career until a final reassignment to Las Vegas where she retired in 2011. Kathleen’s life was one of faith in God, devotion to family, fidelity to friends and a personal commitment to justice for the marginalized members of our country. Her life was very well lived, and she will be missed by family and friends across the globe.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the World Wildlife Foundation (World Wildlife Fund Donation Page), Catholic Charities (Catholic Charities Donation Page), or any local community organization that supports women and\or girls.