Kathleen Dee Williams

I was born in Dallas, Oregon in September of 1939 to my parents Kenneth R. and Dorothy B. Cummings. Mom and I were invited to be the first patients to be given a ride in the new Dallas ambulance as we returned home.

At three years old, we moved to Lincoln City and we became a family of eight living in a small home with the beach as our playground where my siblings Carolyn, Susan, Jim, Lloyd and Lyle and I often played.

After graduating from Taft High School, I moved to Seattle and became employed with the Seattle Federal Reserve Bank for over a year. Each payday we were paid in cash and I have saved a $1.00 “Silver Certificate” from my pay.

I married Gary S. Hawkins in February of 1960 at the Labish Evangelical Church in Labish, Oregon.

Later, we welcomed our first child, Alan S., born in Corvallis, Oregon and four years later we welcomed Darrell G., born in Bend, Oregon.

Following a divorce, my sons and I moved to Salem in 1978 where I became employed with the State of Oregon, Workers Compensation Agency and later with the United Way of Mid-Willamette Valley.

In August of 1983, I married James E. Williams in Salem, Oregon. Alan, Darrell and I welcomed Jim’s children, Marsha, Marilyn, Steve and their families into our lives. A total of nine Grandchildren and 8 Great Grandsons have added a lot of joy and pride to all our lives.

My indoor interests have been reading non-fiction books, baking bread and especially baking cookies for various holidays. As a child I baked cookies for our family and later with my sons and even later with the Grandchildren. Thus I was given the title of ‘Cookie Grandma’. I also have a small collection of items in the shape of a heart.

As for outdoor activities, I enjoyed being outdoors to explore the beauty of nature. I loved hiking in the woods with Jim to find new-to-us waterfalls and traveling full time in the western United States for nearly five years in our RV as we visited National Parks and other places of historical interest. We made many long-lasting friends along the way.

I became a member of Oregon Public Broadcasting and recorded many programs related to topics of nature and travel. I also became a member of the Straub Environmental Learning Center where I attended many classes and went on outings related to the topics we studied.

Family and friends are invited to attend the Celebration of Life being held at the Salem First Church of the Nazarene on Monday, November 3rd at 2:00 PM; located at 1550 Market Street Salem, Oregon 97301.

503-581-3680

In lieu of flowers, please donate, in memory, to your favorite organization or to the following:

Oregon Public Broadcasting

7140 SW Macadam Ave

Portland, Oregon 97219

Straub Environmental Learning Center

P.O. Box 12363

Salem, Oregon 97309