Kristine Louise Gawthorpe

Kris was the beloved wife of the late Rand Gawthorpe who was the love of her life. Born in June 1950, Kris was the second child of the late Arthur and Dorothy Simmons. She was predeceased by her brothers Craig and Keith. Her sisters Karen Ann, Kathy and Colleen and brother, Kevin, and stepchildren, Kimberly and Erik, and her nieces and nephews miss her so very much. Kris was a beloved teacher at Hudlow Elementary School in Tucson for more than 30 years where she will be missed by students and colleagues. Her early students still use her helpful hints to teach their own children. Kris received her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Southern Connecticut State University and taught in both Connecticut and Arizona. Kris was a talented basketball player, having played in high school and college and was the first coach of the Yale University women’s team. She was also a dedicated volunteer with Healing the Children Northeast, an organization that performs cleft lip and cleft palate surgery, traveling to Bolivia to work with children prior to their surgery. Kris was also known as the “Brownie Lady” for the baked goods she delivered to many sites in Tucson. The family would like to thank the staff of Peppi’s House in Tucson for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Peppi’s House/TMC Hospice or Healing the Children Northeast. A farewell service and blessing will take place at East Lawn Cemetery in Tucson on February 10 at 9:30am.