Dorothy Elaine Kohout

Dorothy Kohout, aka "Pat" Kohout, made the most loving gesture to her loved ones Thursday, February 18, 2021, by arranging to have her entire family called together to be with her as she "graduated" from this earth to heaven. No one suspected a thing, as everyone was going about their daily practices. She had not been ill, in fact, she had eaten all her baked beans Tuesday evening that week, and that is always a good sign. The next day, however, her caretaker, Anica Pancea, alerted the family that "mom" may need fluids and wondered if we wanted her to go to the hospital or to be put on an IV there at her Adult Family Home. Of course, we asked that she stay there in the comfort of her own room. And of course, mom pulled out the IV which was a good sign that she was still her feisty self. Oh, how many times had we relied on those signs of gumption as "Mom's okay". For instance, when at night one daughter would call to read scriptures to her and every night she refused to speak...mostly because her caregiver was telling her to speak up..."Say hello! Say I love you". But "Pat" just would not be told what to do. It was a good thing. We understood her to be okay. Smilingly, we would all know, "That's just Mom". It was like a secret code for the family. We were comforted by many things that could have been alarming. Just hearing her breathe or cough was lovingly enough.

In the Beginning:

Dorothy Elaine Russell was born in Anoka MN, probably at home on Pierce Street, on August 27, 1925, to Leslie William and Agnes Irene Russell, their first child and only daughter, with three little brothers born thereafter. Kenneth Russell and Richard Russell preceded her in death, and she is survived by her baby brother Retired Col. (US Air Force) James Russell (Carol) of Bothell, WA, who by the way considered his older sister as "royalty". This actually says a great deal about "Pat"....and why everyone looked up to her as someone to admire.

Her family of six grew up tightly knit (which probably was a precursor to Pat loving to "knit") in Minnesota playing with good friends and cousins, fishing in the many nearby lakes, attending county fairs, swimming and running around to the children's delight. Her little brother remembers having a 25 cent limit for Christmas shopping for his parents with Dorothy helping him select a hot pad for his mom and a box of matches for his dad from the "Dime Store".

The family moved to Longbranch, WA, in 1942 when Leslie Russell accepted employment at the Bremerton Naval Shipyard to help fight the war. Taking their love of family and adventure with them settling on a dairy farm, it was perfect. Dorothy (nicknamed Dode) helped her mother in the garden and around the house, making their kitchen "purr" for family gatherings...which you must know lasted a lifetime.

A Nurse, a Sailor and a Song:

Dorothy graduated from Virginia Mason in Seattle with her nursing degree. With her classmates one night she attended Parker's Ballroom on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle, the same evening Virgil Kohout (U S Navy Mechanic) was in town on shore leave. As God would have it, their "Sentimental Journey" began the moment they met. Dorothy married well and their love for each other transcended all else. They started their family of three in 1947 in Lacey WA, where they stayed for the rest of their lives.

Dorothy continued to make things "purr" for the family with her love of boating, camping, snow skiing, water skiing, Brownies, Girl Scouts, 4H, dancing, gardening, weeding (not), and planting sweat peas every year. Her favorite flower was a salmon-colored gladiola. She loved her rhododendrons, petunias, fuchsias, roses, peonies and pansies. She and Virgil belonged to the Tacoma Totem Yacht Club and the Olympia Yacht Club where she served as an Anchorette. She insisted each child learn how to swim and to "get along" with each other. She worked as a Registered Nurse at both the Memorial Clinic and St. Peter's Hospital in Olympia and then retired from the WA State Department of Labor and Industries. Retirement meant boating, traveling and more boating. Her fried chicken, meatloaf, scalloped potatoes and deviled egg recipes are the all-time family favorites.

Dorothy's friends were like family. If you knew her, you were her friend. If you knew her, you loved her spunk. If you knew her, you were blessed. If you knew both Dorothy and Virgil, you were laughing at his jokes and listening to Dorothy say, "Oh Virgil!!"

The Ultimate Journey:

Dorothy took the ultimate "sentimental journey" on Thursday, February 18, 2021. A small private service will be planned for the family. And a family and friends Celebration of Life will be held in the San Juan's during the summer of 2021.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Virgil Dwyer Kohout, in 1999. Dorothy is survived today by her three children, Linda Moore (Perry) of Richland, WA, Ron Kohout (Luanne) of Lacey, WA and Sandy Bourbonnais (Charles) of Newcastle, WA, five granddaughters, five great-grandchildren, one great-great grandson, and numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom are tightly knit together.

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