Kathleen Barnes Grant

Kathleen Barnes Grant, age 71, passed away due to natural causes on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 at Adventist Hospital, Portland, Ore. She was born in Mexico, Mo., on May 12, 1953, the daughter of James Latney Barnes and Elizabeth Cook Barnes.

Kate received a BA degree from Smith College and a Masters of Education from Harvard University. She subsequently became a Dean of First Year Students at Wellesley College where she met and married her husband of 37 years, James Grant. The couple moved to Portland, Ore., where they raised their two children, Elizabeth Grant and Charles Grant, during which time Kate pursued an early career in student affairs at Lewis & Clark College and a long term career as College Counselor at The Catlin Gabel School.

During her life Kate was active in her Unitarian Universalist Church. She contributed enormously to Smith College as an enthusiastic member of her class of 1975 and as a long-time member and president of the Smith College Alumnae Association. She also volunteered as a college counselor for Minds Matter Portland, assisting students in applying and preparing for college.

Kate loved, and was beloved by, many whom she folded into her warm embrace. Her generosity of heart and spirit, her great caring for others, and her quick wit will be sorely missed. Kate loved her family most strongly including her husband, children, siblings and their families (not to mention her dogs).

Kate is survived by her husband, Jim; her children, Libby and Charlie; and her sister, Nancy. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., on March 15, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Willamette Falls, 710 Sixth Street, Oregon City, Ore., 97045. The family requests that any memorials be made to any of the following: Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Willamette Falls, Smith College, Minds Matter Portland, The Mayo Clinic, or Donate Life Northwest.