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KATHLEEN SCHLEE WILLIAMS
March 30, 1924 ˜ January 1, 2023
Kathleen Schlee Williams, a longtime Vancouver resident and retired educator, died Jan. 1 at the age of 98 in Salmon Creek, WA.
Kathleen balanced her roles as wife, homemaker and mother with her passions of teaching, art, politics, church and travel. She was born in Clarkston, WA, on March 30, 1924 to Adam and Edna Schlee. After attending Lewiston Normal and Washington State College, she became a teacher in the late 1940s. During her career, she taught nearly every grade in schools from Chimacum to Pomeroy to Goldendale to Vancouver.
In 1953, Kathleen and her husband Kirk Williams moved to Vancouver, WA, where he was a civil engineer. After raising two children, she returned to education and was instrumental in bringing Head Start to Vancouver Public Schools. In 1971, she received her Masters of Education from University of Portland where she joined its faculty as Professor of Elementary Art Education and supervisor of student teaching.
Following her retirement, Kathleen became a docent at the Portland Art Museum. She served as president of the Clark County chapter of Democratic Women and was a board member of the Vancouver YWCA.
Throughout her life, Kathleen loved to travel and experience other cultures. She and Kirk toured Russia during the Cold War and western Europe, Ireland and England. In the last decade of her life, she and her children sailed on cruises to Alaska, Hawaii, Canada and New England, the Caribbean, South and Central America, and to Mexico in 2020.
Kathleen is survived by her son, Grant Williams of Smyrna, GA; daughter, Robin Wild of Vancouver; grandsons, Jesse, Stephen and Geoff Laabs, and Scott and Ben Williams; and eight great-grandchildren.
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2 Entries
Back when she liked to be called Kath, she was my mother-in-law for 20 years. We shared several common interests that allowed us to travel around the state of Georgia together. We both fell in love with the beautiful island of Saint Simons. Her flower garden on Cherry Street was magnificent, and her roses lush and fragrant. Kath was a shrewd investor. She taught me about the stock market page in the Wall Street Journal though I never grasped the market the way she did. She was fiercely, loyal and protective of her family and friends. I am better for having known her, and she will be missed. ❤
Pam Williams
Family
January 22, 2023
I grew up with Mrs. Williams (and family) across the street from my earliest memories to the day I left home.
Always kind and generous, and `cool as a cucumber´ no matter what transpired in the neighborhood. As I pulled weeds, mowed the lawn, and even watched over pets, plants and the mail, I was always treated with patience and a smile...not a negative memory in all those years. A beautiful family with a beautiful Mother! How fortunate to have had her 98 years!!
Don Kuzma
Friend
January 6, 2023
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