Kathryn J. Stoner

Kathryn ("Kate") JoAnn Stoner died in Seattle, Washington on September 1, 2014 of a stroke. She was born Hailey, Idaho, on November 29, 1947 to Nellie D. and John C. Stoner. After moving during and just after the war, she and her family settled in Eugene, Oregon where she grew up, attending Sheldon High School and later the University of Oregon.

Kate's youth was spent exploring the natural beauty and wildness of Oregon and she also loved roaming the coasts and forests, and camping and fishing with her family. She always collected rocks and fossils and had a special fondness for agates. As an adult, a favorite afternoon was one spent combing the beach for bits of sea-worn glass, which she would collect in old glass jars on her kitchen window.

She also developed fine craft and art skills at a young age. She was an accomplished seamstress and crocheter. These skills later developed into sophisticated design collectives in Oregon and Illinois. Her specialization in textiles culminated in many years of mask-making and multiple art shows in Seattle.

Kate loved volleyball and enjoyed games in the sand-court in Eugene with her friends until her long-time knee injury forced her to quit. She also loved good food, followed by a glass of 12 year old single-malt and conversation late into the evening. One of her most influential trips was to Mexico with her life-partner and husband, Rory. She returned with a wonderful collection of art and new creative inspiration in her own work.

Always compassionate and welcoming, Kate believed family is defined by how much you love. She welcomed many into her life as long-lasting and deep members of her extended family. Though she was never wealthy, she always shared what she had and made sure that no one felt they needed to stand on ceremony. She always extended any invitation to those who wished to join: "the more the merrier", summarized Kate.

Kate discovered the blues in her youth and never looked back. She collected music all her life and introduced her partners, friends, and children to some of the best ways to enjoy a rainy weekend afternoon: listening to blues on the radio with a good drink and a bit of an art project in her lap.

In her last years, Kate moved towards historical research and writing. She conducted extensive investigations into her own family's history, always researching the historical context for her ancestors and seeking out the stories to accompany the historical facts. She occasionally published short pieces in various journals and was part of a broad network of researchers, with whom she corresponded regularly.

Later in life, she showed herself to be an incredibly strong woman of intense bravery and focus as she battled cancer, a heart transplant, and the multiple health challenges that followed. She defied every prediction and pushed every boundary, with a never-ending optimism about the future. She could always be counted on to surprise everyone.

She will be missed terribly, but she will be remembered in our stories, and forever in the blues. In her own words: "It's the journey that calls, rather than the destination. May we all find yet another road to travel."

Kate is survived by her husband Rory Cooper of Seattle, Washington; her brother, Michael Leroy Stoner (Sheila) of Hermiston, Oregon; her daughter Hilary Basile of Melbourne, Australia and her three children - Matthew, Claire and Emma; and her daughter Freyja Knapp of Albany, California and her three children - Chloe, Pasquale and Lucienne.

A gathering of friends will be held at Lincoln Park as she would wish: with lots of food, stories, laughter and listening.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Friends of the Seattle Public Library, https://www.justgive.org/registries. You may find the registry listed for "Kate Stoner".