Born on a cold December morning in 1929 in Monroe, Washington to Robert E and Verle Mosier Casey, Kathleen Verle Casey Follette was raised and schooled in Sultan, Washington. Kathleen studied piano for eight years, initially with Marybeth Fadden Gilbert in Sultan and later with Johanna Trowbridge in Snohomish. She played piano for many school functions and was a pianist for a great many weddings in the valley. She became a Rainbow girl in 1943, joining Monroe Assembly No. 39 and was Worthy Advisor of Sultan Assembly number 96 in 1946. She graduated from Sultan Union High School in 1949 and from Everett General Hospital School of Nursing in September 1951. She worked in labor and in the delivery room as well as on the maternity floor. Kathleen was united in marriage to Walter L. Follette on December 27th, 1951. Kathleen and Walter raised their two sons and one daughter in Shoreline in the home Walter designed and built, after serving for two years in the armed forces. Kathleen worked as a library assistant at Hillwood Elementary School in the Shoreline School District. She was a Blue Bird, Camp Fire and Cub Scout leader, as well as PTA volunteer and room mother. Kathleen served as organist for Lynnwood Emblem Club #364 and also was a member of the C. H. Hafrichter Guild for Children's Hospital in Edmonds. The Follettes returned to Snohomish County to reside on their acreage near Lake Wagner in the home Walter designed and built. Together she and Walter travelled to Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, and the Panama Canal. She continued traveling for several years after Walter's death in 2001. Kathleen spent the last years of her life residing at Rays of Hope Adult Family Home in Bothell. Kathleen was gifted. Throughout her life, Kathleen enjoyed playing piano and accompanying her father on xylophone. Together, they regularly entertained at senior centers and nursing homes until her father's death in 1993. She could play anything she heard, without sheet music, while effortlessly varying the key on demand. Kathleen is survived by her brother Thomas Casey (Jan) of Yuba City, California; children David (Lynn), Barb Thomas (Jeff) and Bob (Cynthia); grandchildren Russell Follette (Erin), Evan Thomas (Carmen), Elise Thomas, Aaron Thomas and Lauren Thomas; and great-grandchildren Allison Davis and Bailey Davis. Private burial. A memorial celebration of life will take place at 1:00 pm Sunday, January 31 at Purdy & Walters at Floral Hills in Lynwood, WA where Kathleen will rest beside her beloved Walter. Memorials to Children's Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, or Sky Valley Food Bank www.svfoodbank.org/donate/
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