Kathaleen Roberta (Shipley) Larsen, 95, a longtime resident of Lopez Island, WA, passed away peacefully on July 19, 2019. Kathaleen was born December 30, 1923, in Olney, IL – the fifth of six children of Everett C. and Hannah (Lambert) Shipley. Upon graduating from high school, she moved to Evansville, IN where she worked as a riveter during World War II. Her work during the war provided her with much valued financial independence and gave her the ability to buy her beloved horse, King of the Prairie, the memories of which she cherished throughout her life. After the war, she attended Indiana Central College, where she met and married her husband, John Larsen.

When John completed seminary, the two of them served churches in rural Wisconsin; Everett, WA; Grand Island, NY and Redding, CA. Kathaleen worked for the phone company off and on starting in high school up until her retirement in 1989. John and Kathaleen retired together to Lopez Island, where they happily lived out their remaining years surrounded by the loving Lopez community. Kathaleen was a proud minister’s wife who loved nature in all forms. She raised chickens, garlic, and corn that she sold at the local farmer’s market and was a lifelong avid bird watcher. Kathaleen had a strong personal relationship with God and she loved her family unconditionally, mentioning each person in her daily prayers even as her memories faded.

Kathaleen is preceded in death by her husband, five siblings and son-in-law Gary Hulsey.

She is survived by her daughters: Kathie (Cheryl) Larsen, Cynthia (Robert) McLaughlin, Roberta (Mark) Suhadolnik, and Laura Hulsey; and grandchildren: Emily and Leah McLaughlin, Kate and Hannah Suhadolnik, and Matthew and Brian Hulsey.

Memorial service at Grace Episcopal Church, Lopez Island, WA.

Evans Funeral Chapel, Anacortes, WA