Obituary - Kathleen Moore

Tuesday, February 06, 2007
THE JUNEAU EMPIRE

Former Juneau resident Kathleen Denise Moore died Jan. 24, 2007, in Mount Vernon, Wash., after a long battle with illness. She was 50.

She was born Sept. 8, 1956, in Denver. According to her parents, she was always a fun child who loved her sisters, Vicki, Karen and Crystal, dearly.

She had dreams of being a singer, photographer, ballet dancer and counselor. Those dreams, however, never came to pass due to her illness.

She married Gus Garcia in 1978 and had a baby boy, Siloam Sabian Kahler, and a baby girl, Selena Ryan Garcia. She always played music and sang to her children. As a result of this, her children got into the music business. She later divorced Gus and went to Juneau, where she worked for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the Department of Tourism and the Attorney General's Office.

Later she married James Moore, who the family called the love of her life. They had a very special spiritual love together, relatives said.

She was a member of the Bahai Faith and the Red Hat Society of Sedro Woolley, and a student of A.A. and a course in Miracles.

According to family members, she loved going boating with her parents to watch whales, seals and sea lions, and she loved watching the northern lights in Juneau.

"We mourn her passing, but celebrate her life," her parents said in a prepared statement.

"She leaves us with a special legacy of unconditional love, boundless empathy and a continued hope in the face of great adversity. She was our hero. Kathy taught us how to love, sing, dance and fight for life. She has touched so very many lives in Denver, Juneau, Mount Vernon and Anacortes, Wash. Wherever she went she would light up a room with her beautiful blue eyes, her tender touch, her beautiful smile and of course her special love."

She was preceded in death by her biological father, Albert Kahler; stepfather, Richard Zoller; and father, Clair Sathern, who taught her to play golf and to fish.

She is survived by her mother, Trudi Sathern; children, Siloam Sabian Kahler and Selena Ryan Garcia; sisters, Vicki Zoller of Kenmore, Karen Kahler and her husband, Rick Danielson of Anacortes, and Crystal and Stennar Thorson of Mount Vernon; estranged husband James Moore of Burlington, Wash.; aunt, Jaye French; uncle, Doug Gallagher; grandmother, Hazel Avery of Denver; cousins in Denver; nephews, Zachary Klinefelter and his wife, Lacey of Bellingham, Wash., Joshua Cooper and his wife, Serena of Anacortes, and Jesse Cooper of Anacortes; niece, Chenoah Torgerson and her husband, Jaye of Beaverton, Ore.; and special friend, Billie Wilson, of Juneau.

Graveside service was Jan. 29 at Hawthorne Memorial Park in Mount Vernon. A celebration of life was held directly following the service at Christ the King Church in Mount Vernon. Burial arrangements were entrusted to Affordable Burial and Cremation Services of Mount Vernon.

Memorial contributions can be made at any Peoples Bank, in care of Kathy Moore's memorial Fund. Cards can be sent to Trudi Sathern, 1410 Mallard View Drive No. 5, Mt. Vernon, WA 98274.