Kathy DeVoe of Moscow died Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at Good Samaritan Moscow Village. She was 69.
Kathryn Hamilton was born Feb. 6, 1948, in Colfax, to Don E. and Mary Elizabeth McCabe Hamilton. The family lived in Pullman and moved to Spokane after her brother, Don Jr., was born. Her brothers Doug and Charlie were born in Spokane.
Following her mother's death in 1954, the Hamilton children moved to Moscow. Kathy became a resident boarder at the Ursuline Academy in Moscow, and the boys lived with the Brenner family. All four children attended St. Rose's kindergarten, with Kathy and Don starting elementary school at the Ursuline Academy before moving into the newly constructed school. She lived and attended school there through the eighth grade. In 1962, the family moved to the Kitsap Peninsula, and she graduated from North Kitsap High School in 1966.
After graduation Kathy lived and worked in Seattle area, first at Sears and later for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company before returning to the Palouse in 1971 to stay. She worked at White Drug Store and Downen Insurance Agency.
She and Michael P. DeVoe were married Sept. 24, 1977, in Genesee. Together they had children Robert and Samantha. During their children's growing-up years, Kathy became a Brownie leader, became a "card carrying" member of the Boy Scouts of America (awards committee), served as president of the Moscow Bear Boosters, was on the Moscow Baseball Association Board, and served on St. Mary's School Board and St. Mary's Parish Council.
In 1983, Kathy began working at the College of Agriculture at the University of Idaho as an administrative assistant. She was proud of her 30-plus years working at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Anyone who knew her knew that she firmly believed that it was the best college on campus, largely due to the caliber of the people who work there, past and present. While at UI, Kathy served on the Staff Affairs Committee and the CALS Safety Committee.
Kathy was a devoted communicant of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Moscow, a member of the Catholic Women's League and, after retirement, became a "Kitchen Chick," working on the funeral dinners.
She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Mike, at their Moscow home; son Rob DeVoe; and daughter Samantha "Sam" and Spencer Stott. She also leaves her beloved grandchildren, George Orin, Lyall Vincent and Hazel Lilly Stott. Kathy also is survived by brothers Don (Theresa) Hamilton of Poulsbo, Wash., and Charlie Hamilton of Portland, Ore. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Doug, in 2003.
The rosary will be recited at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, followed by the funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. A luncheon and time of fellowship will follow at St. Mary's Family Center.
She will be laid to rest on the family property on Kamiak Butte in Whitman County.
Viewing will be from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday at Short's Funeral Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to St. Mary's School Foundation or to Good Samaritan Moscow Village.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff at Good Samaritan for their exceptional care and love for Kathy, and making her final days more comfortable.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Short's Funeral Chapel, and online condolences may be sent to www.shortsfuneralchapel.net.
