Beloved wife, mother and grandmother, Kathleen Edith Bounds, born Kathleen Edith Sarchett, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family in the home she was so proud of building, on Feb. 1, 2007, after a courageous battle with breast cancer.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Betty Sarchett.
Kathleen was born Jan. 31, 1950, in Arlington, Wash., to Bill and Betty Sarchett, and was raised in Anacortes and Bellingham with her older brother Barry and several dogs and horses.
After graduating high school, Kathleen went to work on a horse ranch in Ashland, Ore., where she met her future husband, Steve. After marrying in the summer of 1969 they eventually settled in Arlington, where she raised her three children, enjoyed her gardens and worked on her farm, with a few more dogs and horses.
She was a longtime employee at Arlington High School, where she became a friend to all and a second mother to so many of the kids who passed through school while she was there.
She is survived by her loving husband of 37 years, Steve, daughter Heika, sons Andy and Tyler, all of Washington; Father Bill Sarchett of Lacey, Wash.; Brother Barry Sarchett of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Grandson, Zach Faro of Arlington; and many nieces and nephews. She will be deeply missed by her family and her numerous friends and she will be remembered by all for her constant smile, enduring grace, kind and loving nature, generous ways and unending willingness to help others. She was a source of strength, inspiration and courage to all who knew her.
A celebration of her life will take place Saturday, Feb. 10, 2007 at 11 a.m. at the Fir Conway Lutheran Church, Mount Vernon, Wash., with a reception following.
Remembrances may be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation; or pledges will be taken by the Bounds Family for the 2007 Susan G. Komen 3-Day walk for cancer to raise money in Kathleens honor in the search for the cure; or to Skagit Valley Cancer Care Center.