Katherine Mabel Weckerly, age 94, passed away on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at Alpine Ridge Retirement Apartments in Mount Vernon, Washington.
She was born on May 25, 1916 in Davenport, North Dakota to Bernhard and Mathilda (Johnson) Dahlen.
Katherine grew up in North Dakota, later residing in Spokane and Seattle for many years. While living in Seattle during WWII, she worked at Boeing as a riveter. She was married to Philip Gordon Weckerly on March 26, 1949 in Seattle and in 1951 they moved to Newhalem where Gordon worked for Seattle City Light. While residing in Newhalem, Katherine worked as a librarian for Seattle City Light and was superintendant at the local Sunday school. In 1968, they moved to Marblemount and resided there until moving to Mount Vernon in 1998 residing at Alpine Ridge Retirement Apartments.
Katherine was a longtime member of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Concrete and later Salem Lutheran Church in Mount Vernon. She was active in the Friendship Circle at Salem Lutheran and she loved hats and was known as the “Hat Lady” at Salem Lutheran.
Katherine loved to travel and she had the trip of a lifetime in 2005 with several members of her family when she traveled on the Queen Mary II to London and Norway. She enjoyed her fellowship with the residents of Alpine Ridge, but most of all she loved her family and looked forward to attending family events. She will be remembered by her family as a great baker and homemaker.
She is survived by her two sons, Joseph Weckerly and his wife Sharon of Bremerton and Thomas Weckerly and his wife Judy of Azusa, CA. Four daughters, Barbara Kane of Altoona, PA, Carol Schockly of Grand Rapids, MI, Joan Schmidt of Mount Vernon, and Leslie Bates and her husband Lawrence of Birdsview. A sister, Ione Johnson of Ocean Shores. 20 grandchildren, 39 great- grandchildren, and 8 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Gordon in February of 2004 and nine brothers and sisters.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 11, 2010 at 1:00 PM at the Salem Lutheran Church in Mount Vernon with Pastor Kevin Forquer officiating. Memorials are suggested to Salem Lutheran Church or Northwest Hospice. Arrangements and Services are under the care of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.
I am so sorry to hear of Katherines passing. I just found out here in November. Katherine was such a sweatheart. I always think of her at Easter when she would make those delicious hot cross buns and bring a dozen of them to my parents house for us to eat Easter morning because she knew how much we loved them. She and my mother, Jessie were such good friends as were her husband, Gordon and my dad. Oh how they loved to play cards and dance. Katherine will be missed by so many. She was loved by everyone.
Leslie and families, I was sad to hear of Katherines passing. She was a wonderful lady who taught us all so much especially at Shepherd of the Hill Lutheran Church. I remember helping prepare the Lions club dinners with all the ladies and there was always the RIGHT way to do things, She was always so inspiring to all of us at church and her and Gordon always welcomed everyone that came. She will be greatly missed but I am glad I got to know her and the memorial service for her was beautiful, she will be in our hearts along with the other lovely ladies from Shepherd of The Hills who have passed on, My heart and prayers are with you all as you go through the months ahead. Les and Becki Hoover
My prayers go out to all her family. My your Faith,Family,Friends and Many Happy Memries be with you at this diffacult time Living up in Diablo and Newhalem most of my life was like having many relatives around. If you got hurt you could run to any house for help and if you did something wrong many caring eyes where watching!! We all cared about each other and have another Special Guardian Angel lookingf down on us. Rest in peace Katherine.
Sincerely
Jim Miles
and daughter
Linda Lundberg
I was so sad to hear of Mrs. Weckerly’s passing — even as old as I am, I will always refer to her as “Mrs Weckerly”! I remember her with such fondness as our Sunday School leader and was always honored when she chose me to be the candle lighter on Easter Sundays! When she was librarian, and could not be there to open the library, she let me fill in for her – I was always so honored that she trusted me and I so enjoyed those evenings at the library. When Rick and I were married she gave us a cookie jar full of her wonderful oatmeal cookies (the cookie jar still resides on the counter of my kitchen)! She was a very special lady and a big influence, not only with her family, but to many young people who were fortunate to grow up in Newhalem. She will be missed! Our deepest condolences to her family, Rick and Tina Allen
To Katherine’s family
What a great loss to all. Growing up in Newhalem she was the librarian and also one of the Sunday School ladies. In the last few years I would send her emails of my many foreign travels and she alwasys replied that she enjoyed keeping track of one of the Skagit kids. Barb Smart
To the Family of Katherine Weckerly: I was so saddened to hear of the passing of Mrs. Weckerly. She was a very special person in my life and I have so many fond memories of her when I was growing up in Newhalem. She was so instrumental in the lives of so many people –young and old as far as the teachings of our Lord and Savior. I will always hold dear those times in Sunday School and also at the Public Library. My husband Roger and I express our deepest sympathy to your family . We hope you find some solace in the fact that she touched so many lives and will always be remembered. Our Love, Roger and Pat Nelles