Kathy Southwick

Kathy Southwick, age 64, of Merlin, died Thursday, December 11, 2014 at her home.

A celebration of life will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 3, 2015 at Newman United Methodist Church. Please dress in bright colors in honor of Kathy. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

She was born Kathryn Janet Watt on January 21, 1950 in Denver, Colorado to Donald & Dallas Watt. She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Tacoma, Washington where she was involved with the Girls Club. While attending Central Washington University she met Alan Southwick and they were married in Tacoma on July 12, 1969. In 1970 they moved to Grants Pass where she stayed home to raise her children. In 1984 she returned to school at Southern Oregon University and graduated with a Bachelors degree in teaching in 1985. Her first teaching position was in 5th grade at Fort Vannoy School for one year and then substitute taught for three years. She then taught 1st grade at Redwood Elementary for one year; Kindergarten and 5th grade for two years at Evergreen Elementary in Cave Junction; 3rd grade at Redwood Elementary for four years; and 4th & 5th grade loop at Parkside Elementary for ten years. In 2008 she retired from teaching.

Kathy enjoyed volunteering at Allen Dale, Riverside, and Parkside Elementary Schools in her grandchildren’s classes.

Together with Alan, Kathy enjoyed making wood picture frames for their students to decorate as Christmas gifts for their families. She also enjoyed camping, rafting, traveling; painting, especially watercolor; and flower gardening.

Survivors include her husband, Alan B. Southwick (former primary teacher) of Merlin, Oregon; two sons, Philip Southwick (middle school math teacher) of Oak Harbor, Washington and Alan C. Southwick (marketing executive) of Grants Pass, Oregon; a daughter, Kristine Dimmick (high school business teacher) of Grants Pass, Oregon; her mother, Dallas Whitsell of Tacoma, Washington; a sister, Mary Larsen of Bothell, Washington; 14 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild expected in February 2015.