The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Art and Independence.... Probably the two words that would describe Kate the best. She coined a phrase... Joy Brilliance! What she would, throughout her life, use to describe the beauty and joy of seeing, absorbing, and creating art. Be it written in poetry, short story or simply an observation. Or in her myriad skills of creating art with her hands... fine, woven, mixed media, or even gardening and putting up, or simply mending a pair of coveralls.

And independence... she was true self thinker and doer. She always made her own way. But at the same time was a fierce friend to those lucky few that she held dear.

She always gave everything she had to rely on herself, first. She did not like to ask for help, you see... And thru her independence she cultivated so many wonderful talents and pieces of work that would become our "joy brilliance"...

She is hard to describe in words. To those who knew her... they just "knew".

Kate was born in Hawthorne, California. After much traveling in her youth, she settled in Waitsburg in 1990, with her husband, John, and fell in love with the rural setting of her home.

She was preceded in death by her parents Tom and Mary Combs.

She is survived by her life mate and partner, John Reeve. And by her brother Lyle (Kathy) Combs, her niece Kristy and a favorite cousin Steve (Nancy) Hartman. And by many friends....

There will be a celebration of life at her home here in Waitsburg. The date will be announced later.