Kathryn DeJohn
Mrs. Kathryn S. DeJohn, née Shively, passed away peacefully on October 20, 2018 in Shoreline, Washington.
Born on May 2nd, 1941 in Chicago, Illinois, her parents gave her the joy of travel at a very young age, as the family followed her father for various job assignments. She was able to continue her love of travel later in life with her husband of 52 years, traveling to London, Scotland, France and places all across the United States.
Throughout most of her life, she was deeply involved in the Episcopal Faith, where she was often Head of the Alter Guild and usually the first to arrive and the last to leave.
She and her husband were very involved in the Masonic and Eastern Star organizations, serving as Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron of the Myrtle Chapter #13 in Farmington, Minnesota from 2007-2008 and again from 2012-2013. She was initiated into the Order of Eastern Star, Melrose Chapter #243, Vandalia, Illinois, in May of 1959. She attended the Occidental Chapter #28 while living in Seattle. She became a 50 year member in 2009. She continued her involvement with Eastern Star until her passing.
Kathryn moved, with her husband and sons, from Illinois to Seattle, Washington in the mid-1970’s, where she worked in Medical Records. Then, in the early 1980’s she moved with her husband to Minnesota where they lived for 28 years. She earned her Bachelors Degree there and worked as a Nursing Home Administrator. Upon her husband’s passing she returned to the Seattle area to be closer to her sons and family.
Kathryn was also a very passionate member of the North Star Newfoundland Club. She had a life-long love of animals. She owned many Newfoundlands and was the owner-handler of several champion show dogs. She and her husband traveled the Midwest to many dog shows and she humorously referred to him as her “bucket boy”.
As Kathryn joins her husband, without a doubt, they are very busy at the rainbow bridge, reuniting with all their past dogs and cats.
She will be greatly missed by her sons.
Preceded in death by her loving husband of 52 years, William DeJohn, Kathryn is survived by sons, Charles (Debra) DeJohn and Michael DeJohn, brother, Dr. Robert Shively, sisters, Gail (Leslie) Moore and Elizabeth DeBarr, granddaughter, Sarah DeJohn and many nieces and nephews.
A Private memorial is planned in December.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your local Newfoundland Rescue Association or to the Newfoundland Club of America Rescue Network www.ncarescue.org