Katherine I. Brown, 89, of Oak Harbor, longtime former Tacoma area resident, died March 27, 2003, at her home.

Mrs. Brown was born in Detroit, Washington (later Grapeview, on Hood Canal,) on July 5, 1913, to Charles Harber and Matilda (Kulp) Harber. She later moved with her family to Alberta, Canada, and then back to McMillan (near Sumner). A flood washed out their home one year, and they moved to near the Western Washington State Fairgrounds in Puyallup. Katherine attended St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing in Tacoma, where she became a Registered Nurse, a career she was to follow for many years.

In 1934, she married William Orville Brown in Port Angeles. The couple lived in Tacoma for many years, and especially in University Place. Katherine was employed as a registered nurse for a number of years until her retirement at age 65.

She was an ardent gardener, and was a member of the Puget Sound Gesneriad Society, as well as other garden clubs. She also was a member of the Oak Harbor Senior Center. In addition to gardening, she enjoyed traveling, knitting and visiting friends. She moved to Oak Harbor in May 1999 to be near her daughter and family.

Katherine is survived by her daughter, Billie Kay Bleyhl and husband Philip of Oak Harbor; two grandchildren, Claire Bleyhl of Oak Harbor and Andrew Bleyhl, of Alger; one sister, Martha Calvert of Spokane; also, numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, William, in 1967; also, by two sisters, Florence Matthews and Doll Sienkwicz and by two brothers, John and Arthur Harber.

Visitation will be Monday, March 31 from noon until 1 p.m. at Mountain View Funeral Home in Tacoma, followed by a graveside service at Mountain View Memorial Park, Pastor Larry Redelsperger of the Federal Way Church of Christ, officiating. Memorials may be made to the Oak Harbor Senior Center, 51 S.E. Jerome St. Arrangements under direction of Burley Funeral Chapel.