Katherine "Kay" Beatrice Purcell April 25, 1915 - February 17, 2013 On Sunday, the morning of February 17, 2013, Kay went peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She was surrounded by the love and prayers of her children. As the third daughter of pioneering parents, Kay was born in the Alaska territory of the United States. She was born on April 25, 1915 in Cordova, Alaska. Kay attended elementary school and graduated from Fairbanks High School. She attended the University of Alaska for several years. Kay worked as a dental assistant in Fairbanks and in Seattle between 1935 and 1942. During World War II, she joined in the war effort, working as a store manager at Ladd Field in Fairbanks and Alaska Air Depot in Anchorage, Alaska. As a young, single woman with an adventurous spirit, Kay traveled independently. Initially, she traveled by boat from Alaska to Seattle, Washington establishing housing, employment, and friends. Later she traveled by train, meeting and visiting with numerous relatives in California and Louisiana. On October 27, 1943, Kay and Sergeant Nathanial Richard Purcell were joined in marriage at Fort Richardson, Fairbanks, AK. Kay and Dick lived in Tonopah, Nevada for one year and then relocated to Washington State. They eventually made their home in Mount Vernon, Washington. Kay dedicated over twelve years of her life to caring exclusively for her home and raising her brood of seven children. She was renowned for her homemade bread, cinnamon rolls, cobblers and candies, the preservation of fruit and vegetables, and special occasion cakes! After all her children entered school, Kay returned to working outside the home. She worked in retail and eventually retired from working for a dental practice. As a mother, Kay was a prayer warrior, a role model, and a trailblazer. She was a woman with a faith in God that was resolute and unfaltering, whose husband praised her and whose children rose up and called her blessed. Kay was true to her calling of caring for the infirmed, the needy, the less fortunate. Coupled with her gift of compassion and kindness Kay volunteered her time working for the Catholic Youth Organization and participating in her church community. As a Eucharistic Minister, Kay ministered, well into her eighties, to patients and residents at Skagit Valley Hospital and local residential care centers. In her last years on this earth, Kay cared for her husband until his passing in 2007. Shortly thereafter, and until her death, Kay resided at Where The Heart Is where she developed new friendships and continued to minister and care for others. Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Margaret Scheffler, four sisters; Patricia, Betty, Fran, and Carol, her son, Richard Purcell and husband, N. R. "Dick" Purcell. Kay is survived by her children; Roberta "Bobbi" Robinson (Mark Robinson), Judie Purcell, Sharon Schell (Steve Schell), Teresa Hayton (Gary Hayton), Margot Lloyd (Tom Lloyd), Tim Purcell (Barb Purcell), twenty two grandchildren, and sixteen great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church building fund. A mass and a celebration of Kay's life will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2013, 2:00 p.m., at Immaculate Conception Church. Following interment, a reception will be held at the parish hall located at 215 North 15th Street, Mount Vernon, WA. The family would like to extend special thanks to the staff at Where The Heart Is and to Hospice Northwest.