Kathy Swanson, Dual Member with Puyallup Valley Branch, Has Died at Age 80
Judy Waring March 17, 2024
We are sad to report the February 16 death of our dual branch member Kathy Swanson. Kathy was a 38-year member of the Puyallup Valley Branch. She was active in her branch and was their 2005 Educational Foundation Honoree. When she moved to Alijoya Thornton Place in the fall of 2020, she immediately joined Seattle Branch as a dual member. Kathy eagerly registered for our Seattle Branch October virtual program, R-90 and the Campaign for Safe and Healthy Youth, requiring all public school districts teach age-appropriate sexual health education to K-12 students.
Kathy, a WSU BS graduate in Home Economics Education, had taught at Federal Way and Sumner High Schools. She conveyed her passion, writing:
“I’m a retired Family and Consumer Ed. teacher (30 years). Sex education was part of the curriculum for nearly all those years. I also had a GRADS program (Graduation, Reality and Dual Role Skills) for adolescent parents and licensed two childcare facilities in Sumner School District. I also advised an AIDS Peer Education (APEX) student group in conjunction with the Pierce County AIDS Foundation and assisted with an OASIS group of HS students.”
We’ve had occasional Puyallup Valley Branch members register and attend our meetings. Kathy provided a valuable link when we needed students to sponsor for Tech Trek and they had students needing financial sponsorship. When jigsaw puzzles were missing and needed at the 2023 Tech Trek at PLU, she knew Puyallup Valley member MJ Garlick was the person to contact.
Kathy enjoyed being a part of our NE Neighborhood group and she continued her participation in the Puyallup Valley Branch’s monthly Writers’ Group meetings. Unfortunately, health problems prevented Kathy from continuing as our branch secretary after she was elected in May 2021.