The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Katherine (Sophos) York, 65, former resident of Cathlamet, passed away at Fairhaven Healthcare Center in Lowell, MA on April 10, 2012. She was born in Lowell on May 26, 1946, the daughter of Christopher and Mildred Sophos. She graduated from Chelmsford (MA) High School in 1964, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1969.

Katherine moved to Seattle in 1973. She earned her certificate in Practical Nursing from Seattle Central Community College in 1975, and a Master of Education in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Washington in 1979. She and her husband later settled in Cathlamet, where they raised their three sons. Katherine attended the Congregational Church in Cathlamet, where she sang in the choir and taught Sunday school. She moved back to Chelmsford, MA in 2004 to care for her ailing father, and lived there ever since. She most recently worked at Sunrise Senior Living in Arlington, MA.

Katherine was an active volunteer in many organizations, including the Upper Merrimack Valley Medical Reserve Corps, the American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts, and the UMass Amherst Merrimack Valley Alumni Club. She loved to sing and was a member of the Middlesex Singers chamber choir. Katherine enjoyed traveling, knitting, hiking, cross-country skiing, and swimming (especially in Cape Cod Bay). Most of all, she loved spending time with her children and grandchildren, and they will miss her profoundly.

Katherine is survived by her husband Hans York of Cathlamet; her three sons, Aaron York of Boston, MA, Abraham York of Cathlamet, and Leray Leasure and wife, Mindy Leasure, of Kelso; her grandchildren Amaya Leasure of Kelso, and Matthias Ostervold of Mukilteo; and her sister Christine Sophos and husband, Robert Fernandes, of Seattle. She was predeceased by her brother Peter Sophos of Barre, VT.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Blake Funeral Home. Interment in Westlawn Cemetery, Lowell. For those who desire, memorial donations in Katherine’s memory may be made to the Lung Cancer Foundation of America,15 South Franklin Street, New Ulm, MN 56073. For online condolences please visit BLAKEFUNERALHOME.COM.