Long-time Oak Harbor resident and tax accountant Kathy Jolly passed away on December 7, 2022, following a lengthy battle with cancer. She was born February 20, 1958, in Longview, Washington and was preceded in death by her parents, Dave and Shirley Jolly of Coupeville. She is survived by her siblings; Shari Steece of Oak Harbor, WA, Pam (and Dave) Keck of Athol, ID, and Dave Jolly (and Lori Davis) of Tigard, OR; her 29 beloved nieces and nephews spanning two generations; and her best friend, Rebecca Salazar of Oak Harbor.

Kathy grew up in the Riverton Heights area of South Seattle. Her family moved just before her senior year of high school to Coupeville, where she graduated as class Valedictorian. She earned her BA in Business Administration from the University of Washington. After several years of work as an accountant, she spent 18 months in Japan as a full-time missionary for LIFE Ministries, based out of Southern California where Kathy had been “adopted” by the Salazar family. She moved back to Whidbey in 1986 and worked for the tax and accounting firm Bridges and Rodgers, where she forged relationships with clients that lasted for decades. Kathy eventually bought the business, renaming it Pacific Grace Tax &Accounting as a testament to her life-long faith as a Christian. She became an Enrolled Agent in 1999, passing all four parts of the IRS exam at her first sitting. With the heart of a teacher, Kathy treasured working with her clients and employees. In 2012, she welcomed Ronnie Wright, MBA and EA, as a business partner and good friend. Kathy was instrumental in building and enriching the WAATP (Washington Association of Accountants and Tax Professionals) organization, serving in multiple roles on their Board of Directors for well over a dozen years. She also spent years on Toddler Learning Center and American Red Cross Regional boards. She taught briefly at Skagit Valley Community College and served on their Advisory Committee.

For all who knew her, Kathy’s faith, smile, and joyful laugh are unforgettable. She delighted in children and their laughter, was a great cook, and never gave up on the Seattle Mariners. She reveled in the outdoors, whether leading songs around a campfire or dipping her toes in the ocean. She loved pretty earrings, classic Disney everything, good hair days, Mexican food, balloons and playing games. Kathy was fond of saying that God never works just one side of a problem, and was living proof of its truth. Even from a hospital bed, she taught hospital staff the importance of including a focus on joy and peace, prompting a new style of conversation that alleviated, for Kathy and others going forward, the frustration of being asked largely pain-centric questions. Her ceaseless prayer was to keep a song in her heart and she was quick to share it with others. Kathy valued her clients, cherished her friends, and adored her family. Though sorely missed by all here, she is now at Home with her Savior and King.

A Celebration of Life for Kathy will be held at: Family Bible Church 2760 Heller St Oak Harbor, WA 98277 February 18, 2023, at 2:00p.m.