Kathryn (Kathy) Sue Layman (Rutherford) went to be with her Lord on July 16th, 2024, in Coupeville, WA after a long journey with Alzheimer’s. Kathy was born in Yakima, on May 2nd, 1949. She grew up on a farm and was involved in much of the farm work. She loved the ocean beaches and often had family vacations at Pacific Beach. Kathy graduated from West Valley High School in 1967. She continued her education at Northwest Christian College then transferred to Central Washington University where she majored in biology and minored in chemistry. She then went to school and became a MedTech.

Kathy loved animals from an early age. That love grew from dogs, and cats to birds of prey when she met Steve Layman in high school. Even when one of Steve’s birds crapped down her back in her sundress, she didn’t waiver. She only had eyes for Steve. Kathy and Steve married in Yakima in 1973 and then moved to San Juan Island where they lived in a tent, worked in a cannery and rehabilitated golden and bald eagles. They moved back to Yakima in 1974 and started a family. Seth, Isaac, Sarah and Chris were all born in Yakima. Soon after Chris was born, they moved to Bothell, WA where they started their window cleaning business, White Glove Window Cleaning that became Layman Services.

In 1988 they moved to Whidbey Island and had a little farm where all the animals roamed together; sheep, chickens, goats, dogs, cats, and a pot-bellied pig named Rosie. Kathy loved animals! She even rescued an onery little rooster who fell into a barrel of water. After giving it mouth to beak resuscitation it lived on to terrorize the farmyard.

Kathy loved her children very much. She was often present on field trips and sporting events and gave many rides home to friends in her big red and white suburban.

Kathy had a wonderful sense of humor! Her laugh was contagious, and she loved playing games and doing puzzles. She was warm and welcoming and always gave people the benefit of doubt.

Kathy is survived by her husband, Steve, her children, Seth (Molly), Isaac (Camilla), Sarah Nicolaisen (Knut), and Chris (Kristen), her grandkids, Emmett, Elsa, Tahlia, Thea, Jasper, Luke, Odin, Rebekka and William, many nieces and nephews and her sisters Mary and Barbara.

Kathy is preceded in death by her parents, Dean and Hazel Rutherford and her older brothers, Dan (2024) and Freddie (April 1949).

Please join us in celebrating Kathy on Saturday, September 28th, at 11:00 am at Calvary Chapel Whidbey Island, 3821 French Rd. Clinton, WA 98236.