Kathy Irene Parks Dunbar

Kathy Irene Dunbar was born September 16, 1940, the middle child of Elmer and Dorothy (Dunn) Parks when the family lived in what is now Tukwila. After the war, the family moved to Everett, where she spent her childhood years. In 1955 the family moved back to Seattle, settling in the Roosevelt district. Kathy started at Roosevelt High School that year and graduated with the class of 1958. At Roosevelt, she met Roy Dunbar and they married in August of ’58. During the following 25 years she and Roy built Dunbar Boat Service into a thriving business and welcomed four children into the world: Kelly (Bill) Clark, Heidi Dunbar, Wendy (Cris) Brown. Steven was adopted into the family and rounded out the team. Those were busy years. Kathy kept the books for the boat shop, yet still found time to be a school room mother and Girl Scout leader and supported the King’s Garden Ski School.

In 1988 Kathy began forging a life for herself and worked for many years in retail fashion, managing stores in Poulsbo and Everett. In the final years of her career she coordinated home health care for seniors through Catholic Community Services. This was probably the job she was always meant to have because Kathy was a caregiver clear to her core. The welfare of others, especially family members, was her highest priority. Her own needs always took a back seat to the needs of other people. She was a kind and loving daughter, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother sister and aunt. In a family of natural comedians, Kathy was the perfect audience because it was so easy to make her laugh.

Kathy is predeceased by her parents, her sister Patricia Dalby, and son Steven Dunbar. She is survived by her daughters Kelly Clark and husband Bill, Heidi Dunbar and Wendy Brown and her husband Cris, as well as her brother Tom Parks and wife, Terry Wittman, whom she embraced like a sister. In addition, she is survived by 12 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, three nieces, one nephew and countless friends. Kathy had room in her heart for every one of us regardless of the path we took in life. Every phone call with her ended with “I love you.” Although the days ahead will be a little less bright without her, the world will be a sweeter, happier place for having her in it.