Kathryn Carlsen

CARLSEN, Kathryn “Katy” born in Norfolk, Va., May 12, 1947, passed away March 21, 2015 surrounded by her family. She was the second of seven children and enjoyed being in a large family. Family was very important to her growing up and still is. Kathy retired from the USPS in 1997 after 27 years of service. After retirement she filled her time with community service and projects near and dear to her heart. One of her favorite projects was involvement with Sew Much Comfort. This organization accepts donated clothing items and volunteers modify them to accommodate wounded soldiers. The revised garments were then sent to soldiers within the US as well as military hospitals internationally. She also spent time serving the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections office. Initially as a machine clerk and worked her way up to running the precinct at the Open Water Church location. Kathy became involved in the Westchase Community, first as an alternate voting member and in 2010 tackled the role of voting member. In this position, she became interested in what was going on throughout the entire community and was elected as a Westchase Community Association director in September 2014. When she wanted to relax, and was not playing golf, she worked in the backyard oasis she created in her spare time. When she moved into her Westchase home 21 years ago she received a butterfly kit from her mother. She planted the seedlings to grow plants that would attract different butterflies. Today her entire yard is filled with multiple species and has been certified as an Official Butterfly Sanctuary as designed by the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. She also enjoyed two major trips: an African safari where she saw more than 1,000 species of birds and the migration of wildebeests; and, most recently, she visited Alaska and again was able to see a host of wildlife. She is survived by her husband, Ken Morse; sons Lou and Bill Cappi; sisters Barbara James, Mary Stommel, Joan Harrison, Christine Pattison; brothers Charles and Robert Carlsen; plus a large extended family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Wounded Warrior Program at: woundedwarriorproject.org.