Kathleen Bernice Longfellow

Kathleen (Kathy) Longfellow, 65, passed away May 31, 2024 with her family by her side in Portland, Oregon, after 25 days in St Vincent hospital fighting viral encephalitis.

Kathy was born in Portland, Oregon to Joe and Rachel Vanderwerf on September 8, 1958. She attended George Elementary, Roosevelt High, and Portland State University.

Kathy worked various jobs in high school and went on to Equitable Savings & Loan in the downtown Portland office. She would ride to work with her Dad who also worked downtown at the time. Kathy then moved on to the accounting departments at Consolidated Freightways (CF) in NW Portland, where she met her husband, Gary, who she noticed coming to some nearby file cabinets. She worked at CF for 10 years until after the birth of son, Brian, in 1985. She then was a stay at home Mom for Brian and then daughter Tara, born in 1988. Kathy stayed at home with the kids for 10 more years and had started volunteering at the grade schools as the kids attended. Eventually she sought some paid part-time work in the school district and ended working many years in the Tigard-Tualatin School District office in the Communications and Community Relations department, where she retired in 2021.

Kathy and Gary married on September 25, 1982. They lived in Tigard all in a house they had built 40 years ago but were just recently starting to think about moving to a one level home more accommodating to Kathy's painful rheumatoid arthritis. They started many family traditions, often centered around camping, boating, waterskiing, and hiking in Central Oregon, particularly at Wickiup Reservoir, carrying on a tradition Kathy grew up with from the early days of her childhood. She has probably camped or visited Wickiup and South Twin Lake in almost every one of her 65 years.

Spending time with family and friends, particularly her 2 young grandchildren, was her greatest joy. She also enjoyed camping, going on road trips near and far, discovering new wineries for wine tasting, and more than a few overnight trips to nearby Casinos with her Mother and Sister, usually with comp'd rooms. Since retiring she and Gary enjoyed at least 5 extended road trips covering 25,000 miles to 20 states hitting Deadwood SD, Kansas City, Nashville, Florida, New Orleans, Texas and South Padre Island, Santa Fe, San Juan Capistrano CA, and somehow passing through Las Vegas several times.

Kathy is survived by her husband of nearly 42 years, Gary, children Brian and Courtney Longfellow, Tara Longfellow & fiancée Marco Uzcategui, grandchildren Emilia and Lucas. Sister Mary (and Rick) Thompson, brother Ron (and Patty) Vanderwerf, brother/sister in laws: MaryAnn & Dave Sikstrom, BJ and Brent Rostad, Sandra & Tad Dale, Ron & Kathy Longfellow. Aunts and Uncles: Neil & Eunice Longfellow, John & Judy Vanderwerf, Penny Vanderwerf, numerous nieces and nephews and Vanderwerf cousins, and Mother in Law, Edna Longfellow.

She was preceded in death by her Father, Joseph Vanderwerf Sr, Mother, Rachel Vanderwerf (in Nov 2023), and brother Joseph Jr

Kathy had a wonderful life filled with happiness and joy surrounded with great family ties and wonderful friendships, often within the Tigard-Tualatin School District community. Kathy suffered for 30+ years from advancing rheumatoid arthritis and was usually in more pain that she let on. She endured the pain if she had a chance to visit family or friends who often didn't see what she was going through. Kathy's family would like to thank everyone for all the love, support and friendship you have given her over the years and particularly in recent weeks.

A memorial service and reception will be held at 2:00pm on Friday, June 14 at St Anthony's Catholic Church, 9905 SW McKenzie St, Tigard, OR. Private interment will be held at St Anthony's Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in Kathy's memory to: Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation (www.helpfightRA.org) or Rheumatology Research Foundation (www.rheumresearch.org)