Kate Harrison

Five days before her 76th birthday, Kate Harrison (Kawula Brunelle) took her last breath early enough on August 4, 2025 to avoid any fuss. Some knew her by Katie–but they only called her that if they wanted their eye poked with a fork–or Kathryn, if your name is John. Kate’s husband, Jeff, preceded her by a mere 6 months so their children had previously ordered a junk hauler and diligently cleaned out the house, guaranteeing that it wasn’t Kate imposing on the kids.

Those family (members) who love her still include her younger brothers, the aforementioned John, and Tom and four (4!!) step-daughters with their others: Shannon and Chris, Bridget, Genevieve and Matt, and Catriona and Josh. Her two bio-daughters, Sarah and Rebecca, told Kate that their cynicism (aka realism) and stubbornness was because of the traditional parental curse, “I hope you have a child just like you!” Her son-in-law, Sean, who truly loves Kate, was happy that Sarah fell very near Kate’s tree. Hank the Dog, however, really was the bees’ knees. The many grandchildren she corrupted will miss her dearly: Aleah, Aeryn, and Ryan; Jackson, Elliott, and Corbin; and Elena (plus grandboy on the way). Julius and Guenevere, she said, didn’t need her to corrupt them because she was certain Sarah and Sean would do that labor for her.

Remembering the day of her birth is always easy, as August 9th is a most auspicious day. She insisted on reminding us every year that her birthday was also Nagasaki Day. Later years confirmed this date as troubling: in 1969 Charles Manson murdered 5 women; Gerald Ford was sworn in as president in 1974; Jerry Garcia died in 1995; and Michael Brown was killed in 2014.

Kate determined to counter this negative energy by going against the stream. Taking the road less traveled. Flipping off the status quo. She participated in the Civil Rights Movement, standing for freedom. Taking in and hiding protesters as she wiped tear gas from their eyes during the Kent State Shootings was just one way she could create balance. Seventy-Six years of doing the good work and still witnessing the country tear apart all she worked for ultimately helped her achieve her goal of becoming the crazy old lady down the street (the MOST interesting character!). Alzheimer’s may be a great equalizer, but achieving this goal was no small feat.

Important bullet points for the obligatory PowerPoint™ presentation:

• Kate would wake her daughters up on school nights and take them out for pie and coffee when she couldn’t sleep

• When Kate quit her job at a small tech firm in the 1980s, they hired two men to replace her, each at an increased salary

• Kate was told she was crazy when she picked up her teenaged daughters and moved them to Germany (first step toward crazy old lady goal achieved!)

• Sarah, Rebecca, and Kate would read each other poems after dinner. Her favorite was Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken”

• The US Army insisted that the antenna needed to face a certain way. Kate disagreed and ours was the only American family in Waldorf, Germany with AFN

Kate never stopped wearing purple, conversing with dogs, or engaging compassionately with others.

Her Memorial Service will be held on August 15 at 4:00 pm in the church she grew up in: Unitarian Universalist Church, 420 (lol) E. 2nd Street, Moscow, Idaho. All friends, family, and acquaintances are welcome to join us in cheering her on. Flowers may be delivered there. Alternatively, donations to Plummer, Idaho Library would be much appreciated. Guests not wearing purple will be summarily rejected!