Kathleen Mary Kennedy

Dec. 27, 1953 – July 18, 2018

Katie Kennedy, 64, died July 18, 2018. A Celebration of Life in her loving memory is 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, at the Homer Elks Lodge. Bring stories and a dish to share.

Katie was born Dec. 27, 1953, the oldest child of Michael Stephan and Barbara Edine Kennedy. The first four years the family lived in the basement apartment at the Montana State Museum, in Helena, Montana.

The family resided in Helena, Montana until 1965, when they boarded the train to New York City. They lived in Massapequa, Long Island. Katie attended her freshman year at the same high school as Jerry Seinfeld.

The family joke was Katie was the muse for the episode about the girl in physical ed class with the largest breasts.

Katie and the family moved to Anchorage, Alaska, in August 1967. She attended East High School and was quite popular with her spirited socializing.

Katie married Patrick Haley in Hope, Alaska, in 1971. They moved to Prince of Wales Island where they built a log cabin float house and it was here that her only child, Shauna Ryan, was born.

Katie was a fierce beach walker. She could be found in any weather briskly pacing the Ninilchik Beach. she resided with her partner, Don Erwin, in Ninilchik since 1981. Don ran a fishing charter business and Katie kept the ship afloat with her management of a bed and breakfast.

Katie had friends from far and wide and was a great correspondent. Katie was passionate about saving our natural world and the waters in the fish of Alaska.

Katie would like to thank those who helped her in her battle with breast cancer: Don Erwin and the fantastic staff at the Central Peninsula Hospital oncology department, her sisters, and myriad of friends that offered their aid.

Katie is survived by her daughter, Shauna, and her four loving grandchildren, Michael, Matthew, Mirabella and Marleya of Coos Bay Oregon; and three sisters, Molly, Maig and Barbara Kennedy, and their families; and her most loyal friend Java, the champion Welsh terrier.