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Katherine Hope Williams

Posted 2017-12-02 by Judy Wight Branson
The Camp Verde Bugle, Camp Verde, Arizona
Thursday, November 16, 2017

Katherine Hope Williams, sister, mom, grandma, and hope-giver,
passed to the sounds of coyotes early Monday morning, November 13,
2017. Better known locally as Krazy Kate, Katy was born in Provo,
Utah, March 9, 1951.

After spending her early years in Utah, she found herself in Palo
Alto, CA where she grew up in the heart of the 1960s. She was
unstoppable, ripping around the the Bay Area in a green cream-topped
mustang with dented chrome pipes, living wild, and dragging her baby
brother kicking and screaming to swim class.

She found love on Principia College Campus and married George Lee
Williams in 1974. As a drama major, she loomed large, laughed lots
and kept things exciting. She reared five strong children and we
never knew what to expect next. During the long summer evening
hours, she let us roam through the neighborhood as long as we stayed
within reach of her perfectly piercing whistle. Halloween was a
favorite holiday and she often scared the living hell out of us with
her cackle, dressed up as the Wicked Witch of the West. She could be
terrifying. As time went on, our love seemed to slow her down or
maybe it fueled her. She wanted to fly so fast and so far and all of
us -- her five kids and husband --had to let her go. She set off for
the golden cliffs of Sedona.

After a sage smoke infused journey, Katy took the streets of this
central Arizona town like a face painted foot stomping storm. We
don’t really know what spirit walkers are like, but we’re damn sure
that she did them justice.

Here on the streets of Cottonwood and Sedona she stood side by side
with the hurt, homeless, and lonely.

Over time, she slowed down (for which the local law enforcement and
guidance counselors were thankful), but she continued to connect
with people in need and stay close to family.

We’d like to say thanks to the community for making this place her
final beloved home. More than a few times we tried to move her
closer to family, but she never took us up on the offer. Cottonwood
was her home and the residents her family. She loved us as much as
she loved this place. A special thanks to the amazing and loving
staff at Haven of Cottonwood. To say that she was survived by her
family would miss the mark; she is survived by anyone who knew her.

Instead of flowers, please consider making donations to Georgie’s
Cafe -- a favorite haunt -- in her name for their annual free
Thanksgiving meal. We plan to schedule a celebration of her life
next spring. If you’d like to join us or have a crazy story to
share, please send a note addressed to Katy Williams’ Kids, 1630
Woods Court, Hood River, OR 97031.

Thanks, Katherine Hope Williams, for living with hope and reminding
us to take a smoke break every once and a while.

“If you want to sing out, sing out, and if you want to be free, be
free.” - Cat Stevens

Information provided by survivors.




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