Katherine Ethel Love (Gillespie) passed away unexpectedly while traveling from North Pole to Fairbanks on Dec. 22, 2016, at the age 80. She was known as Kathy to most and Kot to her siblings.
Love was born in Ladysmith, Wisconsin, on April 16, 1936, to Woodrow W. and Hazel L. (Moore) Gillespie. She graduated from Gresham Union High School in 1954.
Love is preceded in death by her parents, Woodrow W. and Hazel L. (Moore) Gillespie; daughter K’Lynn Love, and son Nels Erik Love. She is survived by her loving husband of 55 years, Donald F. Love, of North Pole; her children, Katherine Love (KC), of North Pole; Leona Deitch, of Fairbanks; Lawrence Love (Sheryl), of Juneau; Clayton Love, of Juneau; Wayne Love (Marlene), of Juneau; La Donna (Love) Mae (Kipee), of Redmond, Oregon; grandchildren: Christina (Goodwin) Blair (Cpt. Alan Blair, USAF), of Bellevue, Nebraska; Emlyn Goodwin, of Boise, Idaho; Donald (Donnie) Love, of Juneau; Samantha Love, of Buffalo, South Dakota; Erica Love, of Anchorage; William Johnson, of Palmer; Julie Johnson, of Oregon; Heather Lethbridge (Thomas), of Cobar, New South Whales; Jason Love (Mary Ann), of Skagway and Juneau; Josh Love (Jandi), of Juneau; Molly, of Oregon; Dennis, of Oregon; great-grandchildren: Collin, Jonathan, Sammy, Wyatt, Lawrence, Richard, Anastasia, Christopher, Abrey, Jack, Landon, Porter, Kennedy, Aurora, Colton, Emily, and Emmitt. She is also survived by her sisters, Marilee Hill, of Menifee, California; Sharon Hart, of Portland, Oregon; Betty Neimi, of Juneau; Daniel Gillespie, of Tillamook, Oregon; Diane Policar, of Portland, Oregon; and many nieces and nephews she held close to her heart.
There will be a celebration of life from 5-10 p.m. on Wednesday, March 22, at the family home in North Pole.