Kathleen Alice Fuller

“You can take the girl out of the Bronx, but you can’t take the Bronx out of the girl.”

Kathleen Alice Fuller of Port Orchard, WA, 04/20/1942 – 04/19/2022, daughter of Michael James Dolan and Helen Marie Dolan (nee) Kevan.

Although born with challenges, Kathleen remembered a wonderful childhood living in an apartment above the family candy store where she and her younger brother Michael, sometimes worked. She was verifiably 100% Irish (according to 23andMe). She was schooled by nuns. At age 17, she dropped out of school and went to work for a bank. In 1960, at the age of 18 she lost her first love to cancer. Angelo was an Italian baker whose parents owned the bakery next to the candy store. Angelo had a white and turquoise 1956 Ford Fairlane with a continental kit. He was taken to yodeling Hillbilly tunes. Over her lifetime, she would remember that dashing young man whenever a country song was played. A few years later, she married Erwin George Krug, a Navy man from the neighborhood. George and Kathleen were blessed with the births of Keith, George, Michael, and Amy Beth. After George (a brilliant electronics technician) left the Navy, he became well employed in the electronics field. The family travelled.

After the marriage dissolved, she moved the family to Port Orchard, WA. Having married Gary Smith, a Postal worker, she and her four children began the transition to becoming North Westerners. Defiantly, she would never relinquish her accent. She was proud to be from the burro of the Bronx, in Bronx County New York, New York. And along came Aileen, the youngest of five.

In the meantime, she managed to pass her high school GED test, on the first try. But this would not be the end of her education. Aside from being a student of the world, she would avail herself to receiving a higher education. First it was a Bachelor of Arts degree from Evergreen State College, home of the Geoducks. She did this while working and as a single mom, raising children. And in May 1998, from Chapman University, she received her second degree, Master of Arts, Organizational Leadership. Professionally, Kathleen was many things; she was a bank teller, a Mary Kay salesperson, real-estate agent, property manager, bailiff, counselor, a newspaper columnist, business owner and an educator. Actually, this is a partial list.

After her marriage to Aileen’s father ended in divorce, Kathleen became a single woman. She worked, she played, she travelled. She visited China and Scotland and eventually would see the Caribbean, Alaska and tour the United States by train and automobile. In her 2006 poem, “Tough Not to Travel” she stated, “I would rather TRAVEL than UNRAVEL, any day.”

She had passions. She offered a college course in “Herstory”. She helped develop a program to assist women in competing for fire fighter positions. She was a feminist, almost before it was a thing. As a counselor, she carefully helped people confront their demons. She fought for the underdog. Kathleen had many friends from different walks of life. She adopted people. She was an equal opportunity friend. Kathleen was a skilled Mahjong player and liked word puzzles. She was a writer and an award-winning poet. She was a knitter. But above all, she was a family woman. She loved her family. Upon the passing of Helen Dolan (our beloved “Nanny”) in May 2013, Kathleen became the matriarch of a very large and loving family.

While working as a counselor, Kathleen met, dated, and soon fell in love with co-worker, Martin Bowes. They each had literally found their true soul mates. On September 2, 2001, they wed. Marty was embraced by the entire family; Marty became Michael’s wing man. Kathleen and Marty then moved from their home in Kingston to Port Orchard. They traveled, they partied, they lived. It was one of the happiest periods of Kathleen’s life. Marty had battled diabetes for quite some time. On December 7, 2008, while surrounded by family, he passed. This was the worst day in Kathleen’s life. She would mourn his loss forever.

In the late summer of 2009, upon returning from a nephew’s wedding in New York, Kathleen was introduced to Lynn by a mutual friend. After a very long conversation, Kathleen handed him her business card. She said, “call me.” He thought about it. He was actually going to but before he could, he ran into her and her granddaughter Kayla at “the music on the bay”. Shortly afterwards, Kathleen invited Lynn to have a beer with her on his 63rd birthday. A year and two days later, on August 27, 2010, they were married on the deck of Kathleen’s condo. Hours later they were on a cruise ship headed to Alaska. Lynn, a former recluse, was now introduced to many new friends including members of Kathleen’s sorority, Beta Sigma Phi, and of course, in true fashion, the family accepted Lynn into the fold. Kathleen and Lynn were both in the autumn of their years. Their marriage was one of love and mutual respect. She gave him purpose, direction, and laughter. He gave her security, support, and laughter. She had fought serious lung and heart disease for years. On the afternoon of April 18, 2022, she was able to meet with a large portion of her family at Northwoods Lodge Rehabilitation Center. Lynn spent the night with her and at 2:38 AM, April 19, 2022, 21 hours 22 minutes shy of her 80th birthday, she passed. This was the worst day in Lynn’s life. He will mourn her loss forever. Kathleen was a kind, gentle, fair-minded person. However, you would not want her “to get her Irish up.” Kathleen is survived by her husband Lynn; her sons Keith (Dawn) Krug, George Krug, Michael (Lael) Krug; her daughters Amy Beth (Jason) Krug-Norem, Aileen Willmoth-House; her 14 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Michael, his wife and four sons.

Lynn and the family would like to thank the team at St. Michael Medical Center and the staff at Northwoods Lodge Rehabilitation Center for their kindness and professionalism. A remembrance for family and friends will be held on August 27, 2022, time and place will be announced later. Donations may be made to Kitsap Humane Society. Kathleen had a productive and long life, by some accounts, not long enough. She was loved by many. She will be missed.