Patricia Kay Bidwell

Kay’s Biography

I have had a most happy life. My greatest joy has come from my family – DB (my dearest partner in greatness – quoting the Bard) from our daughter Meg and son in law Geoff Klein, my grandsons – Gavin, and Garrett and his wife Mara, and my sister Beverly Law and her family--Dave, Tad and Hilary. I could not love them more.

My mom, Helyn Sutcliffe, and my dad, Chet Clipp, gave me a childhood home in Wenatchee that allowed the freedom to be a hermit (except for the babysitting after Bev arrived) and some sneaky skills in how to take the baby too when our buddies came to take us to the drive-in .

And the ladies of the Iron Butt Bridge Camp - Sandy Heathershaw, Dot Lintz, and Kyle Aiken. We did 26 years of a no kids/no men long week of total immersion bridge at Gordie Allen at his Lake Chelan cabin and then at Bev’s condo at Lakeside. Thanks so much to each of you for so many good times and to Gord and Bev and Dave for your generosity.

And joy has also come from great tennis friends. They are extraordinary women, and I’ve enjoyed every minute with them (especially when I won). The same goes for our irregular bridge lunches at Ginger’s which included some awesome stomach rumbles after tennis.

I have worked with some exceptionally caring, talented people – Pam Hamon and Mary Serbousek with Project Family, a child abuse and neglect prevention agency; in Olympia with former State Senator/Representative Barbara Granlund; and the staff of the Kitsap County Division of Human Services. They all dedicated their lives to making the world a better place.

How could I not mention my other best friends? Our golden retriever Arnold was Disney’s Goofy for sure – a wiggling, wriggling mass of hysterically happy dog. Discipline? What’s that???

As for felines, we’ve had a few: Phloebus, who joined us at Apple Valley, CA, as a kitten and continued a long line of companions –my most chatty cat Dirty Harry; my most snuggly cat Roger; my most entertaining racing cat Mario; my sweetest cat Lamont (The Shadow knows); and the best cat ever anywhere – Tim. To know the love of furry family is happiness purrsonified. So maybe they don’t love you back in the same way, but I can settle for the illusion.

THANK YOU for all the love and care you’ve shown me. I love YOU all, always – and I’ll miss you all.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to SK Helpline.

The gathering at Rill Chapel has been canceled due to Covid.