Kathleen Washington

Kathleen Washington “Xhu-Xhu-ciat”, 67, started her final journey March 7, 2017. She was born in Vancouver, Washington to Lawrence and Ruth Howard on June 26, 1950. Kathleen Washington resided most of her life on the Yakama Nation Reservation. She is an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation. Kathleen, also known as Dolly, was loved by many as she had many roles in life as a daughter, mother, grandmother, niece, sister and aunt to her family. Throughout her life she has dedicated everything toward her family and traditions as a food gatherer. As a child and young adult she participated in basketball and baseball playing for the Spurettes which is a team her parents started. The Spurs/ Spurettes is something she was proud of as her parents dedicated a lot of their time toward it and this effort impacted many men and women and youth on the reservation. In her professional life she completed an AA in Accounting from Central Washington University and a Bachelors from Northwest Indian College. Before she retired she worked for Yakama Nation General Council as an Administrative Executive Assistant. One of the jobs she enjoyed before working there was in Bellingham on a Native Language Project. Dolly’s passion was preparing food for family gatherings and Sunday service at Toppenish Creek Longhouse. She was known to be giving, hardworking and to carry on in a humble way. As she passes she can say she enjoyed staying in Yakama Nation Legends Casino Hotel and she was very happy to say that as she enjoyed playing slot machines where the legends play! Dolly is survived by her family and friends; her loving brothers and sisters: Dennis Arthur Howard, Darrell Wayne Howard, Mariana Lee Cree and Willhemina Howard, also her children: Ruth Washington, David Washington, Wyatt Washington and her thirty plus grandchildren. Dolly was preceded in death by many she loved: her parents Lawrence Howard and Ruth (Charley) Howard; her brother Chester Howard and Gary Unitus Howard; her paternal grandparents Roy Howard and Daisy Tahkeal; her maternal grandparents Thompson Charley and Edna Weahlealacooler. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Kathleen Washington, please visit our flower store.