Karen Kay Gatlin

Karen Kay Gatlin of Moscow died unexpectedly on Sunday, January 11, 2015 while vacationing in Hawaii with her husband. She was 70. Karen was born April 19, 1944, the daughter of Claude Daniel and Mildred Ethel Bachman Mishler in Eureka, Illinois. She graduated third in her class from University High School in Normal, IL in 1961. She attended Goshen College (Goshen, IN) for two years and received her Bachelors degree from Illinois State University (Normal, IL) in 1965 with a triple major in Comprehensive Social and Behavioral Sciences, Comprehensive Language Arts, and Music Education. She also completed a nationally accredited teacher education program through ISU. She received her Master's in 1969 in Social and Behavioral Sciences from Illinois State University. Her professional career spans twenty years as a Professor at Illinois Central College (E Peoria, IL); eighteen years as an in service training and manager in Washington State University's Human Resource Services Office; twenty-five years association as a trainer and course developer with the National Fire Academy, and fifteen years as an adjunct Professor in the Fire Services Administration program (personnel management coursework) for Western Oregon University (Monmouth, OR). Her most recent work includes employment at the University of Idaho and the continuation of her consulting work, begun in the 1980's. She moved to Moscow, ID in 1988 and Married Phillip Lawrence Gatlin in 1989. Her activities also included work for a number of different charities, including nine years as a Board member for Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse. Her interests included travel, camping, reading and playing the piano. For the last 15 years, Karen has had a business called "Bed Finders", a program that allows parents of students at WSU and U of I to have rooms during large events. She is survived by her husband, Phillip, at their Moscow home; three children, Andrea Gatlin Crosson (Kevin) of Colorado City, CO, Karen Patricia Gatlin (Mike Manley) of Phoenix, AZ, and Alan David Gatlin (Dori) of Moscow along with grandchildren, Andrew McGraw, Ryan McGraw, Kara Manley and Sofia Crosson. Her older sister, Joyce E. Schmucker of Bloomington, IL also survives her. She was preceded in death by her parents. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at 3:00 PM at Short's Funeral Chapel in Moscow. The family suggests memorials be made to the Moscow Fire Department, Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse or to the Humane Society of the Palouse. Arrangements have been entrusted to Short's Funeral Chapel, Moscow, and online condolences may be sent to www.shortsfuneralchapel.net.