Kathryn Cree

Kathy (Cap, Cappy, Kappy, Auntie) Cree passed away peacefully on August 24, 2026 surrounded by family. She leaves behind a legacy of love, creativity, and boundless optimism.

Born on August 8, 1930, in Sioux City, Iowa, to William Hugh Green and Henrietta Helen Finning (Wavra), Kathy completed her family as the youngest of three children, joining her siblings Caroline and Hugh. Her childhood was filled with adventures, leading her through her school years until she graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane, Washington. Soon after, Kathy moved to Missoula, Montana, where she worked at the Mercantile. It was there that she met and fell in love with Delmar (Del) Cree, an employee of the Northern Pacific Railroad. The two were married on September 19, 1950, and by 1958, they were happily raising their four children: Gary, Steve, Beth, and Mark.

During the 1950s and 60s in Missoula, Kathy worked at Tremper’s Shopping Center and dedicated her time as a Sunday school teacher at the First Presbyterian Church. When the family relocated to Pasco, Washington, Kathy discovered what would become a lifelong passion: quilting. A subsequent job promotion took Kathy and Del to Vancouver, Washington—a place that became her absolute favorite. There, she and her best friend crafted treasures together to sell at local bazaars. She also became an active member of the Clark County Quilters, and they generously stitched countless quilts for charity.

Upon retirement, Kathy and Del moved to the Many Lakes area of Kalispell, Montana, where they built their dream log cabin in the woods. Kathy fully immersed herself in the community as an active member of the Flathead Quilter’s Guild and the local grange hall. Following the passing of her beloved husband, Kathy returned to Pasco in 2000, purchasing a lovely home to be closer to family. While in Pasco, she was a member of the Prairie Pointers quilting group where her devotion to her craft truly bloomed. She was also a member of the Pasco Church of the Nazarene. Each of her thousands of projects became tangible extensions of her love for others. Her home was a reflection of her joyful spirit, filled with miniature treasures, toys, and an extensive collection of dachshund-themed items, honoring the breed she loved and owned throughout her life.

Kathy loved traveling by train and frequently visited family in Gresham, Oregon. In 2016, she moved to Gresham Manor to be nearer to them. She quickly became a welcoming pillar of the community, greeting new arrivals, participating in activities, and playing pinochle with friends. She also joined the Gresham Springwater Church of the Nazarene. Her apartment balcony was her sanctuary; there, she tended her flowerpots, fed the hummingbirds, and sat contentedly watching the world go by. It was also the perfect vantage point for her to wave a final, fond goodbye to family and friends after a sweet visit. She relished life's active pleasures, frequently attending live sporting events, plays, and taking trips to the Oregon coast with her family.

In 2023, due to her diagnosed dementia, Kathy moved to Moscow, Idaho, to live with her daughter so she could have limited care assistance. Surrounded by her cherished treasures, Kathy jumped right into her new community, enjoying friendships, and a comforting routine. In 2024, she and her daughter embarked on an Amtrak train adventure taking them through various western states. Every Saturday, the House of Prayer Fellowship met in her home. She looked forward to senior lunches each week, attended Circles of Caring twice a week, and spent most Fridays enjoying activities at Oma’s Place. Kathy found simple joys in putting together jigsaw puzzles, watching life through the living room window, and visiting family. Despite her diagnosis, she maintained an incredibly upbeat attitude and genuinely relished time spent with anyone, no matter who they were or where they came from.

Our incredibly wonderful and uplifting Grandma Kathy, who was 96 years young, witnessed nearly a century of history—living through the stock market crash, the Dust Bowl, World War II, Y2K, COVID and everything in between and beyond. Though there are too many stories and adventures to share here, her family remains profoundly grateful for every single one of them, and for the perpetual cheerfulness, optimism, and kind words of encouragement she offered to everyone she met.

Kathy was preceded in death by her father, William (Bill) Green, her mother, Henrietta Helen Finning, her husband, Delmar Cree; her sister, Caroline Nelson; her brother-in-law, Howard Nelson; her brother, Hugh Green; her sister-in-law, Alice Green; her nephew, Mike Green; and her great-grandson, Michael Glen Bedard.

She is survived by a large, loving family that meant the world to her: her son Gary Cree (Lisa), granddaughter Sarah (Franco), and great-grandson Logan; her son Steve Cree (Terry), grandson Christopher (Charity), great-granddaughter Emma, grandson Johnathan (Laura), and great-grandchildren Oliver and Audrey; her daughter Beth Cree, grandson Jason, granddaughter Jennifer (Lindsey), great-granddaughter Jordana (Chris), great-great-grandchildren Lillyanna, Ryker, Brexley, and Steven, great-granddaughter Stormy (Brandon), great-great-grandchildren Bo, Taytum, Xander, Freya, Gideon, and Eden, great-granddaughter Tiahnna, and great-great-grandson Jerrod (Little Man), great-grandchildren Timber and Sawyer, grandson Tristan (Rachael), and great-grandson Tyler, granddaughter Alyssa, and great grandsons Tanner and Hayden; and her son Mark Cree (Mary), and granddaughters Katherine (Jake), Marybeth, and Tara. Kathy also leaves behind more than a “bushel and a peck” of extended family, including her nephews Conrad, Marty, and Scott, and her niece Rietta, along with their families.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Circles of Caring Adult Day Health in Pullman, Washington or Oma’s Place in Moscow, Idaho. The benefits Kathy received from these organizations and the exceptional care of their staff were truly irreplaceable.

A Celebration of Life in Remembrance of Kathy will be held at the Moscow, Idaho Best Western Plus University Inn (Silver/Gold Room) on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 11:00am followed by a light lunch. For out-of-town guests, a special rate is available under the "Kathy Celebration of Life" block. Please book before September 24, 2026 by calling 208-882-0550 ext 1.