Kathleen Gamble, 79

Kathleen Gamble died July 31 in Gig Harbor, Washington. She was born in Seattle July 13, 1946, and raised in Tigard, Oregon. She moved to Juneau, Alaska, in the early ’70s.

For the last five, years she lived on the Key Peninsula, engaged to marry local man Ed Johnson.

Her working career began as a computer programmer, back when programs consisted of hard-wiring panels. Later, she accepted a job with a small trucking company in Juneau, only to be hired away by the Lynden Companies, from which she retired after 30-some years.

Along the way, Kathleen developed an interest in belly dancing and founded the successful Juneau dance group, Daughter of the New Moon, in 1983.

Throughout her working career, people said, “If you need to find something, ask Kathleen.” She was extremely organized. She ran interference with the Alaska Ferry system, alerting them to the number of trailers Lynden would be providing for each ferry trip. In her retirement, she rekindled a long-term friendship with fellow Lynden employee, a Mr. Ed Johnson, ultimately selling her Juneau house and moving to Gig Harbor.

Kathleen enjoyed reading, their “date nights” at the Open Mic events at Kimball Coffeehouse, and following Ed to various youth sports games to take pictures of friends and relatives.

Kathleen is survived by her daughter Leslie, son Matt, sister Betty, nephew David, niece Jennie, and her fiancé Ed Johnson. A memorial service will be announced at a future date.