Kathleen Blackwelder

Kathleen (Sindt) Blackwelder, 72, won her place in Heaven on July 10, 2015, after a journey with cancer that only Kathy could have made into a journey of joy. Her final days were filled with visiting friends and family from all over the country, and quiet loving moments with her kids and grandkids.She is survived by her loving husband Gary Blackwelder of Lander, Wyo., son, Rob Blackwelder of Oakland, Calif. and his love, Angela; daughter, Mandi Alarie of Grants Pass, and her husband, Donald Alarie; and treasured grandsons, Porter and Jackson. She is also survived by loving sister, Judy; niece, Stacey; nephew, Dan; and grandnieces, Carly and Dana.A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, July 18 at Stephens Family Chapel, 1629 Williams Highway, Grants Pass.Kathy was born April 13, 1943 in Boulder, Colo. She graduated from the University of Colorado in 1968 with a degree in Arts and Sciences. She and Gary met in college and married on October 10, 1965. Kathy worked as an English teacher in the Boulder school system until the birth of Rob. She was an integral part of the formation of the famous Downtown Boulder Mall, where Gary and Kathy owned Thornton's Shoes, and the building that store occupied. In Grants Pass she was active in the Josephine Community Libraries and Occupy Grants Pass.Kathy would like to be best remembered as a writer. Her biography "Rare", adapted from the memoirs of her globetrotting aunt, Grace Nichols, was published in 2010, and she was writing until the day she died, leaving her latest novel unfinished. She was also proud of her kids and intensely proud as a grandma. The birth of her first grandson brought her to Grants Pass, where Mandi worked as a veterinarian. Her grandsons were the absolute joy of her life. They will never forget her creativity in making towns out of cardboard boxes, making "soup" out of anything a little boy might pull out of the cupboard, and finding the fun in every moment possible.Kathy lived and breathed the philosophy that you leave the world a better place then you entered. For all that knew her, she did just that.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to: The UC Davis MIND Institute, Health Sciences Development, 4900 Broadway, Suite 1150, Sacramento, CA 95820 secure.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/giving/donations/online.html or Josephine Community Libraries, PO Box 1684, Grants Pass, OR 97528 josephinelibrary.org .

Service Information

Saturday, July 18th, 2015 1:00pm