Kathleen Bernard

Kathleen Annette Porter Bernard 1946 - 2021 Born: February 9, 1946 in Rexburg, Idaho, to John C. Porter and Annette Oldham Porter at Madison Memorial Hospital. She was just barely over 2 lbs when she was born, and due to it being a small rural hospital at the time, when twin babies even tinier were born and needed the heat lamp area, she was sent home with family only days after birth. Incredibly and wonderfully, she went on to live 75 years after this stunning beginning. Died: November 5, 2021 at home near Wenatchee/Cashmere, Washington of natural causes. She was in the care of her daughter, Roxanne Clay Harrison, her son-in-law, John Harrison, and Wenatchee hospice. Growing up, she lived in Rexburg, Idaho with her family, working in the family business, The Standard-Journal Newspapers, alongside other family members. She graduated from Madison High School, then attended Ricks College where she met her first husband, John Henry Clay III. They married April 17th, 1965 in Idaho Falls, and had two children: Roxanne and Roy. Kathie and John later divorced. She married Lesley Joe Bernard on June 26th, 1972. She has lived in Rexburg, Ucon, Roberts, and Boise Idaho; Las Vegas, Nevada; Baker City, Oregon (where her husband, Les, passed away), Vancouver, Washington moving in with Roxanne; and then in the rural Wenatchee/Cashmere, Washington area with Roxanne and her husband, John Harrison. Kathie worked many places during her life. Starting with the family business, she then went on to work at the Post Register newspaper in Idaho Falls, Idaho doing typesetting, pagination, and layout. When computers took over that type of work in the newspaper industry, Kathie went back to school at Ricks College and obtained her degree in nursing. She worked as a nurse in Idaho Falls and Boise, Idaho; and Las Vegas, Nevada. At times in her life, Kathie was active in the LDS church, her favorite calling being working as a librarian in Baker City, Oregon. Kathie's favorite thing to anticipate (each year that she could go) was the Porter Family Reunion. She always looked forward to laughing and joking with family, catching up on all the news, and especially finding some way to tease her brothers or make them smile. She would talk of it all year long. Some favorite stories she loved to tell from her childhood include hiding under a chair and rushing out as her brother walked by, only to squeal and bite his ankle. When asked what she thought she was doing, she answered, "I was only playing pig!" Throughout the years, she has collected pig figurines, stuffed animals, and such. She also recalled the time one of her brothers came across her right after she discovered how the plastic tomato filled with ketchup worked - with ketchup all over her face and the rest of her. Kathie is survived by daughter, Roxanne Harrison (John); step-son, Jim Bernard, Rigby, Idaho; brothers: John Austin Porter (wife, Loretta) Kirkland, Washington; David Oldham Porter (Maxine) of Coeur d' Alene, Idaho; and Roger Oldham Porter, Rexburg, Idaho. She is also survived by many grandchildren: Bryen, Jesimee (Beau), Jordyn (Bree), Sabra(Ben), Nathan (partner Emily), and Ian; and great grandchildren: Nakara, Katja, Nikolai, Seraphina, Misha, and one about to be born. She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Roy John Porter Clay (age 2); her stepdaughter, Sandra Bernard (age 16); and her husband, Les Bernard. Rather than a formal service, Kathie preferred that people gather and visit each other, sharing some fun memories of her and eating good food. The family will be gathering for both camping and a trip to the ocean to celebrate her life, share some good laughs and maybe a few tears, and continue to build lasting family relationships and memories.

Kathleen Bernard

February 9, 1946 - November 5, 2021