Wednesday, February 21, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
21
Obituary
Katherine S. Livingston
June 1, 1915 — October 6, 2017
Katherine S. Livingston,
known as Tash, grew up in
San Rafael, California. When
she was 11, her grandfather
wrote “I love Tash because
she is always herself. Maybe
good, maybe bad, never
uncertain, and always Tash
— I love her.”
A graduate of Bennington
College, Tash married Ken
Livingston, in 1937, moving
shortly thereafter to Boston
for Ken’s surgical residency.
In 1948 they moved to
Portland, where Katherine
became active in cultural
and progressive politi-
cal circles. She served on
the board of the League of
Women Voters, and on the
Jane Jefferson Democratic
Women’s Club. In 1957
Governor Bob Holmes
appointed Tash to the State
Board of Agriculture to rep-
resent consumer interests.
Since childhood, Tash
enjoyed summer trips to
the Wood camp on the
Metolius, as well as visits to
the Corbett ranch, whetting
her appetite for a piece of
Metolius land. Johnny Bruns
suggested she talk to Eleanor
Bechen, who had 40 acres on
Spring Creek. Tash and Ken
secured the property, and
through a partnership with
the Deschutes Land Trust,
its natural and undeveloped
state will be preserved.
In 1960, Ken was
recruited to bring his neu-
rosurgical skills to Shiraz,
Iran. The following year
he accepted a position as
Visiting Dean of Pahlavi
University. Tash enjoyed
a busy social life with her
Persian friends, and also
volunteered at the Red Lion
& Sun orphanage, playing
with toddlers, cleaning and
feeding hungry infants, and
advocating for time in the
garden.
In Shiraz she met Terence
O’Donnell, a Portland native
living in Iran. His exquisite
book of tales, “Garden of the
Brave in War,” held many
poignant memories they
shared over the years.
When Tash and Ken
moved to Toronto in 1970,
Tash became principal of the
Montcrest School. Under her
leadership, the school grew
dramatically and, inspired by
her granddaughter Roxanna,
who had dyslexia, she added
a program for children with
learning disabilities. She
retired from Montcrest in
1982, when Ken was struck
by a catastrophic illness.
They returned to Camp
Sherman, settling on the
banks of Spring Creek.
Over the years, Tash
has hosted poetry lyceum
every month or so, as well
as meditation sits. Her door
was always open, and there
was always room for an extra
place at her table. Her role in
honoring her grandfather’s
century-old promise of a stal-
lion for the Nez Perce led to
a deep connection with Silas
Whitman, Chairman of the
Nez Perce Tribal Executive
Committee. The generosity
of her spirit lives on.
Toward the end of her
life, Tash asked herself,
“Why have I lived so long?”
Her answer was “Love and
laughter, and good friends,
especially among the
young.”
Tash is survived by
her two children, Bruce
Livingston (Bethany
Rowland), and Eliza
Livingston
(Clarke
Bingham); and multiple
grandchildren, great-
grandchildren, and beloved
extended family.
Her doctor and friend, Joe
Bachtold, cared for her with
respect, dignity and compas-
sion. We are thankful to Dr.
Joe, his wife, Gwen, and
the staff at the St. Charles
Family Clinic for the years
of kind, thoughtful care.
We are deeply grateful
to the Spring Creek Angels,
whose devoted companion-
ship and care in Tash’s last
years nurtured her indomi-
table spirit and vitality to the
very end: Terry, Karen, Sister
Bear, Judy, Kathy W, Kathy
B, Susie, Tsering, and Joyce.
The compassionate support
of Redmond Hospice during
Tash’s last months gave her
and us great comfort.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Bluesman Tommy Castro returns to The Belfry in Sisters on Wednesday
night.
Among the many friends
and family who contrib-
uted to her care and well-
being over the years, we are
especially grateful to Kirk
Metzger and Glen Corbett,
Gail Butler and Les Schell
for coming to her aid in so
many ways.
We want to express our
love and gratitude for the
multitude of friends who
brought her companionship
and love, laughter and joy, a
good martini, dark chocolate,
and so much more.
We invite you to visit her
website at: www.katherine-
smithlivingston.com.
Information provided by
the family of Katherine S.
Livingston.
Quality Truck-mounted
CARPET CLEANING
Quality Cleaning 16 years in
Reasonable Prices Sisters!
— Credit Cards Accepted —
ENVIROTECH
541-771-5048
Licensed • Bonded • Insured • CCB#181062
RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL
WITHOUT YOUR
PLUMBER, YOU’D HAVE
NOWHERE TO GO.
Call Sweeney Plumbing
today for all your plumbing
emergencies and needs.
Serving the local community of Sisters
and surrounding areas since 1995.
541-549-4349
260 N. Pine St., Sisters
Licensed
Bonded / Insured
CCB#87587
Rare Opening in Sisters
H’ H
115 NW Greenwood, Redmond | 541-588-6119
A’ H
192 E. Tall Fir Ct., Sisters | 541-549-1726
P’ P
182 E. Tall Fir Ct., Sisters | 541-549-1336
D L T | O/O
Business Cell (541) 848-3194
“Enriching the lives of those we serve, one day at time”
Tommy Castro plays
in Sisters at The Belfry
Tommy Castro & The
Painkillers, currently cel-
ebrating the release of their
new Alligator Records album,
“Stompin’ Ground,” will per-
form at The Belfry in Sisters
on Wednesday, February 21.
Over the course of his
career, guitarist, vocal-
ist and songwriter Tommy
Castro — a six-time Blues
Music Award-winner — has
played thousands of shows
to hundreds of thousands of
ecstatic fans. Castro, along
with his band, The Painkillers
— bassist Randy McDonald,
keyboardist Michael Emerson
and drummer Bowen Brown
— plays music that is guar-
anteed to fill the floor and
raise the roof. With seem-
ingly telepathic musician-
ship, the Painkillers bring
an unmatched passion to
Castro’s blue-eyed California
soul and hard-rocking, good-
time songs. Concert informa-
tion is as follows:
The Belfry is located at
302 E. Main Ave. Showtime
is 7 p.m. Tickets are $20.