Katherine Browngardner left this life peacefully on Valentine’s Day in Fortuna, California.

Katherine Jean “Kitty” Brown was born in the old Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Eureka on December 10, 1951. As an early and voracious reader with a talent for math, Kitty excelled at school, graduating as salutatorian of the Ferndale High School class of 1970, earning a full academic scholarship to Humboldt State University.

While in college, she was involved at Arcata First Baptist Church, where she acquired many lifelong friends and a personal commitment to serve her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She met and married Glenn Gardner. They moved to Santa Rosa, where she established herself as a certified public accountant who was extremely detail-oriented, trustworthy, and honest. Katherine pursued her many interests with abandon, becoming an excellent ballroom dancer, an avid organic gardener, attending culinary school and, dreaming up endless home remodel projects.

In 1996 she met Jonathan Abel, a skilled contractor whom she married in 2000. Together they shared their faith, square dancing and multiple remodeling projects.

Katherine was preceded in death by her father; Robert S. Brown, sisters; Roberta Brown, and Teresa Brown. She is survived by her husband; Jonathan, her mother; Nina (Corbett) Brown, sister; Margaret Miranda, and brothers; Tom Brown and George Brown. She is also survived by three nieces, eight nephews, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to:

Hospice of Humboldt, 3327 Timber Fall Court, Eureka, 95503

or :

The Palliative Care Team of.St Joseph’s Hospital, 2700 Dolbeer Street, Eureka, 95501.

If you knew and loved Katherine, please bring a story to share, come laugh and cry with us as we share lunch and celebrate her life on Sunday, Feb 28, at noon in the Ferndale Town Hall, 834 Main Street, Ferndale.

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The obituary above was submitted by Katherine Browngardner’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.