Judy Roan - My Mother's Memorial

Katherine Gay Bacon Roan died March 23, 2004 at the age of 89. Her children, Judy, Shirley and Ken, would like to share with you a brief history of her life.

Katherine’s forebears came from two old world families—the Gays and the Bacons. Both families had settled on the East Coast at about the same time in the 1640’s. Both families came from England and their reasons for emigrating is not known. We can speculate the need to move was for religious freedom pursuits in the case of the Gay family. The Bacons came to represent King George’s interest in the colonies. Katherine’s parents’ families met on the West Coast in the late 1800’s and settled in Auburn, Washington. Roscoe Concklin Bacon, Katherine’s father, was a draftsman and most notably worked in construction of dams along the Mississippi and in the North Cascades. Clara Belle Gay, Katherine’s mother, worked for several years as a telephone operator in Puyallup, Washington. Katherine Gay Bacon was born August 18, 1914 in Auburn, Washington. Katherine and her two sisters, Clara Adele and Mary Ann, were raised in a small, but comfortable home at 120 ‘O’ Street. It was originally a one-room house, but Roscoe added on another bedroom, kitchen, and extended the porch area. From what I can tell, mother and her sisters had an ideal upbringing in a loving and stable family. The three girls shared one large bedroom and grew up to be close friends.

Katherine graduated from Auburn High School and moved to Bellingham, Washington. Here she completed two years of college to obtain a teaching degree. It was in Bellingham that she met James Edward Roan, her future husband. Dad once related the story of how he met mother. She was strutting down the street near the college in a white dress and red “hooker heels”. These were explained by mother to be strappy high heels, but dad liked his version better. Dad and friends were playing baseball, but dad apparently paused long enough in the game to notice this pretty girl walking by. So instead of going off to Montana as a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse, mother married dad September 23, 1938. She wore a dark blue velvet dress with a shirred waist. (The dress today is safely kept in my closet.)

Dad took a job in the Navy Shipyards in Bremerton as a “joiner”. His training had been in woodworking and he had spent previous years working with his father in house construction. Snuffy, their dog, friends and relatives completed their comfortable life. It was in Bremerton six years later that Judith was born. Two years later Shirley joined the family. WWll ensured that dad’s job in the Navy Shipyard was secure. When the war ended, dad opted to begin his own business with a partner in Seattle. The move back to Auburn came after Katherine’s father died. The Roan family moved into Grandma Bacon’s Auburn home where she lived with her dog Teddy.

Thinking back, we had an idyllic life. Dad added to the little house and mother took over the daily operation of running it. She provided a home with stability, love, nurturing and support. Kenneth was born when mother was 38 years old, completing our family. It was at this time mother learned to drive.

It was many years before mother and dad were able to afford their own house. The move to Seattle was a major goal in her life. Mother wanted her children to be able to attend the University of Washington and wanted a house closer to dad’s business. In this house she could decorate as she wished, her kids had lots of room for their needs, and I believe that she was happy and contented. I also believe that this stage in life was her most treasured. Her hobbies included gardening, rug hooking, knitting, and crocheting. She even had a try at oil painting. Dad built a cabin in Leavenworth area and mother loved the weekend trips.

Mother was a good sport. She loved to laugh, read, sing, garden and keep up with old friends and family. She claimed not to enjoy cooking, but she cooked very well and was always trying out new recipes. She loved dogs and at one time had three to care for. Under her care they always lived to an old age.

Her last few years were tough, but she accepted her situation with humor and understanding. She had survived an aortic aneurysm in 2000 but was unable to care for herself as she would have liked. She moved into the care home of the Petrisors in Bellevue—a close drive for Judith. For three years she lived with the Petrisors in a small but cozy room with her treasured possessions. She enjoyed weekly outings out shopping, lunches, pedicures, and book stores. Books she read were shared with Elberta, a house mate and friend.

She died as she had lived—dignified and in control. We miss her in our lives.