Karen Kay Gourlie, 60, a lifetime Aberdeen resident, passed away on Monday, June 5, 2023, at Harbor Regional Health in Aberdeen, Washington.
Karen was born on March 12, 1963, to Albert Fredericks and Norma (Hunger) Fredericks at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Aberdeen. She attended JM Weatherwax High School. While in elementary school, the YMCA swim instructor, Pete Bruner, took notice of her swimming skills and asked her to be a part of the swim team. She was like a fish in water and continued team swimming throughout her high school years. Her love of swimming carried on through her adult years, where she could be found in a pool or floating down the Wynoochee River. She played clarinet in the marching band and concert band under the direction of Hampton Wines. She was part of the 1981 Aberdeen High School band trip to Switzerland and Austria.
After high school, Karen obtained certification from Grays Harbor College while working at the Blue Beacon and Taco Bell. She was then accepted to the International Air Academy in Vancouver, Washington. Upon completion, she began a 27 year long career as a travel agent. She enjoyed her profession, while working for Gad-A-Bout Travel, Travel Ect., Durney Travel and Journey Travel.
She was a longstanding member of the Wishkah Home and Community Educators. Karen was also a compassionate caregiver for Catholic Community Services for almost 10 years after leaving the travel industry.
Karen met her husband to be, Bill Gourlie, when she was in the eighth grade. Too shy to speak to him, she told her sister about the boy she thought was cute, who came into their family’s grocery store, The Wishkah Valley Market. Years later, they ran into each other and began dating. The couple married on May 21, 1988 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Aberdeen. The couple continued to live in Aberdeen and began their family. They had a son, Greg, and a daughter, Megan. Her greatest love was her family.
Truly a hometown girl, she loved being from Aberdeen. She adored dogs, eating fish and chips, reading Danielle Steel books, and watching Lifetime and Hallmark movies. She often called her mom to talk about the network’s new releases. An avid Mariner’s fan, she enjoyed going to games and watching them on TV. She and her family excitedly attended the inaugural opening of Safeco Field in July 1999.
She is preceded in death by her father, Albert Fredericks.
Karen is survived by her husband, Bill Gourlie, of Aberdeen; son, Greg Gourlie and wife, Amanda, of Aberdeen; daughter, Megan Gourlie and finance Josh Aronson, of Aberdeen; mother, Norma Fredericks, of Aberdeen; sister, Linda Fredericks, of Fayetteville, Georgia; grandson, Ezekiel Gourlie, of Aberdeen, along with multiple cousins.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at 1 p.m. in the chapel of Fern Hill Funeral Home in Aberdeen. A graveside service will follow at St. John’s Cemetery in the Wishkah Valley, 43 Wishkah Road, Aberdeen. A reception will follow at the Gourlie family home. Please visit www.fernhillfuneral.com to leave a memory or note of condolence for the family. Arrangements have been entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home in Aberdeen, Washington.
