Obituary of Karin Inge Easterwood

Karin I. Easterwood passed away peacefully in her sleep after a courageous bout with cancer on March 11, 2009 in Lakewood, Washington. She was born on February 14, 1942 in Berlin, Germany and came to the United States in 1965. She was employed by St. Joseph's Medical Center for 35 years until her retirement in December 2008. Karin enjoyed life, as well as spending time with friends and family. She was an avid traveler, a shopaholic, an animal lover, and most of all a loving mother and friend. Karin's travels took her to places like Montana, Colorado, New York, and Pennsylvania, but also included foreign destinations such as Mexico, Canada, Australia, and her most recent trip to Europe were she visited Germany, Spain, and the Czech Republic. Even though she had traveled to places all around the world, Karin enjoyed vacationing in Destin, Florida where her son Martin lives most of all. Some of the fondest memories that Karin had of Destin were shopping at the Destin Commons, sunbathing at Beasley Park, swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, eating at the Bitburger German Restaurant, riding out Hurricane Ivan, and drinking a Bushwacker on the deck at AJ's. Karin will be missed by all of the people who's lives she had touched in so many ways over the years. She is survived by her son Martin Easterwood, brother Frank Ahrend, sister Barbara Hooker, cousins Doris McMullin & Dagmar Scholz, plus nieces and nephews. She will also be remembered and missed by " The Destin Boys " Rick Pope, Randy Dyer, Terry Weeks and lastly our beloved friend Skip Jordan (RIP), as well as "The Girls" Shelley Winder-Yost, Sonya Vernon, and Ami Strain who's friendship and love have meant so much. Thanks to Ginny, Thavy, Natasha and Mandy from Franciscan Hospice, you were all wonderful. And thank you Peggy Monahan for being such a huge help and a great friend. You took such good care of Karin in her last days, we love you. Thanks to all of Karin's friends for all of the calls, prayers, flowers, cards and thoughtful gifts that made each day so very special. And a special and loving thank you to Karin's best friends Sharon Kelly and Brenda Shindell, your kindness, thoughtfulness, generosity, and loving friendship will always be remembered. Thank you both for all that you have done, and for making Karin's last months a better place for her and her son Martin. We love and appreciate you more than you will ever know. In leau of flowers or gifts, donations can be made to Franciscan Hospice, the Humane Society, or the ASPCA in Karin Easterwoods name.