Kathi Leyde Galletly
On Wednesday June 8th, 2022, Kathi Leyde Galletly, beloved wife and mother of two, passed away at the age of 70.
Kathi was born on August 25th, 1951, in Bremerton, WA to Bert and Betty Leyde. After receiving her degree in both teaching and psychology from the University of WA, Kathi began a career in fundraising and special events at Children’s Hospital, in Seattle WA. From there she went on to work as an Executive Assistant at Virginia Mason Hospital, and then moved on to Northwest Hospital, where she became the Executive Director of NW Hospital’s foundation.
On June 26th, 1982, Kathi married Ron Galletly. They raised two children together, Daniel James and Laura Jean.
Kathi had a passion for creating and started a gift basket business in 2002 called Star Struck Designs. From planning events, to making gifts, to creating beautiful scenery in gardens, she loved to bring what ever she was working on to life.
She loved to read, watch movies and tv shows, listen and dance to music, and most importantly, spend quality time with her husband and children. Kathi was known for her quick wit, dry sense of humor, infectious smile and bright, loving spirit.
Kathi was preceded in death by her father, Bert, and her mother, Betty. She is survived by her husband Ron, and two children Daniel and Laura.
5 Responses to “Kathi Leyde Galletly”
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Kathi was very proud of her children and husband and
she was a very supportive mother and wife.
She had a good sense of humor and was fun to be around.
I will miss her greatly.
How do you describe a 65 year friendship? Kathi and I met in 1st grade, and have been best pals ever since. We were in each other’s weddings, were college roommates, went to Europe together in 1972 for spring quarter; (three months of wonderful adventures!). We have shared each other’s ups and downs of life for all the years since. We’ve been together in thick and thin (literally; as we both were prone to gaining and losing significant quantities of weight over the years.) I will love Kathi always, and will always cherish the time she graced all of us who knew her and loved her. I’m pretty sure she’s already busy organizing events for those she has met and reconnected with in the after-life! I love you and miss you, dear Kathi! I know I will see you again someday. All my love, Jane
Kathi was a great friend. I have wonderful memories of Kathi: her beautiful smile, always ready to lend a helping hand, helping to keep my feet grounded as well as her incredible artistic and creative talent that was seen first hand when she helped with my daughter’s wedding. We had fun following the British royalty by reading all the royalty books and staying up all night watching every aspect of the royal weddings. She made this world a brighter and better place. She meant the world to me. I will miss her but know I will see her again. Love, Bette
I first met Kathi when she was my sister’s close friend, and she was working in a hospital setting. She was always a kind person, and she was also one of the most positive people I had met outside our family. . I remember her being able to help people frame even hard experiences in ways that helped them gain perspective or see the silver lining in circumstances that were not the best. But the time I got to know Kathi the best was during a training called Life Spring that my sister had recommended to both of us to take. It was a series of exercises and experiences over a couple of evenings and a Saturday. I learned of her deep desire to be married and have a family. Because of our common experience, we were able to talk easily with each other. She also was a person who I experienced being great with other people, and especially seniors. Over the years, my fondest memory was working on her gardens with my Father. They were spectacular, and the reason why I think that was is because Kathi allowed my Dad to do whatever he wanted to do with those gardens, which were significantly bigger than the ones he had in Edmonds. I am sure that Kathi and Ron may have spent significantly more on those gardens than they might have done otherwise. Even when Kathi was fighting with the disease, she knew how to keep a postive outlook on life to the end.
Kathi was for me and my late husband Bill, a loving second daughter. She came into our lives when Chris our daughter lost her first husband killed in a plane crash.Here are a few highlites:garage sale when she & Ron were to be married: births of Daniel and Lauren: but big in my memory was the beautiful garden Bill & Kathi created (they were both flower alcholics )Their relationship grew into phone calls and visits that raised our morale as his health declined, She could make him laugh and tell jokes. She organized our hard move when we knew Supported living would be a reality.
We treasured Thanksgivings and recently keeping in touch with notes and precious visits. I will miss her but never forget her bravery and inspiration to Bill and me.