Katherine Gwen Lyman

Katherine Gwen Lyman, 75, a resident of Keizer, Oregon, died on January 8th, 2021 in Keizer, Oregon.
Born in Bozeman, Montana on May 14th, 1946, to Katie and John Lyman, Gwen grew up in Wallowa, Oregon. She attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA; University of Washington in Seattle, where she earned a Bachelors in Social Welfare; University of Idaho in Moscow, where she earned a Masters in Special Education; University of Oregon in Eugene where she earned an Administrative Certificate; and Oregon State University in Corvallis where she earned a M.S. in School Counseling. She enjoyed her career in education, teaching students with a broad range of handicaps. She designed a life skills program in Coos Country and taught a program for post-graduate autistic students in Corvallis, Oregon; was a family consultant in Eugene, Oregon; and counseled at high schools in Chiloquin, Oregon and Lincoln City, Oregon among other positions. Ending her teaching career in the Salem-Keizer school district at the Community School House, Early College High School and McNary High School. Until COVID, she still dedicated time to read with children at Highland Elementary. Enjoying every minute of it!
Gwen's life was highlighted by her music and birding. She sang and played piano, flute, autoharp and hand drums. She revered birds, particularly the wading birds in the Lower Klamath National Refuge. She also studied wild flowers as she grew up and loved flowers all her life.
She had a deep affection for animals and always had a companion cat. Her last cat, Tilly now lives with a dear friend in Eugene, Oregon. She also supported primates, Koko and Michael through the Gorilla Foundation; an Alasken wolf named Romeo; and other animal foundations, including her favorite organization, "Best Friends." During her time teaching, Gwen made sure to include a class on endangered animals--passing on her passion to others. Her devotion to all living creatures played an important role in her decision to be a lifetime vegetarian. And although suffering an aneurysm, which left her without a sense of taste or smell, Gwen strongly favored potatoes, coconut, Godiva chocolate, and more potatoes in any form.
Other interests included reading Pearl S. Buck books, "Calvin and Hobbs," "Clan of the Cave Bears," and any animal story she could get her hands on. She grew a variety of indoor plants. At one point she had over fifty plants and it took her all Saturday to water them. Gwen's fingers were quick and nimble. As an accomplished typist, Gwen could get a job anytime through "Kelly Girls." And for pleasure, Gwen enjoyed the leisure of sewing as she was a highly capable seamstress.
Gwen lived in diverse locations throughout her life: Seattle, Washington; San Francisco, California; Washington DC; Germany; Tucson, Arizona; Moscow, Idaho; Hilo, Hawaii; and several other towns in the Northwest. Finally retiring in Keizer, Oregon.
She deeply loved her family and is survived by her sister Doris "Dee," nieces Lisa Kent, Heidi Pullen, Randee McClure, Sara Jones and nephew Stephen Pullen. She is loved and missed by many, including close friends: Maridee, Christine, Alisha, Harry, Kathy, Greg, Norma, Helen, Jan, the Falby family, and all the others who touched Gwen's life.

Among her belongings is a poem that sums up exactly how Gwen saw each and every person who came into her life:


You are a wonderful,
worthy, and loveable person
Appreciate that
about yourself.
No one has ever been
or will ever be
quite like you.

You are an individual,
an original,
and all those things
that make you
uniquely you
are deserving of love
and praise.

--Peter A. McWilliams