Kathy Margaret (Robinson) Durden, aged 79, passed away on December 11, 2024, in Cedar Mill, Oregon, a few days before her 80th birthday on December 27th, 1944. Kathy lived a life of service, devoted to caring for wildlife and her family.
She was born in Billings, Montana and grew up in the small town of Ryegate, Montana to Gladys and Chuck Robinson. Kathy's early years were characterized by a love of animals and playing in the rimrocks behind the town. She adopted orphaned cats and punched naughty boys in the nose, when provoked. At 18 years old, she was crowned the Snowball Queen.
She graduated from the University of Montana with honors and was accepted as into the graduate psychology program at Stanford University in Palo Alto. In 1967 she married Richard Durden and the couple moved to Palo Alto. She always said that the years that she and Richard lived in the Bay Area were the best years of her life. There was so much to do there, and they had fun. They especially loved working on bonsai and their dog Andy.
In 1973, Kathy and Richard moved to Cedar Hills, Oregon with their 2-year-old daughter, Lisa. Soon after they moved, Kathy gave birth to a baby boy named Edward. Kathy was a homemaker and community volunteer during her children's youngest years.
In the mid-80's Kathy became involved with wildlife rehabilitation and volunteered at the Audubon Society and the Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District. She was the first park ranger at Commonwealth Lake and routinely rescued injured waterfowl. She advocated for the planting of riparian areas so waterfowl could have access to shelter and nesting grounds. She studied at night and earned her vet tech license and worked for a local veterinarian. She was an expert birder and could identify birds by their calls. Later, she worked at Tualatin Hills Nature Park before retiring in 2008.
She provided significant support to her family, raising her granddaughter Angela with her husband Richard, and diligently caring for her aging parents over many years.
She was a cancer survivor, and her later years were not easy. She was known for her steadfastness and determination. She loved picking blueberries and visiting a nut farm in Scholls every November. She loved black cats and Christmas was her favorite holiday. Her favorite ritual was to walk around Commonwealth Lake, and she did this regularly up until a few weeks before she died of vascular dementia.
Surviving Kathy are her daughter Lisa Durden; brother Bill Robinson, sister-in-law Ruby Robinson; sister-in-law Bea Close; niece Bev (Robinson) McNutt, nephew Robert Robinson; nephew Stacy Robinson; son Edward Durden; granddaughter Angela (Durden) Ross; grandson-in-law Anthony Ross; her caregivers Rayna, Cali, and Elizabeth Morales; and family friend Tracy Todd. She was preceded in death by her parents, Chuck and Gladys Robinson, her Auntie Fern, and brother David Robinson.
Kathy's life was one of personal sacrifice for the greater good, a deep love of animals, and a sustained commitment to her family and community. Kathy was respected and loved by those who knew her. She is deeply loved and missed.
She was born in Billings, Montana and grew up in the small town of Ryegate, Montana to Gladys and Chuck Robinson. Kathy's early years were characterized by a love of animals and playing in the rimrocks behind the town. She adopted orphaned cats and punched naughty boys in the nose, when provoked. At 18 years old, she was crowned the Snowball Queen.
She graduated from the University of Montana with honors and was accepted as into the graduate psychology program at Stanford University in Palo Alto. In 1967 she married Richard Durden and the couple moved to Palo Alto. She always said that the years that she and Richard lived in the Bay Area were the best years of her life. There was so much to do there, and they had fun. They especially loved working on bonsai and their dog Andy.
In 1973, Kathy and Richard moved to Cedar Hills, Oregon with their 2-year-old daughter, Lisa. Soon after they moved, Kathy gave birth to a baby boy named Edward. Kathy was a homemaker and community volunteer during her children's youngest years.
In the mid-80's Kathy became involved with wildlife rehabilitation and volunteered at the Audubon Society and the Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District. She was the first park ranger at Commonwealth Lake and routinely rescued injured waterfowl. She advocated for the planting of riparian areas so waterfowl could have access to shelter and nesting grounds. She studied at night and earned her vet tech license and worked for a local veterinarian. She was an expert birder and could identify birds by their calls. Later, she worked at Tualatin Hills Nature Park before retiring in 2008.
She provided significant support to her family, raising her granddaughter Angela with her husband Richard, and diligently caring for her aging parents over many years.
She was a cancer survivor, and her later years were not easy. She was known for her steadfastness and determination. She loved picking blueberries and visiting a nut farm in Scholls every November. She loved black cats and Christmas was her favorite holiday. Her favorite ritual was to walk around Commonwealth Lake, and she did this regularly up until a few weeks before she died of vascular dementia.
Surviving Kathy are her daughter Lisa Durden; brother Bill Robinson, sister-in-law Ruby Robinson; sister-in-law Bea Close; niece Bev (Robinson) McNutt, nephew Robert Robinson; nephew Stacy Robinson; son Edward Durden; granddaughter Angela (Durden) Ross; grandson-in-law Anthony Ross; her caregivers Rayna, Cali, and Elizabeth Morales; and family friend Tracy Todd. She was preceded in death by her parents, Chuck and Gladys Robinson, her Auntie Fern, and brother David Robinson.
Kathy's life was one of personal sacrifice for the greater good, a deep love of animals, and a sustained commitment to her family and community. Kathy was respected and loved by those who knew her. She is deeply loved and missed.
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