Katherine (Katie) Ann Simons Young

Our beloved Katie passed away five years ago on April twelfth 2019 at age 67 in a hospital near her home in Palo Alto. Katie was serenaded in love and song by her three children Sarah, Marcus and Adam Young while surrounded by friends and close family. Katie's husband, Willie Young entered heaven at age 71 on November fifth 2014. We miss Katie and her husband Willie each and every day.

Katherine Ann Simons was born in San Francisco on October twenty-fifth 1951 to Gail Marie Simons né Gehres of San Francisco, California and Ferdinand Gustave Simons of Astoria, New York. In 1954 the Simons family moved to Pacifica, California. There Katherine (Katie) and her siblings Lisa, Jeffrey, Laura and Caroline spent their childhood in Linda Mar Valley surrounded by coastal hills. The Simons family loved to spend weekends in the City feeding the ducks in Golden Gate Park, running around the zoo and going to Nana and Gramp's for dinner. Summers always meant camping in Tahoe and San Mateo County Memorial Park.

Katie was a brilliant, sunny, outgoing girl who made friends easily and kept them for life. Growing up in Linda Mar near the ocean, Katie became a strong swimmer and lifeguard. Katie was a natural saleswoman - no other Girl Scout sold more cookies. Katie was a young artist, scholar, a flute player, and a fashionista. She loved the J-Teen and high-school dances of the 1960's, cool cars, drive-in diners, a cheese-burger and a coke, the Doors, the Beatles, and baseball - go Giants!

At Terra Nova High School in Pacifica Katie developed her talents in painting, history, English, was active in the business club, and cheered on her teams as a TNT Tigerette! Katie loved working, starting in high school as a nurse's aid, swim instructor, babysitter, and in college as a summer Head Start instructor .

In 1969 Katie entered college at the University of the Pacific in Stockton. There she majored in art practice, specializing in painting, jewelry-making and ceramics. Katie spent one winter semester in Oahu which sealed her love for Hawaii.

In 1973 Katie enrolled in McGeorge Law School in Sacramento, working her way through school as a legal assistant and as a special education teacher in Elk Grove. Katie was passionate about politics and lent her support to civil rights, women's rights and environmental causes and Legal Aid. Katie assisted her father with land transactions in Nevada, so when she returned to the Bay Area as a member of the California Bar she joined a real estate practice in Burlingame. In time Katie began looking for a specialty closer to her heart, and opened a family law practice in Burlingame. Katie also liked to work a few nights in Macy's women's department, which kept her beautifully dressed.

In 1987 Katie married teacher William Marcus Young of East Chicago, Illinois. Katie and Willie moved to Palo Alto, where they devoted themselves to their children Sarah, Marcus, Adam Young and Willie's son, Russell. As the family grew Katie took a new path as a corporate paralegal. This career allowed more time for her all-time favorite job - being a Mom. Katie and Willie were loving, involved, joyful parents. They were involved in the lives of their own kids and their many nieces and nephews. Katie volunteered year-round for Palo Alto schools and the local children's activities - sports, theater, dance, field trips and many fundraising auctions. Willie ran a track club, Palo Alto Lightning, and they both helped coach children's baseball, basketball and soccer.

An exceptional cook, Katie was famous for her year-round cocktail parties and buffets for family and friends. Willie manned the barbecue. Katie kept her parents Ferd and Gail close, always including them on the Young family road trips and holidays. Katie loved San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, Hawaii, Paris and Disneyland. Katie Young will always be remembered for the way she embraced life with warmth, generosity, creativity, intelligence, compassion, a beautiful smile and open arms. We love you.