Kathryn May Sampier

Kathryn was born on May 23, 1933 in Portland, Oregon at the old Saint Vincent Hospital. She was born to Irish and Polish immigrants, James and Helen Dorney. Kathryn was proud to share that her father, James, was a stone mason who built many of the historical buildings in Portland. Kathryn is survived by her older sister, Pat, and her six children, Michael, Cindy, Amy, John, Suzie and Paula. Kathryn also leaves behind 15 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Kathryn grew up in Portland in the home built by her father. She fondly remembered the neighborhood she grew up in; playing outdoors, sweeping the sidewalks ( to her mother's dismay ), and her father taking her to the Dan and Louis Oyster Bar in downtown Portland for lunch.
Kathryn had a Catholic education through high school and married her high school sweetheart, Henry Sampier. Kathryn and Henry were married in 1953 on Valentines Day, and remained married for around 10 years. Kathryn worked in the secretarial field. She worked at the Portland State University book store and the old Oregonian newspaper.
Later in life, Kathryn moved to Ireland where she lived for 20 years in multiple counties but ultimately landing in County Mayo. While in Mayo she lived in a thatched cottage with her youngest daughter, Paula. In Ireland she worked at the company Digital, in Galway. Kathryn loved her time in Ireland and that little cottage. She instilled a strong love of Ireland with the rest of her family as she enjoyed sharing her family history and memories from those 20 years.
After retiring, Kathryn moved back to the States where she lived in Coos Bay, Oregon for the last 30 years with family. Kathryn loved traveling, especially up and down the coast of Oregon. She loved sitting at the beach and enjoying a basket of fish and chips. She was an avid reader and passed this hobby onto many of her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed cooking. Any grandchildren that were around while she was cooking would sit and hope she might share her delicious mac and cheese or savory steaks with them. In her later years she loved being with her great-grandchildren, watching them grow and play.
Kathryn lived a long and full life. She was a strong and stubborn woman with a great sense of humor. She made her family laugh often. She was lucky to always be near her large family who gathered around "mom", "grandma" or "great-grandma" regularly. This was no different in Kathryn's death..she was surrounded by family in the last days of her life. Her death is a huge loss for her family but they are comforted to know that she was ready to go home to Jesus and died in peace on June 15, 2024.
Family and friends gathered on June 21, 2024 at Saint Monica Catholic Church for Kathryn's funeral mass. Her final resting place is at Ocean View Memory Gardens Cemetery in Coos Bay.
Friends and family are encouraged to sign the online guestbook at www.coosbayareafunerals.com and www.theworldlink.com. Arrangements are under the care of North Bend Chapel, 541-756-0440.
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