Kay Don LeMaster

Our wonderful father, grandfather, great-grandfather and husband went to be with his Lord and Savior on Oct. 14, 2014 while at home surrounded by his loving family. Kay graduated from Bellingham HS in 1950, and enlisted into the U.S. Army in 1951, serving in the Korean War as a combat medic. In 1953, he came home to marry the love of his life, Janet (Hallman) LeMaster at First Christian Church in Bellingham, and they started a family. In 1958, he graduated from WWU with a Master’s Degree in education. He then taught and coached in Washougal, WA for 9 years, at Meridian, then for one year in Mt. Vernon. For his remaining years, he was a teacher, coach and athletic director for the Nooksack Valley School District. Kay loved all sports, fishing, gardening, visiting historical sites, and coaching. In 1974, he was named “Coach of the Year”, and in 2003, the Kay LeMaster Gymnasium at Nooksack Valley HS was named in his honor. The most important thing in Kay’s life was spending time with his family. During his retirement years, he and his wife Janet traveled to many historical sites in the U.S., enjoyed any gatherings with his children and grandchildren, and loved all holiday celebrations. His walk with the Lord was also very important to him. Kay is preceded in death by his parents Crede & Dorothy LeMaster; sisters Louise Knabe and Bernice Snow; and son-in-law Mark IsFeld. Kay is survived by his wife, Janet LeMaster of Lynden; daughters Kelly IsFeld of Everson, Kathy (Tom) Alexander of Blaine, and Lisa LeMaster of Lynden; grandsons Wade (Trina) Gardner of Everson and Todd (Tanya) Visser of Everson; granddaughter Kari (Josh) Gardner of Everson; sister-in-law Joann Brackinreed of Ferndale; nephews Theron (Roselie) Brackinreed of Ferndale and Steven (Tracy) Brackinreed of Lynden; great-grandchildren Austin, Chloe, Taylor, Landin, Anna, Bailey, Shon, Kestin, Caleb, Aaron and Marley; and his beloved kitty Duke. There will be a private military burial at Greenacres Memorial Park, and in loving memory of my wonderful husband, there will be a public Celebration of Life at Nooksack Valley HS in the Kay LeMaster Gymnasium on Sat., Oct 25 at 2:00 PM. Refreshments and social sharing will follow in the Nooksack Valley High School Cafeteria. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Seattle Children’s Hospital, Christ Fellowship Church in Nooksack, or the Light House Mission. You may share your thoughts and memories of Kay at www.farewelltributes.com

Kay Don LeMaster

March 6, 1930 - October 14, 2014