Obituary

Denise Valerie Kipp (Kersey) passed away suddenly on July 5, 2017 at her home on Eliza Island. Some of her friends and coworkers may have also known her as Tobie.

Denise graduated from Auburn High School in 1969, and later went on to study art at Western Washington University in Bellingham. She decided she liked Bellingham, so she stayed, made a home, and raised her daughter here. She enjoyed gardening and the satisfaction of her flowers producing beautiful blooms and her vegetable garden providing a salad to go with some freshly caught crab. Denise was an excellent baker and once won a blue ribbon at a company picnic for the family Black Bottom Cupcake recipe.

Later in life, boating and RVing with her husband were common hobbies. Denise also loved walking quiet paths through the woods and on the beach, especially on Eliza Island, where she and Don have a cabin, which was her second home. She collected trinkets and souvenirs from her walks such as feathers, unusual rocks, small shells, or sea glass, and displayed them throughout their cabin. She also had an interest in antique furniture and always more projects planned than time to do them all. Denise loved animals and was happy to watch the hummingbirds feed on the nectar she made for them and always had at least one dog or cat in her home as part of the family. Her greatest joy was her young grandson’ s smile and watching him laugh and play.

Denise is survived by her husband of 15 years, Donald Kipp, her daughter Charlene (Brian) Farmer, grandson Weston Farmer, brother Patrick Kersey, and four cherished nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lorrayne and Stanley Kersey, and sister, Diane Thompson.

Memorial donations can be made to San Juan Preservation Trust (sjpt.org).