Kaye Osborne Allen's Obituary
After a courageous battle with a sudden illness, Kaye Allen passed away on March 20, 2004 with her family by her side. Throughout her life, Kaye was a very kind, generous, energetic, creative, and funny person who was always helping others. She was known for her continuous vibrant and sparkling smile. Kaye will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. Kaye was born on October 1, 1934 in Spokane, Washington and attended Wilson Grade School. At Lewis & Clark High School, she was a cheerleader, a member of the Â"Ti GirlÂ" dance team, and voted Â"friendliest girl in school.Â" She later attended Stanford University majoring in commercial art and again was a cheerleader (where she learned to perform her infamous cartwheel later used in the Junior League Follies). Kaye was a dedicated daughter to her deceased parents Frank  SpecÂ' and Dorine Osborne, who moved to Tacoma in 1958 to found Osborne-McCann Cadillac. She was a caring, attentive, and excellent mother, even though she continuously dressed her three small boys in matching colorful outfits. After her boys grew up, Kaye worked as an employee of the Frank Russell Company. Kaye was very involved in Tacoma-Pierce County community activities. She was the first Chairwoman and executive committee member of Festival of Trees which has raised over six million dollars for Mary Bridge ChildrenÂ's Hospital and Health Center since its inception in 1987. She was also Chairwoman of Mary Bridge ChildrenÂ's Hospital and Health Care Foundation, Member-At-Large of the Tacoma Orthopedic Association, and served as Chairwoman of the Board for Franke Tobey Jones Retirement Estates. Kaye was a longstanding member of the Junior League of Tacoma and was a recipient of the Ruth Wheeler Annual Sustainer Award. She was a Member of the Steering Committee for Point Defiance Zoo & AquariumÂ's Zoobilee fundraiser, Member of the Governors Mansion Foundation, as well as many other charitable causes. Kaye enjoyed swimming, boating, watching sports, gardening, decorating, entertaining, and could whip up a potluck like no other (except for her original casserole creation, aptly named Â"ShipwreckÂ"). Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her dearest friends, family, and her companion and loving husband  HalÂ' at their homes in Lakewood, Washington and Palm Desert, California.Kaye is survived by her husband, Harold Allen, her children Michael (Jennifer) Highsmith, Matt (Tina) Highsmith, and Chris (Anne) Highsmith, HaroldÂ's children Mary Jane (Steve) Stackpole, Dec Allen, Maggie (Carter) Mack, Beco (Mike) Larsen, her sister Judy (Rich) Longstreth, a nephew Bres (Kristi) Longstreth, a niece Amy (Seth) Patton, and grandchildren Sara, Megan, Kristine, Kyle, Shelley, Sam, Joe, Mack, Charlie, Sophie, Annabel, Chase and Inga.Memorial services will be held on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. at University Place Presbyterian Church located at 8101 27th Street West, in University Place, Washington (www.uppc.org). A reception following the service will be held at the Tacoma Country and Golf Club.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mary Bridge ChildrenÂ's Hospital and Health Center located in Tacoma, Washington.
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