Kathy Cokelet

1947 – 2025

Kathy Ann Cokelet died Dec. 16, 2025, at her home in Seattle, surrounded by her loving husband and children. Her passing, from complications of neuroendocrine carcinoma, has left a giant hole in the hearts of her family and friends. Her husband, Ned, remembers her as “the nicest person I’ve ever known.”

Kathy was born in 1947 in Bremerton, WA, to parents Harry and Ruth Lohman, and in the same hospital where Ned would be born a few months later. Kathy was the middle of five children and grew up in Seattle, Colorado, and California, moving often for her father’s work during the transistor boom. She learned to be industrious at a young age, sewing her own wardrobe and cooking meals. Kathy’s family moved to Belfair, WA, in the summer of 1964, and she met Ned before starting her senior year at North Mason High School. Kathy and Ned began dating that year, after performing in the senior play together, and graduated in 1965.

Kathy attended Olympic Junior College and the University of Washington School of Occupational Therapy (OT). She and Ned married in 1969 and earned their degrees in 1970.

Kathy and Ned moved to England in 1971, where they lived in Cambridge and Hindhead. Kathy started her OT career at Addenbrooke’s and later Fulbourn hospitals (Cambridge), working in child psychiatry. She had children, Benjamin and Emeline, in England before the family returned to Seattle in 1978.

After staying home to raise her children in their early years, Kathy returned to occupational therapy, working for many years as a pediatric OT in Seattle Public Schools, primarily at View Ridge Elementary. She also lectured at the UW and mentored many OT students. She retired in 2012 and continued to be recognized by former students, families, and colleagues around Seattle and even during her travels. Walking down the street in Seattle, Mexico City, or Paris, the family would hear, “Kathy, is that you?” from an appreciative parent with whose child she had worked. 

Kathy loved cultivating her beautiful garden, cooking ambitious menus, hosting friends and family, reading, singing in her church choir, staying active, and contributing to her community. She volunteered in her children’s schools and activities, held leadership positions in Maple Leaf Lutheran Church, and, in retirement, was an active member of Delta Kappa Gamma women educators society, Days for Girls International, and Meadowbrook Community CARE. She and Ned also valued travel, including trips to Canada, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, France, Mexico, China, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and many regions of the U.S.and U.K.

Kathy cherished being Grammy to her three grandchildren and enjoyed teaching them new skills, taking them on outings, attending their games and performances, and boasting of their accomplishments.

Kathy is survived by her husband Edward “Ned”; son Ben, his wife Alejandra Ancheita, and a grandson in Mexico City; daughter Emeline, her husband Darrick Meneke,n and grandchildren Naya and Henry of Seattle; siblings Barbara Phinizy, Sandra (and Mike) Birdlebough, Rebecca Myhre, and William (and Desiree) Lohman; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 10, at 1 p.m. at Maple Leaf Lutheran Church, 10005 32nd Ave NE, Seattle. Memorial contributions may be made in Kathy’s honor to Maple Leaf Lutheran Church, DKG Washington, or Meadowbrook Community CARE.