Katherine L. Coutts

November 10, 1931 – February 22, 2026

Katherine “Kathy” L. Coutts, 94, of Damascus, Oregon, passed away at her home on February 22, 2026.

Kathy was raised in Seattle to Norwegian parents, Anton and Frida Pedersen, and was the youngest of their five children. She graduated from Ballard High School in 1950 and soon began working in downtown Seattle at Frederic & Nelson department store. In the years that followed, she met her future husband, Jerry, whom she married in 1953.

After moving to Portland, Kathy and Jerry became owner-operators of Hannah Travel Service, which they built and managed together for 20 years. After selling the business and seeking a change, they settled in the Mt. Hood area in 1975. Kathy loved life on the mountain and quickly became an active member of the community.  They later moved to the Bay Area, where they worked together managing properties, but upon retirement, they returned to their home in Zigzag.

Always one to stay busy, Kathy began volunteering at Legacy Mt. Hood Medical Center in 1995 and continued for the next 30 years. She especially cherished the friendships and connections she made during her time there. Kathy enjoyed cheering on the Trail Blazers, tending to her many plants, and caring for her dog and cat. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry. She is survived by her three children, five grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was held at Gresham Memorial Chapel on April 25.