Kathryn "Kathy" (Ernst) Dooley

Kathryn "Kathy" (Ernst) Dooley, beloved wife, mother, Nana, sister, and friend, passed away at her home in Edgewood, WA on August 18, 2026, after a courageous 25-year battle with Parkinson's disease. She was 76 years old.    

Kathy was born on September 27, 1949, in Paso Robles, California to Wilmar Ernst and Violet Nielsen where she had deep roots. She was descended from the pioneer families started by Barbara and William Ernst who settled in the Geneseo area in 1884 and neighbors Ilsabe and Gerd Klintworth who settled in 1886. She grew up on the Ernst Ranch with three active brothers and a sister. During summer classes in High School, she drove her brother’s Yamaha 80 motorcycle to school in town.  

She graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in Home Economics with a teaching credential. She married James Henry Dooley in 1972 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Paso Robles, where her uncle the Rev. George Steinbeck officiated. After her marriage, they moved to Hilo, Hawaii where she was director of a pre-school. Her oldest child, James, was born there. They moved to Federal Way, WA in 1977 where her daughter, Heather was born. They resided there for nearly 40 years. In 2017 they moved to Edgewood, WA. 

Kathy found joy in life's simple experiences. She loved spending time beachcombing on the Washington coast, camping, fishing, playing the piano, gardening, cooking & baking, playing cards, and feeding all of the critters that visit their yard. Generations of birds, squirrels and ducks have been sustained by Kathy & Jim. She loved garage sales & thrift stores and had an incredible eye for finding hidden treasures. With her creativity, she transformed discarded items into display worthy pieces. She was also passionate about genealogy and carried on the work started by her mom researching & documenting family history, stories and creating an impressive record of generations. Kathy fully documented 7 generations of her family including over 400 individuals.  

She was not fazed by challenges. She would work through any obstacle, from helping with a school project late into the night, to a medical challenge, to a tricky yard art project. She was determined, headstrong and always busy with a project, yet, Kathy would always made time to help others. 

Kathy possessed a unique gift for making people feel seen. Whether she was talking with a friend, stranger, or the person cleaning her hospital room, she took a genuine interest in their lives. During her last hospital stay, she connected with the gentleman who cleaned her room every day and learned more about him and his family than most people who had worked alongside him for years. She went out of her way to make sure he and his service were acknowledged by the hospital. That was simply who she was. She noticed people others overlooked. She treated everyone with dignity, kindness, and respect. 

She will be remembered as kind, creative, thoughtful, selfless, resilient, and fiercely determined. Parkinson's disease challenged her for more than two decades, yet she met every obstacle with strength and perseverance, continually amazing everyone with her capabilities and determination. She was a fighter in every sense of the word. 

She is survived by her husband, James "Jim" Dooley III of Edgewood; her son, James Dooley IV and his wife Laura of Bellevue, and grandchildren Tristan and Chase; her daughter, Heather West and her husband Jevin of Seattle, grandchildren Braylen and Camryn and grand dog, Auzzie; sister Carol Ernst of Edgewood; and brother Paul Ernst of San Miguel, CA. She was pre-deceased by brothers David Ernst and Fred Ernst.

While Kathy treasured many things in life, nothing compared to the love she had for her grandchildren. They were her beacon, her greatest joy, and her biggest reason for living. She never missed an opportunity to celebrate them, cheer them on, or remind them how deeply they were loved. She was the kind of mom and Nana everyone wishes they had. 

Kathryn leaves behind a family shaped by her love and a legacy of kindness, creativity, and resilience. She will be remembered for the way she loved, and the way she gave of herself so selflessly. 

In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations to your local food bank or local NPR station be made in her honor. A celebration of life will be held in early fall in Paso Robles, CA.