Valley Hills Funeral Home

Kathleen Louise Rier (Dawson), age 63 passed away on January 29, 2015 in Bellingham, WA after a long struggle with heart problems. Kathy is survived by her mother Dora F. Dawson of Kennewick, WA, her brother Michael Dawson of Kennewick, WA, her two children, son Brian Barge and his wife Sharron Barge of Bellingham, WA, her daughter Jolie Grant (Barge) and her husband Paul T. Grant of Yakima WA, along with her grandchildren that were the light of her life, Halie Grant, Brock Barge and Aspen Barge. Kathy is preceded in death by her father Robert E. Dawson and her brother Ken Dawson.
Kathy was born in Bremerton, WA on April 3, 1951 to Robert and Dora F. Dawson. Kathy grew up with fond memories of living near Horseshoe Lake and spending summers playing with her two older brothers. Later they moved to Yakima where Kathy graduated from Davis High School and met and married her first love Jerry Barge, and had two children. They raised horses and enjoyed many great years of camping, boating and spending time with family.
Several years later Kathy moved to Bellingham and married Ken Rier, where they owned a Christmas tree farm. Kathy enjoyed seeing the families come every year to get their Christmas trees and served hot cocoa to all the kids. Kathy worked for several years and a drug and alcohol counselor for Whatcom County helping so many people.
Over the years Kathy enjoyed several hobbies, ceramics, boating, camping, gardening, raising and showing horses. Kathy loved spending time with her 3 grandchildren and had a love of animals, treating all of her pets like they were her babies.
A celebration of life service will be held at Valley Hills Funeral Home on Saturday, Feb. 21st at 2 pm.