Katherine “Kathi” Williams Marilley, a longtime Burlington, Washington, resident known for her professional career and extensive community service, died on May 31, 2026. She was 77 years old and had spent her life in Skagit County, where she built lasting connections through work, volunteering, civic organizations and local foundations.
Kathi’s death was announced through an obituary published by Hawthorne Funeral Home and Memorial Park. The obituary describes a woman whose retirement from a 32-year career with GTE and later Verizon did not mark the end of her working life. Instead, she devoted much of her later years to organizations and causes in the Burlington community.
Her life included leadership with United Way of Skagit County, decades with Soroptimist International of Burlington, service on Burlington Parks & Recreation boards, and important work with the Burlington-Edison Alumni Foundation. She was also remembered for her love of gardening, animals, family, travel, motorhome adventures and her Mustang convertible.
Background: Who Was Kathi Williams Marilley?
Kathi Williams Marilley was born Katherine Kallstrom on February 7, 1949, in Mount Vernon, Washington. She was a lifelong resident of Skagit County and grew up in the same broader community where she would later become deeply involved in civic and charitable activities.
She graduated from Burlington-Edison High School with the Class of 1967. Her connection to the school remained important throughout her adult life, eventually leading her to help establish the Burlington-Edison Alumni Foundation.
Her professional career began with GTE, which later became part of Verizon. She remained with the company for 32 years and retired at the age of 50. Rather than stepping away from community life, however, she redirected much of her time toward volunteering and service.
Latest Update: September 30, 2026
As of September 30, 2026, Kathi Williams Marilley’s death is confirmed by her funeral-home obituary and obituary publication in the Skagit Valley Herald. She died May 31, 2026, in Burlington, Washington.
A Celebration of Life was scheduled for July 25, 2026, at Vanderveen Farm in Mount Vernon. The service began at 11:30 a.m., with the family inviting guests to share food and memories.
The obituary does not state a specific cause of death. Therefore, no medical cause should be presented as confirmed unless the family or another authoritative source provides additional information.
The obituary also confirms that Kathi was survived by her husband, Kevin P. Marilley, along with her stepdaughter, siblings, niece and extended family. Her parents and Bob Williams had preceded her in death.
Career With GTE and Verizon
One of the longest chapters of Kathi’s life was her career with GTE, the telecommunications company that later became Verizon.
She worked for the company for 32 years before retiring at age 50. The length of that career meant she experienced major changes in the telecommunications industry and remained with the organization through significant corporate transitions.
Her professional experience also became part of the way people remembered her. An online remembrance published with the obituary described her as a strong worker and leader who maintained a strong work ethic.
Retirement did not mean that Kathi stopped contributing her time and energy. The funeral-home obituary specifically describes community volunteering as one of her greatest passions, and much of her post-career life was devoted to local organizations.
United Way of Skagit County
Kathi served as a board member and president of United Way of Skagit County. Her work with the organization was part of a larger pattern of community involvement that continued for decades.
Her leadership roles gave her opportunities to work with other volunteers and organizations on issues affecting people throughout Skagit County.
The obituary presents this service as an important part of Kathi’s identity. Rather than limiting her involvement to a single organization, she contributed to several groups focused on community development, recreation, scholarships and service.
Longtime Soroptimist Member
Kathi joined Soroptimist International of Burlington in 1986 after previously belonging to the Mount Vernon Soroptimist Club. She remained active in the Burlington organization for decades.
She served as president of Soroptimist International of Burlington during 2007 and 2008 and held numerous other leadership positions over the years.
One of the causes closest to her was the Bay View Women’s Run and Walk. Kathi helped plan the event and volunteered each year. The obituary recalls her greeting participants and directing traffic with a warm smile.
She also worked at the Soroptimist Thrift Shop until it closed in 2013. Her involvement was not simply administrative. She spent time interacting with people and was remembered for making those around her feel welcome and appreciated.
Burlington Parks and Recreation Service
Kathi’s community work also included Burlington Parks & Recreation. She served on the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board from 1998 through 2003 and became board chair during that period.
Her involvement continued through the Burlington Parks & Recreation Foundation. She served as a board member and treasurer for more than 20 years.
As treasurer, she helped oversee scholarship funds that supported people taking part in recreation programs. This work gave her another opportunity to connect community resources with residents who could benefit from them.
Burlington-Edison Alumni Foundation
One of Kathi’s notable community achievements was her role in establishing the Burlington-Edison Alumni Foundation in 1999.
She helped the foundation grow and become recognized nationally. Her involvement eventually took her to Washington, D.C., where she represented the foundation when it received the Affiliate of the Year Award from Scholarship America.
The foundation became another lasting connection between Kathi and the high school community. Her involvement demonstrated that her connection to Burlington-Edison High School continued long after she graduated in 1967.
Family and Marriage
Kathi married Kevin P. Marilley on September 21, 2013. The obituary describes Kevin as the love of her life and says the couple shared a deep bond and many adventures together.
She is survived by Kevin, her stepdaughter Erin Williams and Erin’s husband, Jeff. Her surviving siblings include Jay Kallstrom and Karen Sorsdal.
Kathi’s niece Heather Sorsdal and Heather’s husband Curtis are also listed among her surviving family members. The obituary additionally remembers the many extended family members, friends, colleagues and community members whose lives she touched.
Her parents, Harold Kallstrom and Loraine Ables Kallstrom, died before her. Bob Williams was also listed among those who preceded her in death.
Hobbies and Personal Interests
Although much of Kathi’s public life involved work and volunteering, her obituary also highlights a number of personal interests that brought her happiness.
Gardening was one of her favorite activities. She enjoyed designing, planting and tending flowers and could spend much of her time caring for her garden.
She also loved animals and cared for them with great affection. Her connection with animals was described as another important source of happiness.
Kathi enjoyed driving her Mustang convertible and spending time with family. She and Kevin also embraced motorhome adventures and RV camping, giving them opportunities to travel and create memories together.
She was also known for enjoying conversations over a glass of wine and for making people feel welcome. Those personal details help explain why her community involvement became such a central part of how people remembered her.
Kathi Williams Age at Death
Kathi was 77 when she died on May 31, 2026. She was born in Mount Vernon, Washington, on February 7, 1949.
Some online obituary listings contain slightly different formatting around her birth date, but the official Hawthorne Funeral Home obituary identifies February 7, 1949, as her birth date.
Cause of Death
The cause of Kathi Williams Marilley’s death has not been disclosed in the published obituary.
The funeral-home notice simply states that she passed away on May 31, 2026, in Burlington. There is no confirmed diagnosis, accident report or other cause-of-death explanation in the source.
For that reason, claims circulating online about how she died should be treated cautiously unless they can be traced to a statement from her family, funeral home or another reliable source.
Celebration of Life
Kathi’s Celebration of Life was scheduled for Saturday, July 25, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at Vanderveen Farm in Mount Vernon, Washington.
The listed location was 15673 Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, Washington 98273.
The family planned to provide a main dish and invited guests to bring a salad, side dish or dessert to share. The arrangement reflected the community and family-centered nature of Kathi’s life.
Rather than requesting traditional flowers, the family suggested donations to Soroptimist International of Burlington or the Burlington-Edison Alumni Foundation.
Memorial Donations
People wishing to honor Kathi’s memory were asked to consider donations to Soroptimist International of Burlington or the Burlington-Edison Alumni Foundation.
The Soroptimist organization can be reached through its Burlington mailing address, while the Burlington-Edison Alumni Foundation also accepts memorial support through its Burlington address.
These organizations reflect two areas that were especially important to Kathi: service to her community and support for the educational community connected to Burlington-Edison High School.
Quick Facts About Kathi Williams
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Katherine “Kathi” (Kallstrom) Williams Marilley |
| Known as | Kathi Williams Marilley |
| Born | February 7, 1949 |
| Birthplace | Mount Vernon, Washington |
| Died | May 31, 2026 |
| Age | 77 |
| Place of death | Burlington, Washington |
| Hometown | Skagit County, Washington |
| High school | Burlington-Edison High School, Class of 1967 |
| Career | GTE and later Verizon, 32 years |
| Husband | Kevin P. Marilley |
| Community work | United Way, Soroptimist, Burlington Parks & Recreation and Burlington-Edison Alumni Foundation |
| Cause of death | Not stated in the obituary |
| Celebration of Life | July 25, 2026, at Vanderveen Farm in Mount Vernon |
Reader Questions
Who was Kathi Williams?
Kathi Williams was a longtime Skagit County resident, community volunteer and former GTE and Verizon employee. She became deeply involved in organizations serving Burlington and the surrounding community.
When did Kathi Williams die?
Kathi Williams Marilley died on May 31, 2026. Her obituary states that she died in Burlington, Washington.
How old was Kathi Williams when she died?
Kathi was 77 years old. She was born February 7, 1949, in Mount Vernon, Washington.
Who was Kathi Williams’ husband?
Kathi was married to Kevin P. Marilley. They married on September 21, 2013, and shared a life that included family time, travel and RV adventures.
What was Kathi Williams’ career?
She worked for GTE and later Verizon for 32 years. She retired from the telecommunications company at age 50.
What organizations did Kathi Williams support?
She served United Way of Skagit County, Soroptimist International of Burlington, Burlington Parks & Recreation and the Burlington-Edison Alumni Foundation. She held several leadership and board positions across these organizations.
Was Kathi Williams involved with Burlington-Edison High School?
Yes. Kathi graduated from Burlington-Edison High School in 1967 and later helped establish the Burlington-Edison Alumni Foundation in 1999.
What was Kathi Williams known for in the community?
She was particularly known for volunteering, organizational leadership and helping community programs and scholarships. Her work included the Bay View Women’s Run and Walk and Burlington Parks & Recreation programs.
What was Kathi Williams’ cause of death?
The published obituary does not state a cause of death. No specific cause should therefore be treated as confirmed.
When was Kathi Williams’ Celebration of Life?
Her Celebration of Life was scheduled for July 25, 2026, at Vanderveen Farm in Mount Vernon, Washington. The service was scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m.
Where can people make a memorial donation for Kathi Williams?
The family suggested donations to Soroptimist International of Burlington or the Burlington-Edison Alumni Foundation. Both organizations were closely connected to Kathi’s community service.
Wrap-Up
Kathi Williams Marilley’s death marks the loss of a longtime Skagit County community volunteer whose public contributions extended across several decades. From her 32-year career with GTE and Verizon to her work with United Way, Soroptimist, Burlington Parks & Recreation and the Burlington-Edison Alumni Foundation, she devoted a significant portion of her life to serving others.
Her story also included quieter parts of life that were important to her: gardening, caring for animals, spending time with family, driving her Mustang convertible and traveling by motorhome. Her marriage to Kevin P. Marilley beginning in 2013 was another important chapter of her later years.
The published obituary does not provide a cause of death, but it provides a detailed picture of Kathi’s relationships, interests and community service. Her requested memorial donations to Soroptimist International of Burlington and the Burlington-Edison Alumni Foundation also point toward the organizations that remained central to her legacy.
For those searching for the Kathi Williams death report, the confirmed information is that Katherine “Kathi” Williams Marilley died May 31, 2026, in Burlington, Washington, at age 77. Her family and community remembered a woman whose long-term service left a lasting connection across Skagit County.
Disclaimer: This article is based on the published obituary from Hawthorne Funeral Home and Memorial Park and corroborating obituary information published by the Skagit Valley Herald. The cause of death was not stated in the obituary and has not been presented as fact. Details may be updated if the family or funeral home releases additional information.
