KATHRYN ALLIN DYSON

Kathryn Allin Dyson, 85 died of natural causes on
January 29, 2019.  She was born March 6,
1933 in Lynbrook, New York to Thomas and Lily Allin.  She was delivered by a nurse, Minna, a very
special person in her life – in some ways a mother figure. Kathy was a 1950
graduate of Malverne High School and a 1954 graduate of Middlebury College in
Middlebury, Vermont where she received a BA in English literature.  While attending Middlebury she lived for
three years in The Chateau, the French language house, where conversational
French was spoken every evening at dinner and throughout the day.

On July 2, 1955 she was married to James Cooley
and later divorced.  Two children, Susan
and Christopher were born to that union.
In 1957 Jim and Kathy moved to Moscow, Idaho where Jim was a professor.

While living in Moscow, Kathy was a member of the
Faculty Wives organization and a member of the Presbyterian Church, where she
was a faithful member of the choir, a volunteer secretary and an Elder. For
several years she designed the early morning service of that congregation. She
was also a nun in a University production of the Sound of Music.

On September 6, 1972, Kathryn and Rev James Dyson
were married at the Campus Christian Center in the presence of family members
and many friends. Following their marriage the Dysons moved to Bremerton,
Washington where Jim was pastor of Westpark Christian Church and Associate
Pastor of First Christian Church. They moved to Richland in October 1975 when
Jim was called to be pastor of Northwest United Protestant Church where he
served until retiring in 2001. While the Dysons were at NWUP, Kathy served for
22 years as church secretary, six years as Choir Director and as secretary she
planned and designed worship services which were based on each Sunday’s theme
and which were relevant and to the point.

During their years together, the Dysons traveled
throughout the United States and British Columbia and enjoyed trips to Newport,
Oregon where they stayed at their two favorite sites, The Anchorage and The
Whaler. While in the area they discovered many sea food restaurants and they
always enjoyed visiting the Canyon Way book store and restaurant.

In 2003, the Dysons became members of Shalom
United Christ where they were spiritually nourished and challenged until the
present.

Throughout her life, Kathy loved classical, folk,
big band music and all tunes of the thirties, forties and the sixties. She
remembered the melodies and words of countless musicals, popular songs and
hymns. She was an avid reader until her eyesight became a problem. She loved to
dance. She was a good cook and home maker, and she loved to design and
facilitate remodeling and adding on to their long time home. She was a beloved
wife, mother, step mother, nana and friend.

Kathryn is survived by her beloved husband, Jim;
children, Susan Cooley Matsuura (Al) and Christopher Allin Cooley, her step
children, Craig Alan Dyson (Julie Ann) and Beth Ann Dyson (Jeff), and she is
nana to seven: Katie Matsuura (Jarod Sorum), Jimmy Matsuura (Landon Larsen),
Dillon Dyson, Kyna Vyeson, Talia Vyeson, Matthew Moramarco and Blake Ursel.

A memorial service will be at Shalom United
Church, 505 McMurray, beginning at 2:30 pm Saturday, February 9. Memorials may
be made to Hospice at Chaplaincy Health Care, 1480 Fowler, Richland, WA 99352
or Shalom United Church of Christ, 505 McMurray, Richland, WA 99354.