Kathryn Jo Bassett, of Beaver, died at Tuality Community Hospital in Hillsboro on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007, after a seven-month struggle with cancer. She was 55.

Kathy was born Dec. 17, 1951, in Portland to Ray and Patricia Eden. She was raised in North Bend and Corvallis and graduated from Corvallis High School. She attended the University of Oregon and State University of New York, Harpur College in Binghamton, N.Y. A true child of the 1960s, Kathy moved where her spirit moved her. She lived for short times in Manhattan and San Francisco, and took an extensive hitchhiking journey across Europe.

When she was ready to settle down, she and her mother opened The Doll Nook in Seaside in the mid-1970s. Known for her cloth dolls, Sew-Me Doll Patterns and artistically sewn portrait dolls, Kathy also learned the art of antique doll repair and costuming. Her clients included hundreds of children who have grown to adulthood playing with, sleeping with and loving their “babies,” and adult doll lovers and collectors from around the country. A stickler for detail, Kathys doll repair work was meticulously done and her costumes were always created from vintage fabrics reflecting the age and style of the doll.

“Busy hands are happy hands,” Kathy would always say, and her hands were among the busiest. A constant knitter, she created numberless pairs of wool socks, hot pads, washcloths, soap bags and authentic English-style Golliwog dolls. On the celebration of Golliwogs 100th birthday, she decided the black, childrens storybook doll needed a girlfriend. So, she created “Lolla Palooza.” She also was a talented cross-stitcher and embroiderer.

It was in Seaside that Kathy met, befriended, courted and married Earl Frederick (Fred) Bassett. Fred was advertising manager at the Seaside Signal newspaper at the time, and often said, “Kathy wouldnt buy an advertisement from me, so I took a chance and asked her to marry me instead.” The couple was married at the historic Vesper Chapel on the banks of the Nehalem River near Birkenfeld in 1981.

In January 1982, Kathy gave birth to their first child, Bonnie Ann. Bonnie was born seven weeks prematurely and the couple spent the first several weeks of her life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Oregon Health Sciences University. Shortly after bringing her home, the Bassetts moved to Gresham, where Fred became Classified Advertising Manager for the Gresham Outlook newspaper.

In August 1983, Kathy gave birth to their son Robin Frederick. Immediately following Robins birth, the family moved back to Seaside where Fred took the reins of the Seaside Signal as general manager. Shortly after their return to Seaside, Kathys mother succumbed to cancer, but Kathy continued their doll business from the family home.

In 1992 the Bassetts sold their Seaside home, Fred quit his job and the family set out on a six-month journey on the Oregon Trail. With the kids, the dog (Minnie), and a few worldly belongings, Fred and Kathy hit the road in their version of an ox team and covered wagonan old Plymouth station wagon and a tent trailer. Kathy would later recall that they put 15,000 miles on their car to see as much as they could of the 2,000-mile Oregon Trail.

On their return to Oregon, the Bassetts vowed to settle as their ancestors did, by picking the place they wanted to live and then doing whatever they could to survive there. Their only criterion was that they live and work on the same piece of property so that the childrens education could be integrated into their lifestyle.

Kathys family and friends remember her as a person who fought vehemently against injustices in her familys life and her community. But, mostly, she is remembered as a person who was always happy, always seeing the bright side of life, and always seeing the best in a wide variety of people.

As she struggled with her illness and since her passing, thoughts and remembrances have come from every corner of the state and from all around the Northwest and beyond. “The aunt who played tag with me,” “the tall skinny lady with glasses who made the good popcorn,” “the special spirit who accepted me for who I am, despite my wackiness,” “the doll doctor who so intricately and delicately restored my mothers doll”she was all of these things.

Kathy is survived by her husband Fred; her daughter and son-in-law, Bonnie and RJ Wynia of Tillamook; and her son and daughter-in-law, Robin and Amy Bassett of Eugene. She is also survived by her father and stepmother, Ray and Laura Eden of Salem; her brother and sister-in-law, Chris and Trish Eden of Seattle; her sister and brother-in-law, Susanna and Don Harto of Ashland; and her sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and David Haas of Clatskanie. Among her survivors are also her stepdaughter and son-in law, Dawn Bassett and Donald Chambers of Vancouver, B.C., Canada; and her stepdaughter Trista Bassett of Petersborough, Ontario, Canada.

A list of Kathys survivors would not be complete without listing her aunt and uncle Donna and Harold Ause of Tigard. At the passing of Kathys mother, Donna and Harold took on the role of parents and grandparents to Kathy and Fred and their children.

A loving, nurturing mother, wife, sister, niece, aunt, cousin and friend, Kathy will be missed by all who knew her. But the memories of Kathys infectious laugh and magnetic smile will bring joy and warmth through the days ahead.

A celebration, “The Miracle of Kathy,” will be held at the family home in the back of the Beaver Mercantile, 24747 Highway 101 S. in Beaver, from 2-8 p.m. Saturday, March 31, and from 12-6 p.m. Sunday, April 1. Potluck finger foods and/or beverages are welcome. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Kathy Bassett Medical Fund accounts established at any branch of U.S. Bank and Sterling Savings Bank to help with her medical care during her illness. These funds will now be used to help Kathys family fulfill her dream of seeing her books in print. Donations may also be made in Kathys memory to Tillamook County General Hospital.