Kathryn Guerins Neely

Kate Neely was born on February 26th, 1956, in Dublin, Ireland and died at Emmanuel hospital in Portland, OR on June 16th, 2024. In between those two dates, the world got a chance to experience one of the most authentic, caring, loving and most of all, fun people of all time. She was a force of nature.

Kate and her family immigrated to the U.S. in late 1956 via Canada before settling in North Portland then Gladstone. Kate attended both Queen of Peace elementary school and Marycrest High School. Up until the end, she still maintained a vast network of friends from both schools. This foreshadowed a pattern for Kate that would last the rest of her life.

 Kate then attended and graduated from Oregon State University. Those years at Oregon State provided the foundation for future events, relationships and experiences that would impact the rest of her life. She met her future husband, Bill, at Oregon State. While there - she, again, gained another vast network of friends. This core group of friends just took a "fabulous" trip to Boston this past May. She loved a good party and dearly loved her friends.

 Kate and Bill had their only child, Matt, in 1982. He was everything to them. Kate truly adored Matt unabashedly until the end. She was his biggest advocate in life. He has made his parents very proud, and this is in no small measure due to Kate.

 When Matt married the spectacular Chelsea in 2021, Kate was ecstatic. When Matt and Chelsea then had their 2 children in succession - Joe and Jaxson, Kate was beyond excited. It was everything that she could have hoped for.

 She worked 32 years at First Interstate/Wells Fargo bank in a variety of positions. During those years, again, she developed many very close and meaningful relationships which would last the rest of her life. With all these friendships, she dearly loved the interaction, the travel, the parties - the experience of being with wonderful people.

 Above all else - family was everything to Kate; parents, uncles/aunts, nieces/nephews, cousins - birthday and holiday cards were never missed. She would constantly be the instigator of parties and get togethers - another chance for the clan to gather. She loved it all. She was literally the "glue" of the family, and all that encompasses.

 This blonde Irish gal was bold, funny, fiercely loyal and the most caring person that anyone could ever hope to know. She was truly unique - the best. She will be desperately missed by all who knew and loved her.

 The Funeral Service will be held at St Rose of Lime Catholic Church in Portland, OR at 11am on July 11th. A rosary will be held prior to the service at 10:30am for anyone interested in joining.

 A Celebration of Life will be held in Wilsonville in the afternoon of the 11th.