Kathryn Ann Hamshar

Kathryn Ann Hamshar, 94, passed away in Newport, WA on Saturday, May 20, 2017. Kathryn Ann Still was born on a farm, in Steel County, North Dakota on August 18, 1922. The family came to Idaho in in 1936 and purchased a farm on the Great Northern Loop, North of Sandpoint. She went to Seattle in 1942, during WW II, to work at Boeing Aircraft. Later she worked for the Priest River Times newspaper as a news writer and proof reader. Now a widow, with 5 grown children, she lived on a portion of the Hamshar family farm, and wrote. Kathryn is the author of an autobiography, “Letters from Mama” and six chapbooks of poetry: Talking Trees. Verses from an Autumn Garden, Winter Solstice, Signs of Spring, and Songs for All Seasons. Gleanings is the 6th and final book of the series. She is a four time winner of the title “Idaho Poet of the Year, in 2000, 2001, 2004, and 2007. She was preceded in death by her parents Edwin and Mildred Still; her sisters Hazel Turnisky and Mary Sperry; her brothers Richard Still and Edwin Still, Jr and her husband Edward A Hamshar. She is survived by 5 children Penny Bews, in Priest River; Sherry (Larry Irving) Gohr in Priest River; John (Rebecca) Wright in Priest River; Edward (Nila) Hamshar in St Johns, WA; and Rosemary Hamshar in Priest River. Also surviving are numerous grand, great grand and great great grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.