Libby Arlene Kettel

Libby Arlene Kettel, 50, died Jan. 10, 2006, in Issaquah, Wash.

She was born to Virgil and Fay Fisher, of Whitefish, on Nov. 27,1955. Libby began at a young age to develop her many artistic talents. She was in 4-H for many years and entered many of her sewing and art projects in the Northwest Montana Fair every year. She became very interested in art during her junior high years and pursued that interest from then on. She was a high school cheerleader and prom princess, wrote poetry and was very well liked by everyone.

After graduating from Whitefish High School one semester early in 1974, she traveled through Europe with her sister Linda, who was also her best friend for life. She also worked in Boulder, and then traveled to Dutch Harbor, Alaska, to work on a World War II ship processing king crab.

After the season she moved to Anchorage, where she found her dream job of being a photographer. For the next three years, she traveled most of the United States shooting portraits with Olan Mills, ultimately landing in San Diego, where she had her own studio with her husband, Glen Cason. In 1987, she moved to Redmond, Wash., to be near her sister to help with her newborn nephew, Andy.

She married Bryan Kettel in 1991 and completed her associate of arts degree at Green River Community College in 1994. Libby focused on her passion for art by volunteering at Endeavor Elementary School as an art docent, assisting in the Reflections program and working in the classrooms of her children. She was able to bring art out of all children, and they would clap when Mrs. Kettel came to the classroom. She created miniature works of art in the form of greeting cards which were donated to many school auctions, others in need, and also the Vascular Birthmark Foundation. She also set up a memorial in her older brother's name, Harley Fisher, through the V.B.F.

She was honored by the school district by earning the "Golden Acorn" award in 2004. "Everyone loved Libby," her sister was quoted. "She was always well liked by everyone from the time she was a tiny little girl." Family members and friends all said she was an incredibly loving mother and devoted the last 15 years of her life to her children and was happy to be doing it.

Libby left behind her husband, Bryan, and children Joey, 14, and Christy, 9; her sister, Linda Fay, of Sammamish, Wash.; her younger brother, Hal, of Whitefish; and her parents, Fay and Virgil Fisher.

Friends are invited to share memories and sign the family's online guest book at http://flintofts.com. Those who wish can send memorials to the Vascular Birthmark Foundation c/o Linda Fay, 3823 E.Lk. Samm. Pkwy.N.E., Sammamish, WA., 98074.

Services were held on Jan. 18, 2006, at the Sammamish Hill Lutheran Church.