Claire (Kay) Faye Erickson of Friday Harbor passed away on July 7, 2019, at the age of 81 with her family by her side.

Kay was born on October 13, 1937, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and she spent her childhood there. She met Rodney Erickson while working at a soda fountain, and the two were married in 1956 after Rod’s service in the U.S. Air Force concluded. Kay and Rod moved to Seattle in 1960 and later to San Juan Island with their three children in 1967.

In addition to raising her children, Kay worked tirelessly alongside Rod to start multiple businesses including Inter-Island Electric and The Oaks Manufactured Home Community. They worked hard yet still found time for fun, enjoying snowmobiling, boating and plane trips with friends throughout the Pacific Northwest. Kay and Rod shared a sense of adventure; Kay learned how to fly their small plane herself and even completed her solo flight. In their retirement, Kay and Rod enjoyed RV road trips all along the West Coast.

Kay loved to read, garden, watch the Mariners, spoil her grandkids and spend time with her family. She was known for her kind smile, determined nature and for keeping an eye on all of the community happenings at The Oaks.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents James and Pearl Burns, infant sister Loretta, brother Jimmy and her husband Rod Erickson. She is survived by her sisters and brothers-in-law Cathy (Bob) Eggenberger and Connie (Guard) Sundstrom, and her children Patti (Bill) Walker, Mike (Kim) Erickson and Diane (Eric) Jangard. She is also survived by her grandchildren Bill (Kim) Walker, Tom (Jennifer) Walker, Kim (Ben) Newell, Brooke (Ryan) Aylward, Alex (Mallory) Jangard, Kyle Jangard, Luke Erickson and Hank Erickson, as well as her great-grandchildren Jack and Molly Jangard and her greater extended family.

Kay will be missed dearly by her family and will always be remembered for the attentive role that she played in their lives. At Kay’s request there will be no formal services. A private family gathering will be held.

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