Kathryn “Kitty” Beavers Eagle, wife of retired Covenant pastor H. Alan Eagle, passed away on May 14, 2023, in northwest Washington state.
She was 69.
Kathryn “Kitty” Lee Beavers was born on March 12, 1954, to parents Robert Alden and Frances Hurford Beavers in Seattle, Washington. After moving frequently throughout her early childhood due to her father’s service in the Navy, she spent the rest of her childhood and adolescence living in Oakland, California.
After graduating from Skyline High School in 1972, Kitty went on to Oregon State University, where she graduated with a degree in microbiology in 1976. Around that time she began taking vocal lessons and became involved in theater and choir productions.
She met H. (Harold) Alan Eagle while attending Milwaukie (Oregon) Covenant Church. They married on August 21, 1979. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Chicago where Alan would complete his final year of seminary.
Kitty gave herself fully to the ministry of the congregations Alan served in Bradford, Pennsylvania; Oakland, Nebraska; Graham, Washington; and Tacoma, Washington. She frequently sang at church and developed a singing ministry and led a Swedish folk dance performance group.
When the family moved to Washington, Kitty reentered the workforce. Pursuing her interest in education, she worked as a preschool teacher and paraeducator before earning her teaching certification from the University of Washington Tacoma in 2000. She went on to teach at North Star Elementary School until her retirement in 2020.
Kitty will be remembered as a gifted soloist, chorale singer, folk dancer, and teacher. Combining her love of the musical arts and education, she researched and developed an educational singing program about opera soprano Jenny Lind—commonly referred to as “the Swedish Nightingale”—which she presented in multiple states.
Throughout her life, Kitty overcame challenges with her fierce love and dedication to her family, faith, and community. She immersed herself in her various roles in life, trying new things and striving for excellence, with good humor and singing along the way. She loved being a mother and a grandmother. She will be remembered for her smile, poise, kindness, curiosity, and creativity.
Kitty is survived by her husband H. Alan Eagle; four children, Nathanael Eagle (Rebekah), Mary Eagle Harwood (Corban), John Eagle (Emily Call), and Samuel Eagle (Amanda); four grandchildren; brother Craig (Kim) Beavers, and five cousins.
A celebration of life was held on Saturday, May 20, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Spanaway, Washington, after which she was laid to rest in
the Bethany Lutheran Church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Swedish Foundation designated to the Ben and Catherine Ivy Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment, the International Red Cross, Bethany Lutheran Church, or the Salvation Army.
Peace be to her memory.
