Kathleen Anderson died on March 27, 2025, at age 81.
She was a great-great-grandmother, an entrepreneur, a social service professional, and a print and television journalist. Prior to her arrival in Olympia in 2018, she lived in California, Arizona, and Texas.
Kathleen was The JOLT’s first columnist. We have published more than 200 of her articles since starting in October 2020.
Her column, The Sage Connection, told all about the joys, challenges, and quirks of aging, conveyed with humor, tenderness, and a knowledge of resources and research. She also tackled issues relevant to all ages, such as volunteering as a means of helping make life more meaningful, and animal advocacy. As with all JOLT stories, these remain available online so you can find them any time. Some of the best-read pieces are those in which we glimpse her private world and family.
Kathleen became a grandmother for the first time in her late 30s and settled on being called Granny. Later, a teenage grandchild decided that her name should be cool and elevated it to, “The Grandster.”
She was also lovingly called, “the old mother,” and “silly old granny” (by a 2-year-old grandchild). But the name “Granny” stuck and was never usurped from her by subsequent generations of grandmothers in her line. She remained the only granny! Living in North Olympia with Dana, one of her four children, she maintained close contact with her family, somewhat rare in this day and age. In 2022, Kathleen published a story, The inside story of five generations under one roof.
The following tells the diversity and creativity of her long career.
In the late 1980s, Kathleen ran a West Coast pilot program for the Area Agency on Aging called the Homemaker Registry. The program offered in-home non-medical help for home-bound elders and those with disabilities. The program succeeded and, to this day, operates nationwide. She also managed other programs and worked with a network of 20 senior housing facilities.
In trying to reach homebound elders, she realized that television could be the key. She wrote and hosted a local television show, writing a grant for her TV crew to attend video production classes. The program was a hit, with both education and entertainment for seniors. The program won the Bay Area Cable award several years running, with innovations such as the first live call-in show offered by the station.
She bought and ran a 35-seat café. It started as a hamburger joint but she expanded it with homemade soups and stews. She planned to discontinue milkshakes to ease the workload but, “several of my customers showed up with a petition to keep the milkshake machine. They even offered to make their own if I kept it.” She also took on the school lunch program in her second year. After five years of 18-hour days, she sold it and eased into a bed and breakfast.
She managed a 22-room bed-and-breakfast in Bisbee, Arizona, for five years, serving breakfast buffets, baked goodies, and plenty of wine and coffee to her guests. A family member told us that she made so much money for the owners that they had to sell it because they didn’t want to pay so much in taxes.
Kathleen lived in Texas from 2002 to 2012. During that time, she worked for nonprofit organizations that served low-income seniors, battered women and Louisiana hurricane victims. She was a member of local Rotary Clubs during her Texas years.
Kathleen wrote essays and columns for newspapers and television in California since the 1980s, focusing on real estate, home maintenance, and topics for seniors. Her take on writing, “Whether you do it at home or in an office setting, ultimately you are alone, listening to the little voice inside your head, and staring at a blank computer screen … When I began doing columns in the '80s I had to hand-deliver my columns to the newspaper office. After a while, I invested in a fax machine which, at the time, I thought was the bee’s knees. Then came the internet and with it, emails. This was great, because now instead of driving to the office to pick up my mail (comments from readers), it came directly to me.” She went on to note how important her readers’ comments were to her.
Kathleen was also a volunteer. She was a lifelong Lions Club member, first in California, then in the Olympia Host Lions Club where she served as secretary for many years and as a devoted advocate in their Low Vision Resource Center.
We at The JOLT grieve her loss, as do many in the community, along with her family and friends.
6 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
KellyOReilly
So sad to read of Kathleen‘s passing. My heart goes out to all her family. I enjoyed her column and will miss it.
Saturday, May 3 Report this
Snevets
I've so enjoyed her writings.
Free of Earth as free as air now you travel everywhere.
Saturday, May 3 Report this
gypsydjango
Sad news for sure. I thoroughly enjoyed all of Kathleen’s articles. She was a true professional and journalist; I will miss her.
Saturday, May 3 Report this
dlg2022
What a beautiful tribute to Kathleen! As the Jolt's first columnist with decades of writing columns, her encouragement of my writing and mentorship meant so much. I already miss her cheerleading, light, and support. Her presence, column, and lifeforce leave a gap in many people's lives, including mine. Our community and The Jolt News were so lucky to have had her. May she be at peace on the other side, and deepest condolences to her large and loving family. Debra Glasser, M.D.
Saturday, May 3 Report this
Grailking
Kathleen was one of a kind. A great friend and supporter of my work with seniors and Death Cafes here in town.
Condolences to everyone whose lives she touched
Monday, May 5 Report this
kellykelly
I enjoyed her columns and am sad that she will no longer have her column in the Daily Jolt. She had a very full life.
Tuesday, May 6 Report this