Karla K. Linder
Karla K. Linder (Keeley, Baker, Essendrup), who had lived in Sitka for many years, died June 21, 2018, in Whidby Island, Wash., her home since the early 2000s.
Karla was about to turn 74, and had had a long battle with two different kinds of cancer.
She was born June 26, 1944, in Seattle, the daughter of Betty and James Keeley. She graduated from high school there.
After coming to Sitka, Karla worked in a doctor’s office and at Sitka Community Hospital. She also was a volunteer with Sitka Fire Department.
Karla was kindhearted and, in the words of her daughter Kathryn Mathews, “did the best she could in life and tried each day to become a better person. My mom was not perfect but she was loved greatly. In this life none of us is perfect and I will spend each day trying to follow her example, to try to be a better person each day than I was the day before.
“I will remember all the good times with her, crazy trips she took with her grandchildren (and she was crazy fun for them); and the lives of the children she took in as her own.”
Karla is survived by her children, Kathryn (Ron) Matthews of Sitka, and Todd (Sandi) Essendrup and Collette Rochon, both of Iron Mountain, Mich.; her brother Rick Keeley of Washington; and her sister Barbara (Dan) Moldenhauer of Phillips Lake, Wash.
Many grandchildren, nieces and nephews also survive.
“My brother Todd and I wanted to express huge gratitude to Aunt Barb and Uncle Dan, who were with our mother during her last hours on this earth before joining the Lord,” Kathryn Mathews said.
“To the friends she left behind, in a letter she wrote she apologized to those she hurt and hoped you could forgive her someday and that she loved all of you very much.
“Her friends and family were her whole world. God bless you all.”
