SEQUIM — Hundreds of mourners, including dozens of law enforcement officials from throughout Washington, attended a public memorial service Saturday afternoon to honor the memory of late Sequim Police Officer Kathrene H. “Kathy” Barr.
Barr, 27, was killed July 24 in an off-duty motorcycle accident on State Highway 113.
A procession of about 50 Sequim Police and emergency response vehicles from other agencies delivered Barr’s flag-draped coffin to the Sequim High School Auditorium.
Barr was born in Alaska and graduated from high school in Great Falls, Mont.
She was certified as a corrections officer in both Montana and Washington.
She started with the Sequim Police Department full-time in September 2004 and was the school resource officer at Sequim High School.
Barr had a passion for horses, country music, martial arts and boating.
Winning sense of humor
Known as much for her big smile and winning sense of humor as her dedication to her job, Police Chief Robert Spinks had to pause during the memorial to hold back tears.
It was one of those days, he said, where “big Scottish-Irish Catholic police officers get choked up and cry.”
He recalled how Barr would smile when challenged, giving one of her trademark “Montana-cowgirl-hot-damn-this-is-cool smiles,” Spinks said.
Although time may fade the memory of Barr, “I assure you she will never be forgotten by the men and woman of the Sequim Police Department,” Spinks said.
Even though Barr’s commitment to students and residents of Sequim is what made her the kind of police officer she was, Barr’s friends made sure to note that she was also a superb person.
‘Officer Barr’
The people who knew her as “Officer Barr” could see that she had accomplished more than just following in her father’s footsteps by becoming a peace officer.
“It’s not the length of the life that matters,” said Sequim Mayor Walt Shubert.
“It’s what the life stands for.”
