Obituary of Katherine Elizabeth Markoulis

Katherine Elizabeth (Avey) Markoulis departed this life on September 15, 2015. Katherine (Kat, Kathy) was born April 12, 1946 to the late Guy Raymond, Jr. and Jean (Pell) Avey, in Morgantown, West Virginia. In as much as her mother died at an early age in 1963, Kat became the daughter of the late Jean Crane Brand Avey. Kathy is a 1964 graduate of Martinsburg High School and a 1968 graduate of West Virginia University with a degree in Spanish. Later she earned a law degree from the University of Arizona and was a Southern Arizona Legal Aid (SALA) attorney for 25 years in Tucson. Her keen and incisive intellect was a boon to her law school classmates, whom she was always ready to assist with difficult legal concepts. Kathy was always a lively addition to law school parties. Her colleagues at SALA praise her commitment to her clients and her excellent training and support of new lawyers; they describe her as a "champion for justice." The Tucson legal community will miss you, Kathy, especially your wonderful and contagious laugh. Kathy is survived by six sisters and spouses, Barbara Beckwith (Todd), Jane Puckett (LH), Marcia Brand (Mark Outhier), Mary Lee Manor, Sandra Wachtel (Rick), Barbara Duke and one brother, Guy R. Avey, III (Kirsten). In addition, she is survived by 12 nieces and nephews (soon to be 13) and six great-nieces and nephews, and several aunts, uncles, cousins, and many very dear friends. Kathy was a voracious reader, a pet lover. a talented gardener, and a friend of nature. Her family and friends in West Virginia were very important to her and she visited them in Martinsburg at Christmas and in the Outer Banks in the summer. It brought great joy to her to bring her nieces and nephews unique toys and reading material. The family wishes to express its sincere gratitude to her compassionate and loving caregivers, Rhonda and Mike Williams and their staff, as well as her guardian, Lyndi Anderson, and her legal colleagues and friends including: Sara Wisdom, Barbara Magee, Erika Kreider, Leigh Bernstein and Nanette Warner. Kat's wishes were to have a "green" burial; she was buried at the Marana Mortuary & Cemetery on September 22, 2015. Memorials will be held in Martinsburg and Tucson; details to be announced later. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the following: Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Kanab, Utah @Best Friends.org, Tucson Community food Bank, 3003 Country Club Road, Ste. 221, Tucson, Arizona, 85713. A fund to establish tuition assistance or a scholarship in memory of Kathy at: Johnelle Vold, James Rogers College of Law, University of Arizona, 1201 W. Speedway, Tucson, Arizona 85721. Arrangements by ADAIR FUNERAL HOMES, Avalon Chapel