Former Bainbridge Island reisdent Jennifer Kersnar Ghee, age 51, died Dec. 11 in Seattle.
She was born May 31, 1951 in San Francisco, Calif., to Frank Joseph Kersnar and Betty Maxine Kramer.
She grew up in Bellevue, where her family lived for seven years. She lived in Novato, Calif., and Marin County, Calif., for 35 years, and also lived in Auckland, New Zealand, San Diego, Calif.
She returned home to the Pacific Northwest and lived in Port Townsend the past nine months, and Bainbridge Island the previous 14 months.
She was a mother and homemaker for much of her life before realizing her love and appreciation of dance and the performing arts.
She helped found the Marin Dance Theatre, where she spent countless hours with young dancers and supporting the vision of the school.
Her other interests included volunteering and mentoring, gardening, exercise, cooking, and her family and friends.
She was a member of St. Francis Episcopal Church in Novato, Calif., where she was involved in church outreach and pastoral care as trained and active Stephen Minister. She was also involved in church leadership as a Senior Worden and a founder of the Angel’s Attic Thrift Shop.
During the last two years she was a member of Grace Episcopal Church on Bainbridge Island.
She is survived by her partner, Craig Campbell of Port Townsend; children Kevin Ghee and Krissy Ghee, both of Novato, Calif.; mother, Betty Kramer, of Port Townsend; brother Jere Kersnar of Foster City, Calif., and sister Juge of Whitianga, New Zealand; and her children’s father, Woody Ghee.
She was preceded in death by her father Frank Kersnar, of San Francisco.
A celebration of life will be held Dec. 20 at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church in Novato, Calif. Local services will be at 3 p.m. Dec. 22 at Grace Episcopal Church on Bainbridge Island.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Marin Dance Theater, One St. Vincent Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903, or to a charity of the donor’s choice
Arrangements were under the direction of Kosec Funeral Home, Port Townsend.
