Kathryn Lynn Norton, 56, of Benton City, WA passed away January 7, 2013, after a 2-month battle with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, a rare brain disease that affects only one in one million people worldwide and 250-300 in the U.S. every year. Kathy was born February 17, 1956 in Richland, WA to Bill and Betty Norton. Kathy was always a caregiver. She took great care of her "kids" at Fairview Mental Hospital in Salem, OR for 16 years. She took care of her grandmother and father when they were ill, and she helped close friends and neighbors through their final days. Although she never had children of her own, she was an incredible adult figure for children of friends and neighbors – teaching them to do chores, take responsibility for their actions, count money, and much more. Kathy had a deep compassion for people and animals and was known to bring home strays, both people and animals. She loved gardening and yard work – at her house and her parent's. She frequently worked in the yard in the middle of the night with her headlamp on! She was a free spirit and independent. She owned her own lawn care business for a while. She also worked for Mayflower Moving. Kathy had a wonderful, quirky sense of humor and often gave hilarious Christmas gifts funny, but not suitable for print. She truly was one in a million, and we will miss her very much. The family would like to thank the staff at Kadlec Medical Center and Hospice House for their excellent care of Kathy. She is survived by her mother Betty, sister Kay Chip Hass, brother Steve Norton Denise Ciarlo; as well as nieces and their children Crystal Williamson Robbie, Reanna Norwood Jacob, Justice, Jada, Derrick, Beth and John Mata Devin, Gavin, Jessica Nathan Edgar Adrian, Jamie, and Melissa Lonnie Black Madison. She was preceded in death by her sister and best friend Paula Henry September 13, 2011 and her father Bill Norton July 21, 2010. She will be much missed by best friends Debbie and Renee. Her memorial will be held at Memories at Sunset Event Center in Richland on the By-pass Highway, 2:00 pm, Saturday, January 19, 2013.