In Loving Memory of Kathy Lee Margaret Cerkoney
June 6, 2025 — Age 76

Today, I write this letter to my mom.

I am filled with great sadness—a burden… a burden of not knowing if my mom truly knew how much she meant to me.

All day, I felt the need to write a note to her. My mom was a note writer. So, I pen this—a final letter, a eulogy, an obituary in the words of her eldest son and daughter.

My one and only wish is for you to stay, but I know you can't grant my request.

Mom, as I sit in your chair just 24 hours after your passing, I am overwhelmed by a flurry of emotions. I have known this day was coming for many months, yet I was not prepared. As I look back on my life, there has always been one constant, one voice of comfort… one mom.

It is with great sadness that I share: on June 6, 2025, at the age of 76, Kathy Lee Margaret Cerkoney passed away from pancreatic cancer.

I am the eldest son of her three children: Tana Cerkoney, my older sister, and Jeff Cerkoney, my younger brother. Kathy was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Nick Cerkoney, and her parents, James and Geraldine Hubbard of Lake Oswego.

Kathy was a proud graduate of Lake Oswego High School, class of 1967.

She held many roles in her life. She was a daughter, a sister, a wife, an aunt, a mother, and a grandmother to seven grandchildren. She was an accomplished insurance agent. She served as PTO president, booster club president, and classroom mom. She was a soccer mom before soccer moms were cool. She was a Little League mom and a den mother.

She was my mom.
And I was not prepared.

Of all the roles my mom held, two things stand out to me most today: the loyalty and grace she gave to her kids, her husband, her coworkers, and everyone who knew her.

As I sat among her things today—pictures of her life, her accomplishments—I remembered the times she protected me, hugged me, and was my safe place. I remember the way she smelled. I remember that young, motherly voice—that one voice that could calm the storm that was my world.

Today, I find myself once again in that storm, unprepared for yesterday to be the last time I would say, "I love you, Mom," and hear her say, "I love you," back.

Yesterday, we said goodbye to my mom for the last time.

Yes, I rose today with great sadness, but I find rest in the life my mom helped build—within me. Children take their parents for granted… and it's only on that last day that the true meaning of this becomes painfully clear.

Kathy is survived by her daughter, Tana Cerkoney; sons, James Cerkoney and Jeff Cerkoney; daughter-in-law, Jamie Cerkoney; and her grandchildren: Josh Davis, Austen Davis, Carter Davis, Ethan Cerkoney, Eli Cerkoney, Ean Cerkoney, and Elin Cerkoney.

She is also survived by her sister, Gail Shevchenko; brother-in-law, Nicholas Shevchenko; niece, Nicole Van Atta; and nephew, Matt Shevchenko.

We were not prepared for the day we would say our final goodbye.

Mom, my one and only wish is for you to stay.
With all my love,
James Lee Cerkoney, Tana Lee Anne Cerkoney.