In celebration and honor of beloved islander and former Vashon Poet Laureate Ina Whitlock, an evening of remembrance will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Vashon Bookshop.

The evening will open with five Vashon poets — Merna Hecht who will read on behalf of Hunter Davis, Eric Horsting, Cal Kinnear, Linera Lucas, Tom Pruiksma and Ann Spiers — reading selected poems from Whitlock’s poetry collection. Islanders are invited to read their favorite poem of Whitlock’s or to share a memory. Participants should sign up when they arrive and keep remarks to two minutes or less.

Whitlock, 86, died unexpectedly on Feb. 7, at her island home. She was a painter who exhibited work in many solo and group shows and a prolific writer, authoring close to a dozen books. She was poet laureate of Vashon from 2013 to 2015.

In April of 2016, VALISE Gallery exhibited a retrospective of her artwork, “80 Years in Art 1936-2016,” and Vashon Bookshop held an event for Whitlock to read and sign her latest book of poetry, “Moments Out of Time.”

Whitlock first moved to the island in the early 1960s, then resided here permanently beginning in 1986. She was active in the community and a friend to many on Vashon.

“Our community of writers, artists and many others will remain ever grateful for Ina’s memorable gifts to us. We look forward to gathering in celebration of her spirit,” event organizers said.

— Juli Goetz Morser