Kiya Carolyn Ruth Bodding took her last ferry ride from Vashon Island, passing peacefully on August 1st, 2023.

Kiya was born 1-4-1947 in Portland, Oregon Her family moved to Pasadena, California in 1948. She was baptized as a baby, and she confirmed her baptism as a teenager at her family church, Grace Lutheran, in Pasadena.

She attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota With a one-year break attending UCLA, she returned to, and graduated from, Augustana in 1968, with a major in Psychology. She later earned a Masters in Instructional Technology from the University of Oregon, which she used in many of her future pursuits, including teaching that course to staff at U of O.

Her entire life was filled with adventure and variety, including her job interests. Kiya began as a candy-striper volunteer at California Hospital in Los Angeles at age 16, along with lifetime friend, Cate Hillardof Sammamish. She worked in videography and documentary production. She also loved working on cars, and doing auto body work. She used her entrepreneurial spirit when, in college, she helped set up a successful business whitewashing barns on farms in South Dakota.

She has lived in California, Oregon, and Washington, and loved each place, with special love for her community on Vashon Island, Washington. There was a strong, active love for ecstatic and improv dance. All knew that she loved swimming, camping, and just being “in” nature,such aswalking in the forest, or along Burton Beach. She led workshops on laughter, including with her “village” at Vashon Island Unitarian Universalists.

Kiya visited many countries on her travels. She spent time in Europe, Russia, Costa Rica as examples. She attended many family reunions in Southern California, where she would always bring a big box of books for all of her nieces and nephews, who loved her for adding to the fun of reading. She also made use of her creative skills with pottery and shared her gifts with many family and friends.

Kiya is survived by sister Kirsten Bodding Lundring of Thousand Oaks, California.

Kiya will be remembered as surprising, brave, independent, and appreciative. Her spirit and creativity will be missed. She wished for a memorial outdoors surrounded by trees and for singing “Blue Boat Home,” and “In The Garden.” The gathering will be held at Lincoln Park, near the Fauntleroy Ferry terminal at 3:00 PM on Sunday, September 17th.