Kathy Shiels

Kathy Shiels passed away peacefully at home on Feb. 9, 2023. She was attended to by her devoted husband and three incredible children after a two-year battle fought with strength, dignity, and grace.

Kathy was born on March 7, 1950, in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Kathleen and John Parker Bader. She was the youngest of 5 children. She played basketball throughout high school in St Louis, Missouri, and graduated with a degree in physical therapy from the University of Missouri. She then packed her rescue dog MacDuff in her VW beetle and moved to Los Angeles, where she met and married her husband of almost 50 years, Hugh Shiels M.D. After Hugh completed his residency in Tennessee, they settled in the Yakima Valley.

In Sunnyside, Kathy worked as a physical therapist, managed Hugh’s orthopedic surgery practice, and ran their farming operation all while raising their three beautiful children. She and Hugh established DuBrul Vineyard in 1992. Kathy was instrumental in founding Côte Bonneville, their estate winery, in 2001. She was proud to be one of the pioneers of the Washington Wine Industry.

Kathy enjoyed an active outdoor lifestyle full of horses and dogs. Kathy’s efforts in the winery complemented her joy of sharing time with friends and family. She was renowned for her generous hospitality and spectacular cooking. Always wanting to share, she continued working on the cookbook she was writing until days before her passing.

Kathy continues to be an inspiration for her far-sighted vision and ability to make things happen with seemingly effortless grace. Her warmth, kindness, loyalty, and sense of humor are greatly missed.

Kathy is survived by her husband, Hugh Shiels, M.D.; children Katie Murff, Kerry Shiels, and Richard (Carie) Shiels, and four grandchildren, Ania, Sebastian, Parker, and Elisabeth, as well as her four siblings and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations of blood or platelets to the American Red Cross. Contributions can be made in Kathy’s memory to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Those wishing to sign Kathy’s online memorial book may do so at www.funeralhomesmith.com

Smith Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.