Kathryn Siems Bouve of Franklin, Tennessee

January 26, 1948 - August 17, 2021

Kate Bouvé passed away on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 in Franklin, TN, surrounded by her family, after an extended illness.

Kate was born in Baltimore, Maryland and after brief periods in South Bend, IN and Wichita, KS, she spent most of her adult life in Bethesda, MD, outside of Washington, DC.

After graduating from American University in 1974 with a degree in History, she began a career centered on environmental public service, working first for Common Cause and the Save the Whales Foundation.  In 1981 she began work at the Environmental Protection Agency where she spent nearly 35 years primarily specializing in pesticide regulation enforcement, serving five different administrations before retiring in 2015 as a GS-15.

Attending high school in the shadow of Baltimore’s old Memorial Stadium, Kate was always a huge baseball fan, rooting for her hometown Orioles.

Entertaining was one of her favorite pastimes, and her home in Bethesda was a place where her friends and family could always count on a warm and festive atmosphere. Whether at her annual Christmas open house or her spring gathering for the myriad of family March birthdays, she was a wonderful hostess. Many glasses were lifted and many a story was shared on her back patio.

Kate loved her garden, and her house in Bethesda was always a visible treat to the neighbors.

An avid traveler, she took every chance she could to explore the world, visiting England, France, and Brazil; participating in church pilgrimages to the UK and Italy; and making two trips to Japan.

She found her spiritual home at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Washington, DC, getting involved with various committees and leadership positions, culminating in her election and service as Senior Warden.

She is preceded in death by her parents John Siems and Marjorie Siems Class, and brother-in-law, Kent Boaldin. Kate is survived by her sisters Linda Boaldin, and Barbara (Joe) Gentile; her sons David (Lara) and Michael (Michelle) Bouvé.  She is also survived by her five beloved grandchildren: Lyndsey, Abigail, Zachary, Madelyn, and Rachel; and three nephews Greg and Christopher Boaldin and Steven Buda.

Her family would like to extend a message of deep gratitude to the staff of The Hearth Senior Living facility as well as Guardian Hospice in Franklin, Tennessee, who took excellent care of Kate as well as offering wonderful support and resources at the end of her life.

To celebrate Kate’s life, the family asks for your continued love and support. A memorial service will be held at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Washington, DC at 1100 on Saturday 9 October, after which she will be interred in the columbarium at her longtime church home.  In lieu of flowers, we ask that all who wish to participate, make a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research .  Donations in Memoriam to Kate can be made at MichaelJFox.org/Donate.