Heidi Lee Knable

Heidi Lee (Callahan) Knable of Kirkland, Washington passed away on Friday, July 24th, at the age of 64. She was born on September 17th, 1961, in Pasadena, California, and grew up on Mercer Island in Washington state.

She graduated from Mercer Island High School in 1979 and received her B.A. in Speech Communications from the University of Washington, where she was a member of Alpha Phi sorority and participated in ROTC, before later earning her teaching degree at Western Washington University.

Heidi worked her way through school with a number of jobs, including at fish canneries in Alaska, in marketing/ merchandizing at Anheuser-Busch, and as a building manager in Bellevue, among other diverse pursuits. She ultimately became a middle school teacher, spending her career in Everett, Mill Creek, and finally at Redmond Middle School in the Lake Washington School District, where she taught for the majority of her career and earned the Excellence in Education award multiple times.

Heidi was deeply devoted to her son, students, the teaching community, and her beautiful home. She adored sharing flowers, her gourmet cooking, entertaining, and socializing. She enjoyed many travel adventures throughout her life.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Lee Mackey (Callahan) Darst (2011), and her father, David L. Callahan (2020).

Heidi is survived by her son, Kelson Callahan Knable; her sister, Shannon Eugenie Callahan (Mark Cunningham); her brother, David Mackey Callahan; her nephling, Xandria Nirvana Easterday Callahan (Alina); her niece, Olivia Rose Lokelani Cunningham; multiple cousins in California, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Montana; along with countless extended family and friends — including her former spouse, Bruce Hawes, with whom she maintained a close and lasting friendship.

Heidi was the greatest cheerleader for absolutely everyone she encountered. She was an extraordinarily optimistic, outgoing, and cheerful person who spent her life supporting and encouraging others to excel in the pursuit of their happiness and dreams, celebrating each of their successes, large or small, frequently in a manner many marveled at as “Over the top”. To Heidi, everything was better done bigger and as extravagant as able! She was remarkably positive and inspired countless people with her radiant smile and infectious enthusiasm. Heidi's boundless energy and amazing spirit have had a profound effect on so many, it is certain that her bright spirit, and memory will live on beyond imagining.

The family would like to thank Heidi's friends and housemates, Charles Hedlund and Dave Cobb, as well as all of the doctors, nurses, and staff at Evergreen Hospital for the care and compassion they showed during Heidi's final days.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Heidi's Life at FareStart, 700 Virginia St, Seattle, WA 98101, on Saturday, October 3rd, 12:00PM. Light refreshments will be provided by FareStart's program participants.

In keeping with her sunny, positive, cheery personality, it was Heidi’s wish for this to be a light and joyful celebration, so please feel free to wear bright colors in her honor. Some of Heidi's favorite music will be played throughout, and there will be time set aside to share memories — anyone who would like to share a story or memory of Heidi is warmly encouraged to do so.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her honor to The Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession (https://cstp-wa.org/), DonorsChoose (https://www.donorschoose.org/), Equity in Education Center (https://eec-wa.org/), Hopelink (https://www.hopelink.org/), Habitat for Humanity (https://www.habitat.org/), and/or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/).