March 6, 1961 ~ July 30, 2005

Kristin was born to Tom and Barbara Spolar while they were stationed at the U.S. Forest Service McKenzie Bridge Ranger Station near Springfield, Oregon. She joined older brother Eric in their love of nature as they spent their early childhood at the Wind River Ranger Station in Carson, Washington. Little sister Tami joined this outdoor crew just before the family moved to Ellensburg, Washington. It was in Ellensburg that Kristin spent the majority of her youth and young adulthood, including graduating from Ellensburg High School and attending Central Washington University. It was also here that she learned to take care of, and ride, horses - a passion she never outgrew. Along the way, she also milked cows, worked on forest fire crews, search and rescue, and on a thoroughbred horse ranch. At one point, she even saw the country from the driver's seat of a 18-wheeler. As much as she loved the outdoors, she could also spend hours inside at a sewing machine, running her own business. She was commissioned to create everything from designer wine bottle bags to elaborate wedding gowns. She loved blending fabrics and colors into works of art. But she was never far from the outdoors and animals. You could find her with exotic cats curled in her lap, or handfeeding squirrels on her patio, much to the delight of her niece and nephews. Hiking, camping and later, scuba diving, kept her connected to the outdoors, and added to collection of rocks, shells and feathers. It was while she was scuba diving at Edmond's Underwater Park with her special friend, Duane and his daughter, that she lost her life on the last dive of the day.  Kristin is survived by her parents, Tom and Barbara Spolar; her brother, Eric; and her sister, Tami.