Aimee Christy Sumner

died peacefully November 20 at Harbor House/Liberty Shores in Poulsbo, age 88. She was born Dec 12, 1922 in Seattle to Danish immigrants Harold and Elsie Christensen. The family changed its surname to Christy in 1936.After graduation from Seattle's Lincoln High School, she briefly attended the University of Washington before beginning a 20-year career as a research director for national advertising agencies in Chicago and then in San Francisco, where she moved in 1950.However, in 1960 she returned to college to train to become a licensed psychologist. She graduated from San Francisco State University and eventually earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of California, Berkeley. She worked professionally for many years at the Veterans Administration Hospital, San Francisco. In 1978 she established her independent practice in Daly City, Calif. and continued to see patients until she was 75.She married Angus Sumner, Jr. in 1969 and the couple lived in San Francisco until his death in 1995. She then lived in Pacifica, Calif. until 2006 when she moved to Bainbridge Island to be near family.Aimee was known for her strong independence and straight-forward honesty. She loved music, especially jazz, enjoyed swimming and was devoted to a series of black cats. She was a strong advocate of social justice, lessening suffering where she could, and she followed politics keenly. Aimee is perhaps best remembered for her willingness to listen carefully to and understand others, an expression of her life-long interest in what made people behave the way they do.She is survived by her niece Susan Christy Bottles (husband Kim) of Bainbridge Island, two grand-nephews in Seattle, her nephew John H. Christy (wife Beate) of Panama City, Republic of Panama, and two grand-nieces in Berkeley, Calif.The family would particularly like to thank the nursing staff and nursing assistants of Harbor House for the exceptionally kind and thoughtful care they showed Aimee the last two years of her life.A private service is planned for a later date. Please send memorials to a charity of your choice. Sign the online Guest Book for the family.