Dorothy Juanita (Nita) Birks Klein, 85, passed away peacefully at home, with family and friends by her side, on Nov. 22, 2017.

Juanita was born to Lynn and Della Matusch Birks in Ballston, Oregon on Jan. 1, 1932. She was baptized in the Methodist church. Nita attended Sheridan public schools, played softball, tennis and track. After graduating from Sheridan High School, Nita attended Good Samaritan Nursing school in Portland and became a registered nurse. She met many lifelong friends at Good Sam. She then moved to Wheeler and worked for the Rinehart Clinic.

In Wheeler, she married her partner of 62 years, William H. Klein.

Nita and Bill moved to Sitka, Alaska where they started their family. The family also lived in Bethel and Anchorage. They moved to Carson City, Nevada in 1961, and then settled on the Island in 1963. Nita worked at the Winslow Clinic, her second family, for about 30 years, retiring in 1994.

Nita enjoyed, and was committed to longtime affiliations with groups such as Bainbridge Library, Bainbridge Chorale, Bloedel Reserve, Helpline House, Bargain Boutique, Bainbridge Ometepe, Bainbridge Historical Society, Bainbridge Foundation, P.E.O., Peace Trees Vietnam and others.

Nita was a pilot, played senior softball, was an avid reader and made awesome pies. Pie was a common dessert at the Birks Klein Fletcher Bay home. Nita very much enjoyed sitting on the deck during the summer, enjoying the sunset, soaking up the last of the days heat and enjoying a slice of pie.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018 at Seabold Methodist church on Bainbridge Island.

In lieu of flowers Nita asked that remembrances be made to Bainbridge Public Library.

She is survived by her husband William H. Klein, brother Vernon Birks, children Mo Klein, Pam Klein, Brad Klein and seven grandchildren.