Longtime Bainbridge Island resident and respected cultural anthropologist Karen James, 76, died unexpectedly on Jan. 31, 2016.

Karen was beloved by her family, many friends and generations of crows, dogs and cats who were attracted to her warm, caring spirit.

Born in Tacoma on Feb. 27, 1939, to David and Maria James, Karen was a descendent of the James family who emigrated from Cornwall in 1852 and settled on Ground Mound Prairie in southwest Washington. On her mother’s side, she was a descendant of the Finnish Heikkinen family.

With her parents and younger brother, Evan, Karen lived in Lakewood, Seattle and Union on Hood Canal. During her high school years at Irene S. Reed in Shelton she made lifelong friends from Union and the nearby Skokomish Indian Tribal community. One of her childhood pleasures was riding horses in the woods above Union.

She finished high school at Annie Wright High School in Tacoma, and attended Mills College and the University of Edinburgh. She then returned to the University of Washington where she completed her graduate work in cultural anthropology.

Karen held lifelong commitments to social justice, women’s rights and preserving the natural environment. During the 1960s and ’70s and beyond, she was actively involved with the National Organization for Women, the anti-war movement, migrant farm workers in the Yakima Valley and Native American treaty rights. Karen was an active cultural anthropologist for nearly 50 years. She worked tirelessly and with integrity on behalf of the Skokomish Tribe and carefully documented the life of Skokomish basketmaker Louisa Pulsifer. With her beloved friend Subiyay (Bruce Miller) she co-produced a film that honors the traditional arts of Mrs. Pulsifer and Emily Miller. Her life’s work included archival and community-based research with many Northwest tribes, often collaborating with her esteemed mentor and friend, anthropologist Barbara Lane.

After several years back in Union, Karen, her spouse, Dex McCulloch, and their children moved to Bainbridge Island, near her parents’ home. For decades the James and McCulloch homes were the welcoming center of holiday celebrations for family and a diverse group of friends and their children who were included as full members of Karen’s extended family. As years passed, “Aiti” delighted in spending time teaching her grandchildren about the habits of crows, the wonders of the seashore and the joy and responsibilities of caring for animals and plants.

Karen always sought to understand the world and its diverse peoples. She enjoyed good conversations, the daily newspapers, a wide variety of music and travel. Her recent trips included visits to China, Mongolia, Turkey and Nova Scotia. Earlier, she visited the James family homestead in Cornwall.

Karen’s thoughtfulness, sincerity, great sense of humor and full engagement with the people she was around will be greatly missed. She is survived by her sons, Matt and Neal McCulloch, Dexter McCulloch, her two grandchildren, Alex and Hailey McCulloch, many friends and extended family.

A memorial and celebration of Karen’s life was held Saturday, Feb. 27, at the Wing Point Country Club.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Washington Alzheimer’s Association; www.alz.org/alzwa.