Dear friends and family,

Thank you for your tremendous, loving support over the past 4 months following the unexpected death of our beloved husband and father, Kevin.  You have called, texted, and visited us.  You have held us in your thoughts and prayers.  You have sent us beautiful flowers and thoughtful gifts.  You have cooked us nurturing meals and written us kind and uplifting notes.  You have dipped with us in Puget Sound, cooked “Kevin cookies”, shared songs and photos with us.  You have invited us for walks and tea, shared tips for navigating grief (books, personal stories, poetry, songs).  You have mowed our grass, weeded our flower beds, cleaned our house, and hugged us.  You have hosted our family in your homes and shared your dogs with us.  You have been patient with us.  You have organized tributes to Kevin, stepped in to help manage his law firm and tried to keep his practice going in his absence. You have told us stories about your friendship with Kevin.  Your kindness and loving support helps us get through each day.

We would like to invite you to a celebration of Kevin’s life to be held Saturday April 27, 2024 in Seattle, Washington.  We will send out specific details via email by February 1, 2024.  Please send a note to kevincelebrationinfo@gmail.com to ensure that we have your correct email address.

Also, we are publishing Kevin’s obituary in the Seattle Times this morning, Sunday October 30th, 2023.  You can read it below or in the online and print edition. 

With love,

Anna Davis, Clara Scudder-Davis, Ella Scudder-Davis

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Kevin Robert Scudder — beloved husband, father, and founder of the Seattle Collaborative Law Center —passed away on Wednesday, June 28th in Seattle, surrounded by his loving daughters, Clara and Ella, and his sweetheart of 41 years, Anna Davis. He was 63. His death followed a valiant effort to survive complications caused by an allergic reaction to heparin after a knee replacement surgery.

Kevin was born in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1960 to Charles Scudder and Barbara Binswanger. The fourth of six siblings, Kevin was a loving brother, a prankster, and the designated chocolate chip cookie baker in the family. He treasured conversations with his mom while folding clothes and was a stickler for cleanliness in the kitchen like his dad. Kevin's lifelong love of music began early, nurtured by his parents' participation in the Omaha Folklore Society and his own brief stint in the Omaha Opera. Running to and from elementary school honed Kevin's athletic prowess and his love of nature. He loved any and all games, and his fierce determination for fairness and winning were evident whether he was playing cribbage or baseball. At age five he met Gordon Gendler playing itty-bitty basketball, and the two formed a deep friendship that would sustain Kevin throughout his life. Some of Kevin's fondest childhood memories were of summers at Camp Aquila in northern Minnesota, where the camp director's high expectations, reliability, and kindness nurtured Kevin's growth into a confident and capable young man. 

Kevin graduated from Hampshire College with a degree in Religious Studies. He spent summers baking granola in Amherst, MA, and— after hitchhiking to Cordova, AL— working a union job on a fish canning line. During travels to Egypt and Israel, he witnessed the strife between Palestinians and Israelis, an experience which informed his dedication to conflict resolution.  

While at Hampshire, Kevin met the love of his life, Anna, a Smithie. Kevin followed her to Seattle, where he graduated from the University of Washington Law School in 1989 and began his career as a prosecutor. Kevin and Anna married later that year. 

In his legal career, Kevin was a thoughtful, intelligent, and diligent attorney who went above and beyond for anyone in need of help. In 2006, Kevin began practicing Collaborative law, a peacemaking approach to conflict resolution. Soon after, he founded the Seattle Collaborative Law Center and became a leader and teacher in the national and international Collaborative law communities. His ethos of service led him to volunteer with Collaborative Professionals of Washington (past President), King County Collaborative Law, King County Volunteer Mediator Services, the International Association of Collaborative Professionals (Executive Board), and the American Bar Association (Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee chair), among others. A testament to their high regard, the Washington State Bar Association Family Law Section awarded Kevin "Professional of the Year" in 2023. 

With his wife, Anna, Kevin was a hard-working and loving playmate, and an intellectually vibrant and quick-witted partner. Throughout the past 30 years, Kevin and Anna spent much of their free time in the Methow Valley enjoying time with friends, skiing, hiking, biking, dipping in the river, and throwing sticks for their beloved dogs, Eli and Willy. It is a place where the quiet of starry nights brought them both comfort and ease in an otherwise busy and demanding life. 

With his daughters, Kevin was the most playful, sparkly, and silly dad. He created games, stories, songs, and imaginary friends for his girls; he coached their sports teams, volunteered at their schools, and taught them to go fast and be brave. Clara and Ella attribute their love of singing to Kevin, who shared his beautiful tenor voice with them as they grew up-he would often call just to sing them a folk song. He was always open to philosophical discussions and to learning with and from his daughters. His willingness to show up as a Dad in the big and small ways was a gift. 

Within his community, Kevin was an all-star on any sports team, a valued member of the Greenwood Song Circle, a favorite neighbor, and a member of a close-knit group of life-long frisbee friends who also enjoyed playing poker and basketball, and discussing books together. 

Kevin was spiritually inquisitive, playful, and deeply concerned with justice. A true extrovert, he loved fostering deep and meaningful relationships. He was unrelentingly fun and funny, as well as stubborn, reliable, and persevering. Whether pulling weeds in the garden, preparing butternut cashew soup, taking his nephews to Scouts meetings, or running the Seattle Collaborative Law Center, Kevin was rigorous, detail-oriented, good-hearted, and purposeful. Kevin was an example, especially to the men in his life, of how to connect emotionally and show love. His strong opinions, paired with his open heart, touched those lucky enough to know him. He will be remembered as a trusted listener who unfailingly held his confidants' best interests at heart, and as a brave and kind man who persevered through even the most demanding challenges. 

Kevin is survived by his wife, Anna, and his daughters, Clara and Ella. He is also survived by his five cherished siblings, Michael, Steven (Donna), Aimee, Asia, and Melissa; his best friend Gordon Gendler; dear nieces and nephews; his parents-in-law; sisters-in-law; and a community of beloved friends and colleagues. 

Among Kevin's many legacies, he leaves us with his personal motto and approach to life: "Peacemaking, let it begin with me."

May it be so. 

In lieu of flowers, please act in service to a cause that is dear to your heart. 

A celebration of Kevin's life will occur on April 27, 2024. For details, please reach out to kevincelebrationinfo@gmail.com.

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