Kristy J. Ehrman Obituary (2025)

In a valley known for mountainsides of wildflowers as enchanting and graceful as they are mighty against the wind, one of the loveliest beings to bloom in the Kittitas said goodbye to us on New Year's Day. Kristy Jean Helleson Ehrman passed away in the early hours of January 1, 2025, one week before her 46th birthday. She achieved one of her final wishes, to be at home, enveloped in the love of her large family and vast community of dear friends. For nearly two years, Kristy battled cervical cancer with a strength and resolve which fed undeniable belief, until the last few weeks, that she would prevail. Despite a challenging cycle of treatment and recovery, Kristy's priority never wavered: mothering Joey and Paisley, the joys of her life, in her fiercely loving and kind, fun and snuggly way. Together with her husband, Ty, and the Hellesons and Ehrmans, Kristy created a world of adventure and laughter, with a devoted circle of loved ones, anchored in their warm and welcoming home overlooking the Stuart Range. Kristy found her own adventures right from the start, as the youngest of the ubiquitous "Helleson girls" Anne, Julie, and her identical twin sister and lifelong best friend, Lisa. Many will remember Kristy and Lisa exploring local canyons and the county fairgrounds on their ponies, Brownie and Scout, the twins not an inch over three feet and their horses not much taller. Through the years, you'd always find Kristy at the center of the fun at her family's iconic log home. Built by Kristy's wonderful parents, George and Barb, it served as base camp for countless slumber parties; horseback rides and hikes up Manastash; hauls to 4-H horse shows; trips all over the state for fishing, crabbing and boating; and epic nights around the firepit at annual Labor Day Weekend rendezvous. Kristy was the queen of the playground at Mt. Stuart Elementary - and later, of Morgan Middle School volleyball and basketball teams coached by George. She graduated in 1997 from Ellensburg High School before earning her degree at Central Washington University in 2001. Once again, sharing the experience of high school and college made it sweeter for Kristy and Lisa and the friends in their orbit. At 18, Kristy sparkled as Princess of the Ellensburg Rodeo Royal Court, representing our community's world-famous event at rodeos, parades and festivals regionally and internationally. In honor of the Ellensburg Rodeo's 75th anniversary, Kristy and the court traveled to Ellensburg's sister city, Sanda, Japan - where even a tsunami didn't stop them from riding horses and race cars in the town's big parade. The rodeo was home to many milestones throughout Kristy's life. In her 20's, she met Ty there through generational family friends and fell in love with his heart, his smarts and his swing dancing skills Behind the Chutes. They began dating and married in 2006. Kristy and Ty welcomed Joey in 2012 and Paisley in 2014, making their family complete. Kristy approached her role as a stay-at-home mom with purpose and overwhelming love, raising thoughtful and endearing young people who are as quick with a science project, a winner-take-all card game, or a bow-and-arrow as they are with a sweet smile, a hug and a laugh. Together, the family has traveled to Europe, hiked national parks, camped throughout the Northwest, and much more. For several years, Kristy and Ty lived in Ephrata, where she owned a cabinet and kitchen design business. There, they also originated the Ehrympics, a weekend tournament of prowess at horseshoes, cornhole and other backyard fun. Once they moved to Ellensburg, they continued the tradition of hosting annual events, including cider presses in the fall, designed to bring people together and create something meaningful and lasting. Attracting and caring for wonderful personalities was one of Kristy's many gifts. If you needed a spark to liven things up, a great companion for the unexpected, or an understanding ear to share your troubles, she was your first call. The sense of loss felt by Kristy's family and loved ones is indescribable, but they take comfort in the hundreds of messages and acts of support from those who knew her, and whose lives were made better because of her generosity in sisterhood and friendship. Kristy is survived by her husband of 18 years Ty Ehrman, children Joey and Paisley Ehrman, parents George and Barb Helleson, sisters Annie Hatler, Julie Howard and Lisa Eelkema and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Kristy's family would like to express their deepest gratitude for all of her care teams at Kittitas Valley Healthcare, University of Washington Medical Center, Samaritan's North Star Lodge, Samaritan Hospital and KVH Hospice. Some truly amazing doctors and nurses showed great compassion while helping fight her disease. In lieu of flowers and gifts, please direct donations to the Gretchen Weller Foundation, which supports families affected by cancer in Kittitas County. There will be a service for Kristy on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at Sweetwater Ranch at 1:00 P.M. The address is 1371 Charlton Road, Ellensburg, WA.