Community comes together to remember slain Panther Lake couple

Dennis Housley found out just how many lives his parents touched when 91 classic-car owners drove in a funeral procession for Joe and Karen Housley on Thursday morning through the streets of Kent to Tahoma National Cemetery.

“It blew me away, all of the love and outpouring,” said Dennis Housley, of Portland, who led the procession in his father’s blue 1962 Pontiac Catalina. “There were a lot of car guys who were like family. They thought of my parents like a second set of parents.”

Joe, 66, and Karen Housley, 67, were killed Feb. 1 in their Panther Lake home in unincorporated Kent. Vincent Wayne Housley, 43, has been charged by King County prosecutors with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the killing of his parents. His arraignment is Monday in Seattle.

The couple shared a love of classic cars. They attended numerous car-related events. They were regulars at the Friday-night car show each summer at the Covington Wal-Mart sponsored by the Maple Valley Street Rats Car Club.

“It goes to show you how well-liked and respected Joe and Karen were in the classic car community,” said Doug Julson, of Burien. “They were friends with everybody they met. It will be a huge loss for sure.”

Behind a police escort and underneath clear, blue skies, dozens of classic cars headed from the Kent Performance Auto Center at Washington Avenue up the James Street Hill and out Southeast 240th Street to the cemetery. A couple of hundred people attended the service.

“You couldn’t ask for a better day or turnout,” said Tim Norman, of Kent, who knew the couple for nearly 20 years. “God’s watching over us.”

The 91-car processional certainly would have caused Joe Housley to react.

“Joe would’ve been embarrassed, but proud,” said Roy Wood, of Auburn, who drove a 1967 Buick Wildcat.

Roy and his wife, Tammie Wood, watched the impact Joe and Karen had on other classic-car lovers.

“You would sit next to them at a car show, and every third person who walked by would say hi to Joe and Karen,” said Roy Wood. “They were dear friends who would take the shirt off their back for you. They were good-hearted people.”

If anyone wanted to talk to Karen Housley, she would make time, her friends said.

“Karen always had a space next to her and would ask you to come have a seat,” Tammie Wood said.

Julson, who drove his 1952 Chevrolet Fleetline in the procession, said Joe and Karen parked their cars in the same spots every Friday at the Covington gathering. When the car show resumes in May, organizers will block off those parking spots.

“It’ll be a tribute to them,” Julson said. “We’ll not let anyone park there.”

Norman runs a charity-car event every year in Auburn. He also will honor Joe and Karen.

“This will be our 17th year and they’ve been there every year,” said Norman before he drove his 1939 Chevrolet hot rod in the procession. “We’ll put their cars on T-shirts and do memorial trophies for them.”

Larry McCoy, of Auburn, drove his 1955 Chevrolet wagon in the procession.

“Joe always had a smile and a handshake,” McCoy said. “And Karen always had a hug.”

Joe Housley served in the U.S. Navy from 1959 to 1963. He worked as a machinist for Hardy Engineering in Auburn. Karen Housley worked 21 years as a bank teller for Wells Fargo. She retired in December.Dennis Houlsey witnessed his parents love for each other, and for others. They were married for 44 years.

“My father was incredible,” Dennis said. “He would go out and do anything for anybody. He never asked anybody for help. For him, it was always pay it forward. My mom was the same. She loved everybody. She always gave her heart for everybody.”

Karen Housley also became known around car shows for her 1950s outfits.

“Mom would run around in a poodle skirt,” Dennis said.

The couple definitely enjoyed life.

“They always had smiles on their faces,” Dennis said. “And they would add a smile to the face of everybody else. They were the greatest people in the world.”