I used to talk with Kate and her closest friends on TeamSpeak a few years ago, before they all stopped coming round. After that, she dropped off my radar completely, and I always wondered what became of her. Hearing of her death, especially the circumstances of that death, stunned and chilled me to my core. My deepest condolences to those she kept close, and especially Bouncy, whom I feel confident in saying was closer to Kate than any of us. No words exist to adequately express how thoroughly shattering a tragedy like this must be for him.
There was no one in this community a more welcome asset to the budding ZDoom modder than Kate. It seemed no matter the question, no matter the obtuseness of the angle from which a newbie ZDoom creator would approach a problem, Kate never failed to have useful answers for them. Impatience and surliness, by far the two most common traits among ZDoom modding veterans, were entirely absent in Kate, making her the only accessible choice I saw for learning the ropes. She had a seemingly boundless supply of creative energy and a constant zest for experimentation that made her a perfect fit for this sphere.
On TeamSpeak, I fondly remember Kate as someone who laughed easily, liked a bit of mischief, and who always improved my mood within minutes of joining the conversation. I understand that in her life she faced a lot of obstacles, both external and internal, to her success and happiness, and that she probably felt most safe with a smaller, closer group of friends to which she could lay her troubles bare, and count on them to help her through. I don't mind telling you I did quickly begin to miss having her around. That feeling, however, pales into insignificance compared to how Bouncy will continue to feel for a long, long time.
A lighthearted in-joke we used to involve Kate in on TS was assigning her the "+HELIUM" usergroup, with a balloon icon. It amused her, and she wore it as a badge of pride. Today that badge shifts in tone, and becomes a symbol of remembrance. About an hour ago, at midnight, a purple helium balloon floating just above my front yard was cut from its tether and rose up into the starry night. Hopefully Kate sees it and grabs it as it floats by.
