Obituary for Kathryn R. Smith (Richardson)
On the evening of May 17, 2014 in Peoria AZ, Kay passed peacefully with her loving husband, Henry by her side, being a great source of comfort for her until the end.
Kathryn was born at the family farm in Yuma, Colorado on March 9, 1927. She was the second daughter born to Royal and Amanda Richardson.
Kathryn’s greatest love growing up on the farm were her horses. One of her favorite memories was riding very fast through the fields with her long dark hair blowing in the wind. She often told of using the time on the school bus to practice her cursive writing until it matched the examples in the classroom.
Kathryn attended the Colorado Teachers College in Greeley Colorado and earned her degree in elementary education in 1950. She returned to Greeley in 1970 and earned her Master’s Degree in Special Education from the University of Northern Colorado. Her teaching career began in Joes, Colorado in 1951 and she continued teaching until her retirement from Estes Park Elementary in Estes Park, Colorado in 1985.
Kathryn met Henry, the love of her life, through Henry’s brother Max. They were married on a cold day in Yuma, Colorado on January 12, 1952 at the home of her Uncle Rudy and Aunt Harriet Stangel
From Yuma they moved to Chandler, Arizona where Henry was stationed in the Air Force. They eventually made their home in Estes Park, Colorado where they resided until 1989. Once retired, they moved again to the warm sun in Sun City, Arizona.
Kay’s artistic talents came alive through clay, where she made sculptures in her garage. She joined the Clay Corner Club at the Marinette Rec Center. It was there she and two more artist Betty Jane Peters and Connie Perrin Turner sculpted the life size bronze statues of the Sun City Volunteers. They still stand on the corner at 10626 W. Thunderbird Blvd. Kathryn became very well known for her “Jack Rabbits” that she made and sold at A ‘Loft in Prescott, Arizona.
Kay was also involved in the ladies golf league at the Willow Creek Golf Course. She loved golf; whether it was playing, watching or just talking about it. Every fall she enjoyed watching the Denver Broncos and the Arizona Cardinals play on Sunday afternoons. She loved to travel and her favorite vacation spot was Hawaii.
She loved her family and was so proud of each and every one of them. They have a large circle of good friends from all aspects of their life. She enjoyed entertaining and always made everyone feel at home and special in her home.
Kathryn is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Margie Kautz, brother Russell Richardson and half brother Richmond Miles. Kathryn is survived by her loving husband of 62 years Henry James Smith, Peoria, AZ; oldest son Randy James (Marcia) Smith, Longmont, CO; second son Terry Lee Smith, Henderson, CO; and daughter Kathryn Sue (Bart) Wear, Louisville CO. Grandchildren Joshua (Laura) Wear, Zacharias (Michelle) Wear, MacKenzie (Sean) Faris, Christopher (Melissa) Smith and Elizabeth (William) Fischer; and nine great-grandchildren.
To truly understand what a wonderful woman Kathryn was please read “The Wife of Noble Character, Proverbs 31:10-31. We are sure God wrote this with Kathryn in mind.
No services are planned. Donations can be sent to Hospice of the Valley www.hov.org or Parkinson’s disease Foundation www.pdf.org/fund_memdon.
We would like to thank the excellent staff at the Montecito Senior Care Center in Peoria and also the staff at Hospice of the Valley in Peoria.
Please feel free to leave condolences messages at, www.regencymortuary.com/book-of-memories/1871525/Smith-Iona/obituary.php
Kathryn was born at the family farm in Yuma, Colorado on March 9, 1927. She was the second daughter born to Royal and Amanda Richardson.
Kathryn’s greatest love growing up on the farm were her horses. One of her favorite memories was riding very fast through the fields with her long dark hair blowing in the wind. She often told of using the time on the school bus to practice her cursive writing until it matched the examples in the classroom.
Kathryn attended the Colorado Teachers College in Greeley Colorado and earned her degree in elementary education in 1950. She returned to Greeley in 1970 and earned her Master’s Degree in Special Education from the University of Northern Colorado. Her teaching career began in Joes, Colorado in 1951 and she continued teaching until her retirement from Estes Park Elementary in Estes Park, Colorado in 1985.
Kathryn met Henry, the love of her life, through Henry’s brother Max. They were married on a cold day in Yuma, Colorado on January 12, 1952 at the home of her Uncle Rudy and Aunt Harriet Stangel
From Yuma they moved to Chandler, Arizona where Henry was stationed in the Air Force. They eventually made their home in Estes Park, Colorado where they resided until 1989. Once retired, they moved again to the warm sun in Sun City, Arizona.
Kay’s artistic talents came alive through clay, where she made sculptures in her garage. She joined the Clay Corner Club at the Marinette Rec Center. It was there she and two more artist Betty Jane Peters and Connie Perrin Turner sculpted the life size bronze statues of the Sun City Volunteers. They still stand on the corner at 10626 W. Thunderbird Blvd. Kathryn became very well known for her “Jack Rabbits” that she made and sold at A ‘Loft in Prescott, Arizona.
Kay was also involved in the ladies golf league at the Willow Creek Golf Course. She loved golf; whether it was playing, watching or just talking about it. Every fall she enjoyed watching the Denver Broncos and the Arizona Cardinals play on Sunday afternoons. She loved to travel and her favorite vacation spot was Hawaii.
She loved her family and was so proud of each and every one of them. They have a large circle of good friends from all aspects of their life. She enjoyed entertaining and always made everyone feel at home and special in her home.
Kathryn is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Margie Kautz, brother Russell Richardson and half brother Richmond Miles. Kathryn is survived by her loving husband of 62 years Henry James Smith, Peoria, AZ; oldest son Randy James (Marcia) Smith, Longmont, CO; second son Terry Lee Smith, Henderson, CO; and daughter Kathryn Sue (Bart) Wear, Louisville CO. Grandchildren Joshua (Laura) Wear, Zacharias (Michelle) Wear, MacKenzie (Sean) Faris, Christopher (Melissa) Smith and Elizabeth (William) Fischer; and nine great-grandchildren.
To truly understand what a wonderful woman Kathryn was please read “The Wife of Noble Character, Proverbs 31:10-31. We are sure God wrote this with Kathryn in mind.
No services are planned. Donations can be sent to Hospice of the Valley www.hov.org or Parkinson’s disease Foundation www.pdf.org/fund_memdon.
We would like to thank the excellent staff at the Montecito Senior Care Center in Peoria and also the staff at Hospice of the Valley in Peoria.
Please feel free to leave condolences messages at, www.regencymortuary.com/book-of-memories/1871525/Smith-Iona/obituary.php
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