Katherine (Kathy) Louise Smith


Katherine L. Smith, beloved wife and friend, died Nov. 5, 2008, after a long struggle with Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
She was born Oct. 17, 1947, in Redding, Calif., to Kenna Lyle Conklin and her biological father, Dan Richard Leach.
As an infant Kathy resided with her grandparents, Howard and Myrtle Conklin, in Hagerman, Idaho. Later she and her mother moved back to Redding where they lived with her uncle Frank and aunt Lila Butterfield.
When Kathy was 3 1/2, her mother married Loren Stanley Schuyler and they all moved to Los Angeles. Loren and Kathy were bonded by a spiritual blessing and were inseparable. Loren never missed participating and supporting Kathy throughout her life. Loren even managed to introduce Kathy to the love of her life, Garland Smith. On his deathbed, Loren asked Garland to take care of Kathy, which Garland honored unfailingly.
Kathy was an administrative assistant and a realtor associate for most of her working years. She was blessed to be a stay-at-home mom for eight years.
Kathy enjoyed spur of the moment picnics with close friends, collecting angels and sharing Jesus with friends and strangers. She also enjoyed cooking, reading, fishing, camping, bowling, playing softball, being a Cub Scout leader and spending time outdoors, especially in the Big Horn Mountains.
Kathy is survived by her husband, Garland Smith; son Anthony Gonzales; grandchildren Seth and Paige; mother Kenna Schuyler; sisters Vickie Marsik and Ronda Morris; brothers Michael Schuyler, Joe, Ron and Gary Leach; stepmother Myrle Leach; uncles Ted Leach, Doyle and Rolin Conklin; aunt Lila Rene Stauffer, and many other family members and dear friends.
Kathy is preceded in death by her dad, Loren Schuyler; birth father Dan Leach; her grandparents; sister Nancy Dawn Leach and stepson Michael Dahlquist.
Memorial services will be held Friday, Nov. 21, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Lovell.
In lieu of flowers Kathy would appreciate donations to her memorial funds at the Bank of Lovell and Big Horn Federal.