Kathryn Ann “Kathy” Taylor, a devoted daughter, sister, aunt, beloved teacher, friend, mentor, coach, volunteer, role model, and dog-mom, passed away quietly at her home in Tooele, Utah, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023.
Kathy was born the youngest of four children to Ida Ethel Jarrell and Hugh Arthur Taylor in Vernal, Utah, Dec. 16, 1938. Kathryn enjoyed a happy childhood living close to her grandparents, aunts, uncles and many cousins in Lapoint, Utah. Kathryn cherished these relationships and passed on countless family stories and histories right up to the time of her passing. After the death of her mother, Kathy made weekly trips for 12 years from Tooele to Lapoint to cook, clean and spend time with her father. She doted on her nieces, nephew and her adopted family, the Bitters. Kathy and her best friend, Genie, brought love, laughter and mischief everywhere they went. She improved and impacted two generations of Tooele’s youth and is beloved by everyone who knew her.
Kathy graduated from Union High School, Roosevelt, Utah, in 1958 and earned her bachelor of science degree from Utah State University in 1961, majoring in physical education health and physiology. For the next 38 years, Kathy taught physical education, health, science, math, peer tutoring and outdoor survival at Tooele Junior High School. She was chairperson of the Tooele Junior High Science Department for 10 years. In addition to her classroom time, she coached swimming, basketball, gymnastics, track and softball. Her involvement with girls softball in Tooele lasted 40-years during which she also refereed and coached Junior Jazz Basketball for two years. Through her love of nature and belief in environmental education, Kathy became one of the pioneering educators who started an outdoor survival course for junior high students in the Tooele County School District.
Kathy’s career was filled with awards and recognition; she was named the Tooele County School District Teacher of the Year for the 1988-1989 school year. Throughout her life Kathy devoted her energies into the education, health, and well-being of young people in Tooele County and beyond. Her impressive advancement of youth sports and recreation programs earned her the Distinguished Service Award from the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.
After retiring from the school district, Kathy continued her mission to advance the health and well-being of young people by serving on the Tooele County Board of Health for sixteen years, six of which she was chairperson. She was also both president and treasurer for the Utah Association of Local Boards of Health while also serving on the Tooele County School Board. Kathy received the Five Star Master Boards Award from the State of Utah in 2013 and Master Boards Awards from the Utah School Boards Association in 2014 and 2016. Kathy developed summer programs for students at risk providing them with social and educational opportunities to stabilize their lives and help them become productive citizens.
Kathy loved the outdoors and spent much of her free time in younger days camping, fishing and hunting. She loved boating on Flaming Gorge Reservoir and running the rapids of the Green River. In her later years, Kathy spent time in her favorite outdoor spots with her dogs, Obi, TC, and Maggie, taking them for walks and letting them run through the hills and fields of Tooele County. She spent hours throwing balls and frisbees for her dogs, rewarding their good work by cooking them steaks and hamburgers.
Kathy was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving the activity days, church’s sports programs, and Relief Society.
Kathy was preceded in death by her sisters Lois Joy and Marlene, her parents, her brother Jarrell Kent Taylor (Geraldine), and her dear friend Fred Davis. She is survived by her most cherished friend, her housemate and confidante Genie Beardall; the Bitters family (Stansbury Park), Scott, Karen, Karly, Kaleb (Tavia Carlson), and Kaitlyn; two nieces Jacquie Taylor (Alvin Aoki), Ogden, Alison Gallagher (Michael John Gallagher), Murray; one nephew Jeffrey Taylor (Raphael Bostic), Atlanta; and one grandnephew Michael Hugh Gallagher, Salt Lake City. Kathy also leaves behind her 3-legged wonder dog and constant companion Maggie.
Special thanks and gratitude are given to the Scott and Karen Bitters family who brought so much joy, purpose and caring to both Kathy and Genie for many, many years. Thank you to Dr. Holt and Harmony Health, especially Maddi Bender and Barbara McFarland.
Love you more.
Per Kathy’s wishes, there will not be any funeral services. In lieu of flowers, please donate on Kathy’s behalf to the Tooele Education Foundation at tooeleeducationfoundation.org/donate.