Kathleen Farnsworth
1952 – 2024
Our beloved Kathy passed away on Sunday, February 18, 2024 after a valiant battle with metastatic endometrial cancer. Kathy met her diagnosis with courage and grace, and throughout it all, remained steadfast in her determination to live out each of her days with as much joy as this life has to offer.
Kathy was born in Provo, Utah on October 22, 1952 to Ray and Joyce Harris, with her adored brother Kelly Harris joining the family three years later. She describes an idyllic childhood, surrounded by childhood friends and her large, close-knit extended family. Her favorite childhood memories were the fun parties they held for every holiday as well as every Sunday dinner, where they gathered around Nana Reid’s piano to sing. In high school, Kathy held several student officer positions, participated in debate and drama, and was a member of the Sub-Deb sorority and Job’s Daughters. Many of her high school and childhood friendships became lifelong friendships that deepened after retirement.
Kathy went to college at Utah State University in Logan, where she was a member of Kappa Delta sorority, and this is where she met her husband, Floyd Farnsworth. Kathy loved Floyd’s gentle loving nature, his love of poetry, and his dedication to family. They were married February 15, 1974 and spent fifty years and three days wholly committed to each other, their family, their shared love of the outdoors, music, and their ever-growing network of friends. Kathy learned how to play the guitar during this time which became a lifelong passion. Kathy and Floyd had two children, Matt and Jenny, and eventually settled in Vernal, Utah where they both became educators for Uintah School District.
Kathy loved being a teacher and she excelled in her career over its 30 year span. She taught at Davis Elementary, Central Elementary, and Vernal Middle School before advancing to administration roles at Eagle View Elementary and Davis Elementary. Her former students and coworkers remember her for her songs, her humor, and her desire to make learning (and everything else) FUN. Kathy also became a true pillar of the Vernal community. Her involvement in local organizations is impossible to list: Common-ettes, PEO, The Order of the Eastern Star, Kingsbury Community Church, The Uintah Arts Council, Vernal Storytelling Festival, Vernal Farmer’s Market, and many more. She fulfilled a lifelong dream by opening a coffee shop, Main Street Java, where even more community connections were fostered.
After retirement, Floyd and Kathy hit the road and the airways for travel. They visited loved ones from Homer, Alaska to Jonesboro, Tennessee, and dozens of places in between. They went to countless concerts and music festivals, always accompanied by their dear friends. At home, Kathy became a loyal congregant and pillar of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. She and her friends started a band, Flying Blind, and nothing brought Kathy more joy in her last years of life than practicing and performing gigs at the Farmers’ Market, Jarvie Ranch, and the St. Patrick’s Day parties at Little B’s.
Kathy’s light, warmth, humor, and compassion were so strong. Her courage, her zest for life, and her dedication to family and tradition will never be forgotten. She is survived by her husband Floyd Farnsworth, brother Kelly Harris, daughter Jennifer, son Matt, daughter-in-law Jessica, and grandson Bennett Farnsworth, as well as countless cousins and friends who love her like family. She is preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Joyce Harris, aunts, uncles, cousin Dave Jensen, and so many more.
The family would like to thank the professionals at Huntsman Cancer Hospital, especially Dr. Stephen Kimani and Nurse Tammy, for their compassion and tenacity during Kathy’s cancer battle as well as the kind staff of Good Shepherd hospice for their tender care of Kathy near the end of her life.
Kathy’s celebration of life will be held on Sunday, May 5th, at 2:00 pm, at the Uintah Conference Center in Vernal, Utah. A graveside service will be held at the Provo City Cemetery later that week, date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, and by Kathy’s specific request, please donate to St. Paul’s Church in Vernal, Utah as they work to restore the church building’s beautiful historic stained glass and doors.