Kathleen McDonald Stout

Kathleen McDonald Stout, our beloved mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully on July 18, 2026. After learning she had left this earth, her dear friend at Sunrise Assisted Living of Sandy said, “A great tree has fallen.”

Kathleen’s pride and joy in life was her family. She would tell you her greatest achievements were being the supportive and cherished wife of Mason, the loving mom to her 4 daughters, and being the book-mailing, Hogle zoo-going, and letter-writing Nana to 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She often said her greatest blessing was the fact that her 4 daughters loved each other so much.

Kathleen taught her daughters the value of hard work by example. She believed in them, encouraged them, and let them know they could achieve any goals they set. She was so proud of her family’s achievements and was always their biggest fans!

Kathleen just celebrated her 90th birthday! She was born May 19, 1936, in Salt Lake City to Adonna Hunt Ivory and John Alexander McDonald. Kathleen was blessed with an idyllic childhood growing up in Salt Lake City where she graduated from East High School. She was proud of the fact that she never missed a day of school in all 12 years. She attended the University of Utah and graduated with a degree in business.

Kathleen married Mason Gardner Stout on June 6, 1960. They moved across the country for schooling and job pursuits several times during their married life. Pulling up roots so often was difficult for Kathleen - but she did it beautifully. She always built new relationships and had dear friends all across the country. One of her greatest assets was her positive attitude which she utilized to help her daughters navigate the newness of schools, friends, and routines with grace and assurance.

Kathleen had a strong testimony of our Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ. Nowhere did this testimony shine more brightly than through music. Her favorite callings were in Primary teaching the children songs or accompanying them on the piano. At age 18, Kathleen joined the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, singing alongside her mother. She once shared that the choir’s conductor, J. Spencer Cornwall, gave her the most beautiful compliment of her life when he said that she had her mother’s alto voice. Kathleen moved in and out of the Salt Lake area 3 times. She was able to rejoin the choir each time and serve through music and the spoken word for nearly 20 years. Her mother’s advice came true when she told Kathleen to “stick with music and you’ll see the world”. Kathleen traveled the world with the Tabernacle Choir. While on a Choir trip In 1982 in Copenhagen, Kathleen sang alto in a quartet before the Queen of Denmark.

Along with music, Kathleen’s soul was filled through nature and the arts. She taught her family to appreciate, if not love, the symphony, beautiful artwork, poetry, and the grandeur of God’s creations. She loved to declare “oo-ahh, oo-ahh” out the window anytime the family was on a drive in the mountains, walking through the autumn leaves, or as the bright colors of spring were popping.

Kathleen knew her etiquette! Her manners were impeccable! She loved setting a beautiful table of china and crystal for a luncheon and always knew which fork to use! She was a believer in always putting her best foot forward!

She was an excellent cook and baker. Her orange rolls were often requested at dinner parties. She made the best vegetable soup, raspberry jam, chocolate chip cookies, and caramels at Christmas.

Kathleen spent time teaching music to classes of children with special needs for several years. This was some of her most rewarding work. As a widow of almost 20 years, she stayed active and engaged with callings at church, outings and adventures with friends, and volunteering at grade schools helping children learn to read.

Kathleen was preceded in death by her loving husband, Mason; her three brothers: John Dermott McDonald, Dennis Ivory McDonald, George Neil McDonald (Margo); and is survived by her sister, Patricia Campbell (Courtney); and 4 daughters: Alison Millson (Kirk); Lisa Stout Miyatake (Greg); Paula Carter (Mitch); and Sara Apke (Joe).

Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 25, 2026, 11:00 a.m. at the Monument Park Stake Center, 1320 S. Wasatch Drive. Those who wish to visit with family may come at 10:00 a.m.. Our profound thanks to all the compassionate, capable professionals who so tenderly cared for Kathleen at Sunrise of Sandy Assisted Living and Memory Care. In Lieu of flowers, please join us in making a donation in memory of Kathleen Stout to the Alzheimer's Association at https://www.alz.org/.