Katherine (Kaye) Garrett Ford

Katherine (Kaye) Garrett Ford, age 95, passed away at home on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. Kaye was born in Glasgow Junction (now Park City), Kentucky on January 3, 1928, to her parents, Dolphus Garrett and Annie Adeline Dicken. She grew up on a farm and had two older siblings, Herman and Alyene. With her keen mind and determined character, Kaye insisted on beginning elementary school early. At the age of four, she showed up to the school on her own and claimed a desk every day. The teacher finally relented and let her stay, only because she was able to keep up with the older students. Upon completing her general schooling at Park City (KY) High School, she went on to attend the University of Kentucky in Lexington. There she received her RN and BSN degrees before practicing at Cincinnati General Hospital. She worked in pediatrics and later became the charge nurse in the psychiatric unit and loved the challenge. It was there that she met her lifelong love, Clynn, who was doing his surgical training. Once they went out on a date, they were together every day. They were married on August 19, 1951, in Cincinnati and headed west to California together. While living in Oceanside, they had their first daughter, Caron, who died two days after birth. This was a very sad chapter for them. They then returned to Cincinnati, where their next three children were born. Once Clynn completed his training, they moved west to Utah, where two more children were added to the family. During this time, Kaye and Clynn were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. They were active members of the Monument Park 15th Ward.

While Clynn’s busy career often kept him away from home, Kaye skillfully managed the household affairs: she had amazing mechanical skills and would read manuals and fix things. She loved technology and was an early adopter of video cameras and computers. At the age of 95, she passed away with her Apple watch on her wrist.

Kaye was a woman of integrity; she was always working, serving, cleaning, and learning. She served quietly and never sought the limelight. Kaye volunteered for ten years with the Red Cross. As a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Kaye was fantastic at family history, spending countless hours at the Genealogy Library, ensuring the correctness of records. She served as a stake genealogist for many years. She also helped establish a Relief Society home nursing skills program for several stakes, and she served on Temple Square as a nurse during General Conferences. She enjoyed her service as Relief Society president, as well as in the Sunday School and Primary organizations. Her quiet, gentle way of serving without seeking praise was admirable.

Kaye had gifted hands: she had a green thumb and kept an immaculate, flourishing garden; she taught herself to needlepoint, carved and painted hundreds of nutcrackers, and carved duck decoys. She was an excellent seamstress and cook. She loved animals and was a skilled bird trainer to her African Grey parrot, Faro, who was her pride and joy, under her attentive care through her final days. One never found her doddling. She was a skilled skier, bowler, golfer, boater, and traveler. Kaye and Clynn traveled to five continents and 48 of the US states together, focusing their visits on art and history museums. Kaye was a loyal and proud superfan of the University of Kentucky basketball team. She would not miss a game.

Kaye is preceded in death by her husband, Clynn; her infant daughter, Caron; her parents, Dolphus Garrett and Annie Adeline Dicken; her brother, Herman Garrett (Christine); and brother-in-law, Warren Schick.

She is survived by her children, Cheri Lynn Habenicht (Wayne), Michele Richards (David), Randon Ford, Shawna Gurling (Craig), and Mary Ann Rawlings (Randall); fifteen grandchildren, twenty-four great grandchildren; and her sister, Alyene Schick (100 years old).

Family and friends are invited to a viewing on Thursday, September 14, 2023, from 6:00-8:00 pm at Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary, 2350 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84108.

A Graveside Service will be held at Centerville City Cemetery, 650 East 400 South, Centerville, Utah, 84014, on Friday, September 15, 2023, at 11:00 am. Friends and family may attend the service virtually through Zoom by clicking the "Watch Services" button at the top of this page.