Kathleen Larsen Smith

Kathleen Larsen Smith passed away peacefully on May 23, 2025, just 5 days before her 88^th birthday. She was born on May 28, 1937, in New York, New York, to Egert Martin and Edna May (Ludlow) Larsen.

Kathleen graduated at 18 from Aurora High School. During high school, she met and dated the love of her life, Wayne Fredrick Smith. They later married at Brigham Young University on September 26, 1955. They were blessed with six children, four daughters and two sons. Wayne and Kathleen were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple and they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in September of 2015 just prior to Wayne’s death in November. Wayne and Kathy are the proud grandparents of 18 grandchildren and have 42 great grandchildren.

Above all, Kathleen loved her family. She and Wayne continually made an effort to attend their children’s sporting events, rehearsals, performances, plays and concerts. They took great pride in their children and grandchildren’s accomplishments.

Kathleen was a kind and friendly person and made many enduring friendships throughout her life. She had a variety of interests including watching athletic events with her family. She was extremely proud of the fact that she won the family’s March Madness basketball pool for the last two years in a row. Kathleen was a talented artisan having developed her skills in sewing, quilting, and needlepoint. Her hands were never idle and she always knew where the closest stitching store was. Kathleen loved sharing her talents and taught not only her daughters, granddaughters and great-granddaughters, but many others how to stitch and sew. One of her proudest achievements was teaching the women of the Utah State Prison how to do needlework.

Kathleen was extremely devoted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in many capacities throughout her life, including the Primary, Young Women, and Relief Society programs. She especially loved the time she spent serving as a seminary instructor. Kathleen and Wayne were able to fulfill a life-long goal serving an historical site mission at Cove Fort in Central Utah.

We will miss our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend. She always made one feel better and uplifted after a conversation with her whether in person or on the telephone.

Kathleen is survived by her 6 children: Rebecca (Dan) Washburn, Terri Chinn, David (Lori) Smith, Elizabeth Kae (Andy Schwaller) McDonald, Tami (Kent) Peterson, and R. Dale (Marti) Smith. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Wayne, her parents, E. Martin and Edna May Larsen, a granddaughter, Moraya Moreno, and a great grandson, Marvin Daniel Washburn.

Services and interment will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at 11:00 am at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 South), Sandy, Utah 84092. These services will be streamed via Zoom for those wishing to attend virtually. To watch the services, please click the "Watch Services" link above.

A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at the Grand River Ward building, 2542 G Road, Grand Junction, Colorado 81505.