- Date Of Birth: July 18, 1955
- Date Of Death: December 3, 2021
- State: Utah
Kathy Jean Neil, 66, returned to her Father in Heaven on Friday, December 3, 2021. Kathy was born on July 18, 1955, in Idaho Falls, Idaho to Grant J. Gunderson and Norma Brower Gunderson. She was the 8th child out of 9 with 4 brothers and 4 sisters who all grew up on the Gunderson Family farm in Menan, Idaho.
She graduated from Rigby High in 1973 where she had participated in basketball, softball and track. After graduation she went to Ricks College where she met her future husband Blake while playing on a co-ed softball team. She continued her education by going on to nursing school, graduating in 1975. She began her nursing career at the Idaho Falls hospital.
On February 27, 1976 Kathy and Blake were married in the Ogden Temple. Later they moved to Plain City, Utah where she worked at Saint Benedicts hospital in Ogden, Utah, later retiring after 39 years from Ogden Regional hospital. She worked in the Labor & delivery unit where she enjoyed her co-workers and had a special bond. She was known for her pranks but took her work seriously. She was thanked many times by her patients for the care she gave.
Kathy served in many church callings, but the one position she really loved most was serving as the Special Needs Young Womens President. She loved those that she served and continued that bond even after she was released. She had a strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and shared it often.
Being active in sports she helped bring AYSO to the area and served on the board for many years. She played and coached basketball and soccer. She was always supportive of her grandchildren and their games. It was hard for her to sit on the sidelines and not be the coach.
Being a season ticket holder, she enjoyed soccer and was very disappointed when the Royals left Salt Lake. She continued to follow REAL, the Utah Jazz and any BYU game.
She loved hiking with her nursing friends in Southern Utah, also camping and fishing. She especially enjoyed traveling, having gone to Germany, Switzerland, Alaska, Israel, South Africa, and Mexico, but her favorite was Hawaii where she was planning on going for her 46th anniversary. Having been raised on a farm she had a strong work ethic which was instilled in her children. She loved gardening and would plan her trips around the garden. She always shared her harvest with everyone, from painters, road construction crews, her doctors, nurses and others in the community.
Kathy is survived by her husband Blake, her sister Linda (Gary) Waters, brother Gary (Dana) Gunderson, sister-in-law Terrie Gunderson and brother-in-law Mike Summers, her children Ryan (Rachel) Neil, Lori (Chris) Matue and Jodi (Corey) Slater. As well as 10 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Wayne, Roger and Orlin. Sisters Ann and Gwen.
