Kathryn Ann Matson Williams

Kathryn Ann Matson Williams (07/07/1937 – 03/21/2025) Our wonderful mother and "Grandma Nana" stepped through the veil to return home just before dawn on March 21, 2025. What a joyful celebration she must be having! Kathryn (or Kathy, as she was often known) was born to Chester Melvin Matson and Florence Isabel Warren on July 7, 1937, in San Francisco. Growing up in Northern California, she relished her days with family in the beautiful redwood forest of Mt. Hermon, the mountains of Oroville and at Donner Lake in Truckee. Kathryn loved playing the cello and creating and directing dramatic productions with her brother and friends. She found joy and a sense of purpose, at the age of 14, when she joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—a foundation that quietly guided her throughout her life. While majoring in Elementary Education at Brigham Young University, Kathryn met Paul Williams and married in 1960. Together they built a family of eight children over the next 25 years. Their lives were full of challenges and adventure, including three transformative years in Western Samoa, where they lived, taught, traveled, and embraced the rich culture of the islands. This experience may have sparked in Kathryn a lifelong desire to travel, even when financially limited. She would plan years in advance, sometimes quoting a favorite song from a movie musical: "You've got to have a dream. If you don't have a dream, how ya gonna make a dream come true?" Through her faith, creativity, and sheer determination, she made many of her dreams come true. Kathryn was a woman of incredible faith, and miraculous things often happened when she prayed. Kathryn loved to go on road trips across the United States where she visited historical sites, national parks and ancestral towns along the way. She also journeyed through Great Britain and several European countries on three family history research trips. In addition to her many passions, she was a diehard BYU Cougar fan, always enthusiastically cheering on her favorite team and singing every word of the BYU Fight Song with gusto! She was also an aficionado and patron of musical theatre, whether it was movie musicals, Hale Centre Theatre productions, or shows on Broadway or London’s West End—and she passed this love down to most of her children. Teaching was an important part of Kathryn's life, whether in the classroom, at church, or around the family breakfast table, where she regularly read scriptures and classic literature with her children. Kathryn taught third grade for many years, instilling in her students a love of learning, an enthusiasm for the performing arts, and the importance of beautiful penmanship. She went the extra mile for every lesson, and her influence extended well beyond the classroom, as she combined all her gifts to make learning a joyful experience for everyone around her. Kathryn shined in so many ways—she directed award-winning roadshows and musicals, organized fun family outings and budget-friendly trips, and threw memorable parties and picnics and the fabulous Williams family campout. As a talented musician, she played the cello with the Murray Symphony and in a popular string quintet, and she loved singing with the ward choir. She had a wonderful way with words and created many scripts for plays, musicals and roadshows and also wrote whimsical poetry. Perhaps one of her most impressive feats was jamming ten family members into a vehicle for road trips and keeping them entertained with singing old-time tunes, playing car games, and giving "happy traveler awards". She knew how to make everything fun and loved to make us all laugh in surprising little ways. Kathryn’s most important life's work was raising her eight children, mostly in West Jordan, Utah. She worked tirelessly to nurture and support each child and grandchild in their individual pursuits, and we are forever grateful to her for her unwavering love and example of kindness and service. After raising her children, Kathryn threw herself more fully into her family history work. She taught many classes and served a mission at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Kathryn could often be found at the local family search center or at home, meticulously shuffling through name cards and file folders, pinning down elusive birthdates or other facts. We have no doubt that hundreds, if not thousands, of ancestors were there to greet her when she returned home. Throughout her life, Kathryn served, led and taught in various church organizations, using her remarkable skills to lift, inspire and entertain others. Her devotion to Jesus Christ was inspiring. Kathryn spent her last 20 years in South Jordan, where she found great joy in her family, faith, and friends. And now, Kathryn has reunited with her Savior, whom she so faithfully served, and with loved ones. While we will miss her greatly, we are comforted by the knowledge that she is now free to embrace the ultimate adventure. Kathryn’s legacy lives on in her eight children: David, Julie Brown (Kirk), Jonathan (Shelley), Paulette Hedrick (Gordon), Denise, Michael, Stephanie Haslam (Darryl), and Merrilee Hopkins (Cody), 34 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind her siblings: Sandy Capell (Bill), Susan Matson, Gary Waters (Nancy), Robin Waters, In-laws, Joy Moss (Bill) and Kathryn R. Williams and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Kathryn is reunited now with her Parents, her stepmother, Dorothy Matson, her stepfather, Roy Waters, her brother Donald, her sister Joanne, her former husband and lifelong friend, Paul Williams, her in-laws, Alexander and Thella Williams, her brother-in-law Gary Williams and her great-granddaughter, Azalea, along with many other family members and friends who have been dear to her. Thanks to Canyon Home Healthcare & Hospice for their kindness and care. We're especially grateful to her Sagewood family for treating her with so much love, kindness and humor over the last four years. They were a great blessing to all of us. Services for Kathryn: Thursday, March 27: Visitation with the family from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Premier Funeral Services, 67 E. 8000 S., Midvale, Utah. Friday, March 28: Visitation with the family from 9:30 to 10:30 AM, and a Celebration of Kathryn's life beginning at 11:00 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3251 W 10200 S, South Jordan. Interment will be at West Jordan City Cemetery followed by a Luncheon for family and friends at the same church location. For those who were unable to attend the Celebration of Life, a video recording was made: https://youtu.be/4vG7fX7mu2Y

Kathryn Ann Matson Williams

July 7, 1937 - March 21, 2025