Kathy Ellen Finn Cornelius' Obituary
Kathy Ellen Finn Cornelius, 64, passed away on Saturday, August 19, 2023, in her home in Payson, Utah surrounded by her girls. Kathy battled with multiple sclerosis for over 30 years and was recently diagnosed with stage 4 gastric cancer. She was a fighter to the very end. She taught us “wishes are like fishes and they will swim away.” If you want something to happen you go out and make it happen, you don’t just wish it will.
Kathy was born to John William Finn and Reva Mae Hill on January 13, 1959, in Rigby, Idaho. She was raised on the family farm where she learned to work hard and appreciate life. Kathy graduated from Rigby High School in 1977. She moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho where she first worked for Taco Time and then met her first husband, Michael Campbell. They married in 1979, he adopted her daughter Sandi and began their family together. They moved to Jerome, Idaho where she went to work for Taco Time and eventually purchased it. She owned and operated her Taco Time for 23 years and loved every second of it. When she closed her restaurant, she went to work for the school district as a substitute teacher and thoroughly enjoyed working with the kids. Her MS eventually robbed her of her peripheral vision and she had to stop driving. She moved to Payson, UT to be near her daughters, Angie and Jenny. Kathy loved sewing, crafting, puzzles, and reading Harlequin Romance novels. She loved her girls, grandchildren, and new great-grandchild fiercely. She was loved and will be missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
She is survived by her children: Sandi (James) Gibbons of Houston, TX; Angie Campbell of Payson, UT; Jenny (Jordan) Pope of Santaquin, UT. Grandchildren: Tyler (Deborah) Gibbons, Kayla Gibbons, Sierra (Preston) Couch, Brooklyn Gibbons, Morgan Sheets, Lexington Sheets, and Jackson Pope. Great-Grandchild: Lincoln Couch. Siblings: Marilyn (Dale) Wolfley, Kirk (Roberta) Finn, Mark (Nicole) Finn, and sister-in-law Shirley (Boyd) Finn. Faithful companion: her beloved cat Chester.
She was preceded in death by her parents John William Finn and Reva Mae Hill, her brothers Paul Finn and Boyd Finn, brother-in-law Dale Wolfley, her grandparents, and her beloved dog Winnie.
There will be a memorial luncheon in her honor at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 650 W 800 S, Payson, UT 84651 Saturday, August 26, 2023, from 12 o'clock pm to 2 o'clock pm.
Cremation will be handled by Premier Funeral Services, 1160 N 1200 W, Orem, UT 84057.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in her name to the National MS Society https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Donate.
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