Katherine Jane Smiley (Kathy) was born on October 25, 1956 in Garden City, to Donald Wayne Smiley and Sharon Rae Smiley (Grow).
She was the shy child of a tradesman/preacher, there was many a move between Kansas and South Dakota. The second of ten children, she enjoyed being outside more than in the schoolroom and had many stories of bike rides, climbing trees, and an exhilarating ride on a neighbor's horse.
Kathy's love for the outdoors continued into adulthood with a garden at every home her and the eventual brood of six children occupied. She could be found weeding, attending to plants, or picking vegetables even on the hottest of days.
Kathy was not a soccer mom. She was a stay at home cookie baking mom. A kiss when there was an injury, real or imagined, type of mom. She loved all children and taught Sunday school at the Faith Missionary Church in Texhoma, Oklahoma, for many years and taught preschool and kindergarten at home for two of her younger children.
She loved horses and despised shoes. Listened to jazz on Sundays while reading yet another crime novel. Would offer coffee and dessert to anyone stopping by her home. Had a list of everyone's birthday and boxes of cards ready to go in the mail, feeling bad if one was missed and would be readily rectified. Gossip was not her forte but good conversation was always welcome.
Kathy is survived by daughters: Fawn Westrick (Phillip) and Melony Hayden, and sons: Donald Flores (Jessica) and Michael Smiley. Mother: Sharon Smiley. Siblings: Regina Wood (William dec.) Robert Smiley, Paul Smiley (Melanie), Lois Hammer (Todd), and Mary Miller (Brent), her grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by father Donald Smiley, siblings Nancy Mattox, Brenda Smiley, Rebecca Smiley, Timothy Smiley, and children Keith and Kathleen Flores.
Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, July 23 at First Baptist Church, Stafford. Burial will be at the Stafford Cemetery.