Katherine Ann (Hopper) Smith was born on July 26th, 1954 in Wichita, Kansas to parents Clarence L. Hopper and Dorothy (Rademaker) Hopper. Kathy and her family later moved to Farmington, New Mexico where Kathy graduated from Farmington High School.
Kathy was surrounded by family holding her hands, when she passed away at home Monday, June 7, 2021 after a long 12-year battle with cancer.
In 1984, Kathy met Larry C. Smith in Greeley, CO and they were married on September 21, 1985 on the family ranch north of Joes CO. Kathy and Larry adopted Michelle Reanae into the family in April of 1987, making their family complete.
Kathy loved her life on the ranch, all her numerous animals and the beauty of the land. Kathy helped manage RLS Ranch LLC and Hillside Ranch with all the bookwork, along with keeping all the records and books for their family cattle business. She was constantly working on many projects. Kathy had found quilting about 20 years ago and has left behind for her family many memories in those quilts. Kathy had begun to study and research her genealogy lineage; she could spend hours in her “SHE CAVE” as she referred to her basement dedicated to crafts and genealogy. Kathy would constantly be working on a new cross stitch project every night after chores for every milestone in her daughter’s life. Since 2017, Larry and Kathy had gotten a 5th Wheel and began traveling all summer to places neither of them had ever seen. Traveling in the 5th Wheel was one of Kathy’s bucket list items she had always wanted to do. In recent years, Kathy and her family started to attend bingo with the Yuma Lions Club, this quickly became her favorite family night out.
Kathy was the head troop leader to Michelle’s Girl Scoot Troup in Colo. Springs before moving back to Yuma in 1996 with her family to start on the family ranch. Kathy was one of the Fine Art Superintendents at the Yuma County Fair for many years and had planned on being there again this year.
Kathy thought she had found her calling when daughter Michelle became interested in 4-H and FFA, especially when she chose to have her main project be horse. Michelle went from performance showing, to rodeo, to be Yuma County Fair and Rodeo Queen in 2004. Once Michelle started down this path, Kathy was there every single step of the way. Cheering her on, constantly behind a camera, there when she cried and there when she won. These years were some of Kathy’s most enjoyable memories.
Kathy was preceded in death by her parents Clarence & Dorothy Hopper and her father-in-law Clare E. Smith. Mourning her loss are husband Larry C. Smith, daughter Michelle Smith, mother-in-law Leta A. Smith, brother Ronald Hopper and a host of family and friends.
Service information:
Monday, June 14, 2021. Lunch/Visitation at noon Joes Fire Department.
Memorial Service June 14, 2021 at 2:00pm Kirk Methodist Church, Kirk CO.
Officiating minister Pam Coulter of the Kirk Methodist Church.
Interment immediately following the service, procession to Yuma Cemetery.
Memorial Contributions may be made to: Joes Fire Department, 5968 Co. Rd F, Joes CO 80822
Or South YW Ambulance, PO Box 51, Kirk CO 80824.
2021-06-24