Kathie Lords was born January 6, 1951, in Wray, Colorado to John and Rhea Barnett. Her older sister, Pat, was so-o-o glad to have a live “dolly” to play with, and 18 months later they got a little brother, James, who didn’t really enjoy the role of “dolly!”
Kathie began her education in Denver (kindergarten) and Breckenridge (first grade) before the family came home to Wray, where she graduated from WHS in 1969. She spent her high school summers working in Ft. Morgan and Brush and moved there after graduation.
On a trip to Colorado Springs with a girlfriend she meets a young soldier named Steven Lords and after a short courtship they were married in Ft. Morgan in December of 1971, just before shipping out to Germany.
They shared a house with a German family where Kathie learned to crochet in her spare time. After leaving the service, they settled on a ranch in Pine Dale, Wyoming.
Kathie loved being a mother to Stephanie, born September 11th, 1973, and Skip, born October 24, 1974.
In 1977, she married Barry Forster and they settled in Rock Springs – until she came back to Colorado in 1985, where she worked as a CAN. After Stephanie graduated from high school in 1992, she returned to Rock Springs to help her son, Skip run B & M Road Service while Barry was ill. And once again Wray called her home after the death of her son in 1995.
May 31, 1998, was a bright day indeed when she welcomed her first grandchild, Damien, followed by three more, Kiara, Alysa, and Eric. She enjoyed those “grands” more than anything.
After being diagnosed with cancer in May, she and Stephanie moved to Dacono, Colorado, to be near her treatment center. Heaven gained another Angel on Saturday, October 30, 2021.
Kathie was preceded in death by her son, Skip (John Kenneth Lords); mother, Rhea Benedett and Francis; father, John Barnett and Hope; brother, James Barnett and Barry Forster.
She is survived by her daughter, Stephanie Lords, four grandchildren, Damien (& Harley) Lords-Singer; Kiara, Alysa and Eric Lords; three great-grandchildren, Cydney, Faith and Valik; one sister, Pat and John Zion; first husband, Steven Lords; nieces and nephews, many friends and her best four-legged friend, Matty Sue.
A Viewing/Visitation will be held on Friday, November 5, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home in Wray, Colorado.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 6, 2021, 2:00 p.m. at the New Life Christian Center in Eckley, Colorado with Pastor Glen Kline officiating.
Inurnment will be in the Grandview Cemetery in Wray, Colorado. Memorials may be made to the Kathie Lords Memorial Fund. Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
2021-11-11