Together Again
Kathryn Ann Richards Powell, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, passed into eternal life in her sleep on December 12, 2017, from natural causes.
Kathryn was born to Hilda Merrill and Dr. Thomas W. Richards, DDS. Kathryn had a profound love for her parents, her brother Melvin, and her three sisters, Cleopha, Grace, and Elna. All of Kathryn’s original family preceded her in death.
Kathryn grew up in Malad, Idaho. She was talented, beautiful, and smart. She learned to play the piano, organ and flute. She started playing the organ for church at the age of 14. Kathryn was very pretty and popular throughout her youthful years. She was chosen to be a queen on eight different occasions. She graduated the fourth highest in her High School class. After High School Kathryn attended Weber College, a two year college, and graduated from there with Honors. She then received a scholarship from Brigham Young University and graduated with high honors in June, 1945.
Kathryn met Reed Powell in 1944 at B.Y.U. After a whirlwind romance, Reed asked Kathryn if she would like to “tie her shoelaces” to his. They were sealed in marriage on July 17, 1945, in the L.D.S. Logan, Utah Temple by Kathryn’s Uncle Joseph F. Merrill, one of the Twelve Apostles of the L.D.S. Church. In October, 1945, Reed had to leave Kathryn to serve as a Communications Officer aboard the SS Hannibal Victory, heading for Shantou China. He recorded in his journal, on December 24th, “I hope that Kathryn and I may never again be separated at Christmas time… I love my wife with all my heart and shall always be grateful to my Father in Heaven for giving her to me.” It is heartwarming to know that Kathryn is once again reunited with Reed for this Christmas season.
Kathryn has moved from Utah to Michigan to Costa Rica to Oklahoma to Guatemala to Massachusetts to California to Ohio and back to California– all the while raising five children. Kathryn’s life with Reed was truly an adventure. Kathryn loves her Savior, Jesus Christ, His gospel and His Church. She loves her husband and children immensely and has appreciated each person who performed any service or favor for her or for her family.
Kathryn left a legacy through her love, her teachings, her writings and through the excellent example she set throughout her life of high integrity. She is greatly treasured and is greatly missed.
She is survived by four of her five children, their spouses, 14 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM on December 21st, preceded by a viewing commencing at 2:00 PM at the L.D.S Chapel located at 674 South Yorba Street, Orange, CA .
In lieu of flowers or other gestures, we ask that you consider making a donation to the LDS Church’s Perpetual Education Fund on behalf of Kathryn Ann Richards Powell. Donations can be made online through https://ldsphilanthropies.org/in-memoriam
Dedicatory services and final resting place will be on December 28th at 11:00 AM at the Memorial Mountain View Mortuary and Cemetery, 3115 Bengal Blvd., Cottonwood Heights, Utah.