In Memory

Kathleen Williams (Neff) VIEW PROFILE

Kathleen Williams Neff, a longtime resident of Ruby Valley, NV, passed away Monday December 28, at her home. She was 75.

Hers was a life well lived, filled with service and unconditional love to everyone she met.

Kathy grew up in Napa, California and met her husband John while attending Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, where she received a Master's degree in marriage and family relations.

Kathy was a talented teacher. She was a volunteer music instructor at Ruby Valley School for 25 years. She is still remembered for her service and songs by every Ruby Valley school child from those years. She taught classes at Northern Nevada Community College (now Great Basin College). She also taught piano lessons, sewing classes and served in numerous callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including as a Stake Relief Society and Primary president.

She loved her home and community in Ruby Valley. John and Kathy moved to their ranch here in 1972 and raised their six children. Kathy loved quilting and gardening. She was an amazing cook and was famous for her pecan logs and cinnamon rolls. She loved to gather with her family for Sunday dinners and holidays. She loved her grandchildren and threw dozens of birthday parties for them through the years. She taught her grandchildren to cook and sew.

Kathy had a smile that would light up every room. She had the unique ability to make even the most nervous stranger feel welcome. She built a legacy of love, faith, hard work, and endurance that will continue for generations. She made everyone better just because they knew her. The void she has left behind is great, but makes us look forward to the Resurrection.

Kathy was diagnosed with the blood disorder myelodysplasia 15 years ago, which recently progressed to acute myeloid leukemia. She was able to spend her last days of life at home surrounded by her family and friends. One of her favorite quotes was, "Life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful."

She is preceded in death by her parents, Tom and Florene Williams, her brother, Tom Williams and her beloved daughter, Katie, who drowned at age 2.

She is survived by John, her husband of 54 years, sister Karen (Don) Mineer, brothers Jim (Veda) and Alan (Clarinne) Williams, children Adam (Lisi), Ben, Sam (Mary), Joel (Julie) and Annemarie (Adam) Beaty, as well as 18 grandchildren: Vivian, Julia, Peter, Loulou, Philip, Kara, Nathaniel, Maggie, Anson, Thomas, William, Emery, Lucy, Andy, Charlie, Edward, Samuel Beaty and John Beaty.

Funeral services were held Saturday, January 2, at the Ruby Valley chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kathy was interred beside her daughter Katie and near her parents in the Ruby Valley Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to some of her dearest causes, such as the Ruby Valley Cemetery Association, the MDS Foundation, The Leukemia And Lymphoma Society, the FSH (facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy) Society for her granddaughter Julia, or if possible, donate blood, since blood donations are critical to treating MDS and leukemia patients.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/elkodaily/name/kathleen-neff-obituary?pid=197438709





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