Kathleen Gillette Place

Kathleen Gillette Place, our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend passed away Wednesday, December 13, 2023, after a long, brave battle with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Kathy was born April 26, 1946, in Tooele, Utah, to Samuel Lindberg Gillette and Zelpha Jones Gillette. She was the youngest of four children.  

Kathy graduated from Highland High School and the University of Utah, where she was a member of the Lambda Delta Sigma sorority. As a young teen, her very first date was with Jerry Michael Place, whom she later married on March 18, 1966, in the Salt Lake Temple. Kathy and Mike were completely devoted to one another and to their marriage. They always made time for each other and took many opportunities to travel together throughout the world. On one very special trip, they were able to be ambassadors for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints by special invitation from the queen of Thailand for the country's bicentennial.

As a child, Kathy loved playing with dolls and adored her many nieces and nephews. All she ever wanted to do was grow up and be a mother. She was blessed with five wonderful children, to whom she devoted her life. She made education a priority and used her elementary education degree to help her work with her children and assist them all in successful educational endeavors. Always active in the PTA, Kathy spent one year as PTA President and another as the Legislative Vice President. 

Kathy was the kind of mother one dreams of having: ready at the door after school with a snack and a listening ear. She had dinner on the table every night, making sure there were items from all the food groups. She sewed many dresses for her daughters and Halloween and dance costumes for all. She loved to play games and laugh with the family! 

Her prowess at and enjoyment of being a mother were surpassed perhaps only by her gifts as a grandmother. Kathy relished moments spent with grandchildren. She delighted them as she'd hold them, sing to them, play "library" with them, and at Easter time have the Cousins' Easter Egg Hunt! 

Kathy was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She served in many capacities in the church. She was especially devoted to the visiting teaching program. She took this role seriously and diligently served, loved, and prayed for each sister under her care. Kathy made it clear she knew who Jesus Christ was and that she had a personal relationship with Him. Some of her last words of advice were, "When you're in a difficult spot and don't know what to do, turn to the Lord in prayer for help."

Kathy parts for a time from her eternal companion, Mike, who survives her. She is also survived by her children Jeffrey M. Place (Angela), Kimberly Rudd DeSilva (Rick), Stephanie Mercer (Loren), Kristy Powell (Ben), and Heather Morgan (Mike); her sisters-in-law Star Place and Doris Gillette; 23 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents Sam and Zelpha Gillette; brothers David and Larry (Mary), sister JoAnn (Mac), and son-in-law Paul Woods Rudd. 

The family would like to give a special thanks to Lejla, the incredible CNAs, and the rest of the amazing staff at Creekside Senior Living Memory Care; Rosa and Jenifer, her loving caregivers from Beyond Senior Care; and Nan, Julie, Rachael and the rest of the staff from A-Plus Hospice for all they've done for Kathy. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Kathy's honor to CurePSP (www.psp.org) to help find a cure for this devastating disease. 

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, December 16, 2023 at the Bountiful Heights Stake Center, 33 Moss Hill Dr., Bountiful, Utah. A viewing will be held Friday evening from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful and Saturday 12:00 - 12:45 p.m. at the church prior to services. Interment - Lakeview Cemetery, 1640 East Lakeview Dr., Bountiful, Utah.

Services will be streamed live on Russon Mortuary & Crematory Facebook page and this obituary page.