Kathleen Smith

Our sweet mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister and friend, Kathleen Blank Smith passed away April 9, 2025 due to complications from pneumonia. She was surrounded by her loved ones as we sang some of her favorite songs that she sang to all of us as children.

Kathleen was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on January 1, 1942 the second of 5 children to Clayton Blank and Vivian Thelma Andersen Blank. Her father was hoping to get the prize of having the first child born for the year but missed it by a couple hours. He forgave her quickly though when he saw what a beauty she was. Her mother would always curl her hair just like Shirley Temple and her father told her affectionately that she was more beautiful and talented than Shirley.

From a very young age Kathleen loved babies. Her and her sister Nancy would care for and play house with their youngest brother Steven for hours. She loved to babysit the neighbor children and with the money that she earned, she would buy gifts for them. That was the start of what would be her legacy of loving babies, caring for children and giving them everything she had. One of her granddaughters put it beautifully, she was always giving, just like the "Giving Tree" (a favorite to read to the kids) Her love felt like a warm blanket, wrapping around you completely and unconditionally. 

When she was 18, she met Clive Pusey where they both worked at the church office building in Salt Lake. They were married shortly after they met in the Salt Lake Temple and moved to Northern California where they lived for the first 10 years of their marriage. During this time she was the primary and relief society president but her love was in the primary. Clive and Kathleen had 4 children and being a mom was her greatest joy. When she became a grandma, she was overjoyed and was always looking for opportunities to show off her grandchildren and spoil them.

Mom was always a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. One of her favorite things was to get dressed up for church, she was a class act. She loved all of the jobs she held from Relief Society President to nursery, but she loved working with the children the most and they loved her. She was grandma to all the kids that came to her home and treats were always available. 

After her divorce, she met Robert Smith at a church dance and she was immediately taken by this tall handsome man. They married in March 2002 and between them had 8 children. They were perfect together and he loved and supported her family as she did his. They loved to have big family get togethers for holidays, birthdays and many other occasions. She loved to decorate her home for all of the holidays and make it look festive and fun for everyone that came to their home. There was always more than enough food and treats to go around. Her motto was the more the merrier, everyone was invited.

She loved scrapbooking all of the pictures that Bob took for her and the grandkids love looking through the books for hours and cherishing the memories that are discovered in those pages.

After Bob's unexpected passing last year she has been heartbroken so we celebrate that they have been reunited with each other and are dancing together again.She leaves behind a legacy of generosity, kindness and unconditional love that will never be forgotten by those who knew her. 

She was preceded in death by her eternal companion Robert Smith and her parents, Clayton and Vivian, brothers Steven and Clayton Jr., sister Nancy and great granddaughter, Nora Grace.

Kathleen is survived by her children Melanie (Greg), Brad (Michelle), Morris (Robyn), Jared; stepchildren Eric (Gina), Scott (Kimberly), Jared (Sarah), Aaron (Sydney); brother David; twenty -one grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday April 18, 2025 at the Bridlewood Ward, 165 Monarch Drive, Bountiful, Utah. A viewing will be held Thursday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful and Friday morning 9:45-10:45 a.m. at the church prior to the services. Interment - Bountiful City Cemetery.

Services will be streamed live on Russon Mortuary Live Facebook page and this obituary page. The live stream will begin 10-15 minutes prior to services and will be posted below.