Katheryn Pugh Chamberlain was born on Sept. 22, 1939 to Lloyd Pugh and Bernice Palmer Pugh. She was raised in Kanab and graduated from KHS in 1957. She was a Kanab Cowboy for life. She went on to attend the University of Utah, graduating in 1962 with a degree in political science and sociology. She became a Utah Ute for life. 

Kathy moved to Flagstaff, AZ after graduation and met and married Jack Chamberlain from Glendale. They had one child, Nancy, in 1966 and later divorced. At this point she became the best mom for life. 

     To support herself and Nancy she worked in many occupations: medical and dental assistant, construction bookkeeper, concrete and asphalt company dispatcher, accountant, elected Kane County Clerk/Auditor, and HR positions with W.L. Gore. Through her working life she lived in Flagstaff, Rock Springs, WY, St. George, Las Vegas, Kanab and Camp Verde. She finally made it back home to Kanab, her beloved red rocks and lived the rest of her life in her parents home, right next door to the house she grew up in. In her 70’s and 80’s she worked for the US Census. We joked it would keep her out of the pool halls (as Grandpa Lloyd always admonished). She loved driving all over Kane and Garfield counties and interviewing people, either for the census or the roads survey for the county. She was a Southern Utah woman who loved showing Kanab and its surroundings to family and friends.

     She was very independent, and it served her well in doing her own home repairs, electrical and plumbing work until her late 70’s. She frequently provided rides and support to friends needing to travel to appointments and loved to drive and travel. She and many of her classmates made an annual trip to Laughlin to have “class reunions and birthday parties”, the last one just in April. No matter how many times they told the stories of their youth, they had a great time together. She was a lifetime friend.

     She had an open door policy to any and all who needed a place to rest, an ear to listen, a pep talk or a cup of coffee. This went for her friends, her parents’ friends, her daughter’s friends, friends of friends, and occasionally strangers who became friends.

Kathy was a sports fanatic and loved watching football, baseball, basketball, softball, golf and had recently started watching hockey as well. Dinners with her have always been timed to be eaten during halftime or when a game was over. 

     Her favorite role in life was being a grandma to Kymberlee and Jessica. Starting in 1994, wherever Nancy and Steve lived, Grandma came to the Loys for Christmas. She joined us in all our crazy family traditions and helped us start new ones as the girls grew older.  

She was at North Rim when Nancy and Steve got married in 1989 and again last year when her granddaughter, Kym, got engaged there on Kathy’s 83rd birthday. Best Grandma for life!

She was going to join us via phone for her granddaughter Jessica’s college graduation ceremony in early June, and host the whole crew in June to celebrate it all. Sadly, her life was interrupted before these final reunions.

     Kathy is survived by her brother, George (Patti) Pugh, Camp Verde, AZ, daughter Nancy (Steve) Loy, Enumclaw, WA, granddaughters Kymberlee Katheryn Loy (Logan Vieira), Auburn, WA, and Jessica Ruth Loy, Enumclaw. She also has several nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly. She had lost many of her dearest friends in recent years but was still surrounded by many and will be greatly missed by all. 

     In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to any of your favorite charities in her memory. Keep an open door, an open mind and an open heart. But never an empty coffee pot. 

     We will celebrate her remarkable life with a funeral on June 21 at Mosdell Mortuary at 11:00 AM, with a visitation from 10:00-10:45 AM.  Burial will be in the Kanab Cemetery.  A reception will be announced at the service, time and place to be determined.  All will be invited to come and share memories there.