Kathryn L. Blakslee

Kathryn (Katy) Lang Blakslee enjoyed every day of her 91 years and made them count. She had been a shining example of a life well lived for her 5 children, 8 grandchildren, and hundreds of acquaintances from her St. Luke?s Episcopal Church life, her long tenure at Las Fuentes Retirement Resort, and affiliations with local organizations such as the Prescott Public Library, P.E.O. Sisterhood, Prescott Outings Club, Westerners, Prescott People Who Care, and Community Cupboard. Katy was born in her parent?s farmhouse near Monmouth, Illinois on July 27, 1917. She graduated from Purdue University in 1941 with a degree in Home Economics. She married Edward Blakslee December 26, 1941, and enjoyed 58 years of marriage with him before his death in Prescott in 2000. Katy and Ed had moved to Prescott from Crystal Lake, Illinois in 1977.  Travel was one of Katy?s passions. She and Ed traveled numerous times to Switzerland, Mexico, England, New Zealand, Australia, and Fiji. They enjoyed camping in their RV and hiking in Europe and the Southwest USA. Katy hiked into Havasu Canyon and the Grand Canyon several times. She continued to travel in her last years to Canada, France, and Italy as well as to other destinations in the USA.  She was an avid sports fan, following first the Chicago Cubs, then the Yavapai College Roughriders soccer team, Phoenix Suns, and the Arizona Diamondbacks, cheering her team on through hundreds of games.  Katy?s last months were made comfortable and entertaining by the many friends and family who visited bringing her joy and by the caring attention from all the wonderful caregivers of Home Instead Senior Care and YRMC Hospice. Her family sincerely thanks all who helped during these last months, while she managed the challenges of Pulmonary Fibrosis.  Katy and Ed raised five children in Illinois. Their son Robert Lang Blakslee passed away in 1970 in Illinois. Surviving children are Betty Reynolds of Deming, NM; Sally Schindel and son-in-law Gregg Schindel of Prescott, AZ; Jeri McGuire of Minooka, IL; Bill Blakslee and daughter-in-law Lisa Blakslee of Parker, CO; Grandchildren are Sarah & Andy Zorn of AZ; Joshua McGuire of TX; Katy McGuire of CA; Kelsey McGuire of IL; Amy, Alex & Molly Blakslee of CO.