A celebration of life will be in Felton this weekend for longtime Scotts Valley resident Kathleen Ann “Kathy” Smead, who died at El Camino Hospital. She was 69.
Mrs. Smead was born in Dayton, Ohio, and was known by friends and family as a kind, accepting and charismatic woman who treated others with tenderness, warmth and respect.
Relatives said she devoted her life to her family and friends and indulged her children and grandchildren whenever she could.
For more than 20 years, Mrs. Smead and a close friend, Barb Carlisle, ran Children’s House Daycare in Felton. She kept her daughter Jenni, who has Down syndrome, active in dance classes for more than 30 years.
She and her husband lived in Scotts Valley for 36 years, and they also lived for a year among the Blackfoot tribe in Montana as part of Volunteers in Service to America.
Mrs. Smead is survived by her husband of 45 years, John Smead of Scotts Valley; two daughters, Jenni Smead and Annie Harris, both of Scotts Valley; and three grandsons.
A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at Felton Presbyterian Church, 6090 Highway 9. The family is compiling a book of memories for Kathy’s grandchildren and asks those who attend to take a picture, story, memory or message to add to the book. Thoughts and photos may also be emailed to
an****@gm***.com
.
