Kathy Blackburn

Katherine "Kathy" Blackburn, 73, passed away on Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, at her home of natural causes.

She was born Feb. 10, 1944, in Rexburg, Idaho, the second daughter of Don and Helen Willmore Blackburn. Her younger years were spent in Rigby, Idaho, before moving to Blackfoot in 1957. She graduated from Blackfoot High School in 1962. She later attended and graduated from Steven Henager Business College in Salt Lake City, Utah.

She remained in Salt Lake, where she met, and later married, Lyle Wilkinson in 1964. On Dec. 1, 1964, she gave birth to their son, Lloyd Jere Wilkinson. Katherine and Lyle divorced. She married Thomas Rich, who adopted Lloyd, and after many years together, they divorced. After the divorce, Kathy reclaimed her maiden name.

Kathy had a lifelong career in the accounting department at the Department of Energy in Idaho Falls and worked there until she retired in July 2010. She spent her free time playing golf, singing, playing bridge, playing piano, traveling, reading and spending time with her family.

Anyone that met her knew how caring and radiant of a human she was. An adventurous soul, she always knew how to make people smile and always wanted to befriend everyone she met. She was never afraid of challenges and even climbed Machu Picchu while lugging around a heavy tank of oxygen. Her faith in God was strong, and she was the type of person who brought warmth and light into the world. She will be sorely missed.

She is survived by her son, Lloyd Rich, of Idaho Falls; granddaughter, Samantha Rich, of Pocatello; grandson, Jacob Rich, of Idaho Falls; and her siblings, Elsie Dawn (Ronald) Caldwell, of Idaho Falls, and Joyce (Leigh) Cox, of Lakeside, Arizona. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Heber Jay Blackburn.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 4, at Wood Funeral Home, 273 N. Ridge Ave., in Idaho Falls. The family will visit with friends from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Saturday prior to services at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.woodfuneralhome.com.