Cathy Miller Bolinder Johnson Thomas

1943 - 2026

Cathy Miller Bolinder Johnson Thomas



July 23, 1943 - March 20, 2026



Salt Lake City, UT-Cathy Miller Thomas passed away peacefully on Friday, March 20, 2026, at her daughter's home, surrounded by her loving family.



She was born on July 23, 1943, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Irvine LaVere Miller and Ettie Graham Miller (Paxman).



Cathy married John F. Bolinder (later divorced), A. Layne Johnson (deceased), and Charles E. Thomas (deceased).



She graduated from Highland High School in 1961 and attended the University of Utah. Cathy worked at Gillham Advertising, First Mortgage Corporation, and DeWaal & Keeler, CPAs. She later retired as an Office Manager for Western Automatic Sprinkler and Palmer Christiansen Co. in Salt Lake City.



Cathy is survived by her daughter, Kim Bolinder (Sandy); her sons, Mark Bolinder (Salt Lake City) and Troy (Laura) Johnson (Magna); and her stepchildren, Lori Johnson (Springdale), Eric (Deb) Johnson (Idaho Falls, ID), Teri Wallis (Middleton, ID), Kris (Mike) Nemelka (Glenwood Springs, CO), Kathy Thomas (Fruit Heights, UT), and Wendy (Joe) Dimond (Payson, UT).



She is also survived by her three beloved granddaughters: Sara (Tom) Frojen (Underwood, WA), Jena Glazier (Eric Anderson) (Salt Lake City, UT), and Becca Glazier (Salt Lake City, UT); and her great-grandson Liam, the recent light of her life. She is further survived by many step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.



Cathy is survived by her sister, Cynthia Marsh (St. George, UT), and was preceded in death by her brother, Dr. Robert Miller, and his wife, Rosemary (Edina, MN). She is also survived by their sons, Derek and Drew.



Cathy was loved by everyone and was always willing to help those in need. She cherished time spent with family and found great joy in gathering with loved ones. One of her favorite pastimes was playing games with family and friends, with moments filled with laughter, connection, and her spirited, playful sense of competition.



One of her favorite stories to share was about her birthday. Growing up, her dad told her that the Days of '47 Parade, held every July 24th in Utah, was actually in honor of her birthday the day before. She believed it for years, and even after learning the truth, she happily kept the tradition alive. She would proudly joke that the celebration was still hers. After all, Cathy was worth celebrating for both days.



She was actively involved in many activities, including Super Bowl and World Series boards, and she loved seeing others win and sharing in their joy. Cathy was deeply involved in her grandchildren's lives and treasured every opportunity to support and celebrate them.



Beyond all of her accomplishments, Cathy will be remembered most for the way she made people feel: welcomed, supported, and deeply loved. She had a natural gift for bringing people together, whether around a game table, at a family gathering, or simply in everyday moments. Her laughter was contagious, her kindness constant, and her presence was a steady source of comfort and joy.



Cathy was also a true survivor. She faced life's challenges head-on, enduring heart attacks, cancer, and countless obstacles with remarkable strength and resilience. No matter what was placed in her path, she met it with determination and grace, always pushing forward and overcoming so much. Her strength was an inspiration to everyone who knew her.



To her family, she was everything - a proud grandmother and great-grandmother. She celebrated life's big milestones and small victories alike, always cheering the loudest for those she loved. Her legacy lives on in the strong family she built and the memories she created.



She will be deeply missed and forever cherished.



The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to Inspiration Hospice and her nurse, Melanie, for the compassionate and attentive care they provided.



Services will be held at Memorial Holladay Cemetery, 4900 S Memory Lane, Holladay, Utah 84117, on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. A small lunch will follow at Kim Bolinder's home.