Catherine "Kay" Larsen

Catherine "Kay" (Mather) Larsen passed away on July 15, 2021, at her home.

Kay was born on May 3, 1936 to Richard Mather and Ada (Potter) Mather in Plummer, Idaho. As a toddler, she moved to Imperial, Nebraska and then to the family farm near Lamar, Nebraska, where she lived with her family including her maternal grandmother Minnie and her uncle Floyd Jr. As a child, she and her younger brother Ben attended a one-room schoolhouse near the farm until eighth grade. The family moved into Grant, Nebraska, where she attended and graduated from Perkins County High School in 1954.

She received her teaching certification from Kearney College. She and Ronald Gene Larsen were married in Lamar in 1956, the newlyweds settled on a farm near Otis, Colorado. As the couple started their life together, they were soon blessed with three daughters, Rhonda, Pam, and Jacque. In 1962 the young family moved to Lakewood, Colorado and two years later, a son, Russell was added to the family.

Family and community were important to Kay. Her home was a welcoming place for children of the neighborhood and always ready with snacks, games, and craft projects. She was a tireless volunteer for the Girl Scouts, Lutheran Church, Soccer leagues and PTA. After the children were grown, Ronnie's job moved her to Orlando, Florida, Mission Viejo, California and finally San Antonio, Texas. In each place, she continued to participate in her community church, American Sewing Guild and DAR.

She found great joy in visiting and caring for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Kay would travel across America to meet each new addition to her family.

Kay was a creative person and never far away from her sewing machine. First sewing for the family and home then taking endless classes to learn techniques for wearable art and surface design. She loved color and would often be seen wearing one of her creations or decorating her home with her textile art. She won many awards at the California State Fair for her efforts. Kay used her sewing skills for charity as well, with mission quilts, veterans lap blankets, foster children clothes and many more worthy organizations.

Kay was preceded in death by her daughter, Rhonda Larsen Ferguson; her parents, Richard and Ada Mather; her grandmother, Minnie (Kunkel) Potter, and her uncle, Floyd Potter, Jr.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years and 11 months, Ronald Gene Larsen; her brother, Ben Mather and his wife Betty Jean; daughters, Pam Larsen, Jacque Larsen Goldsmith; son, Russell Larsen and his wife Sarah; grandchildren, Stephanie Ferguson Pyke and her husband John, Aaron Ferguson and his wife Hiroko, James Ferguson and his wife Maggie, Adrienne Ferguson Kanan and her husband Walid, Winston Goldsmith, Elizabeth Larsen and Peter Larsen and great-grandchildren, Kai Ferguson, Aila Ferguson, Logan Kanan, Millie Ferguson and Theo Ferguson.

In honor of Kay, consider a gift to American Heart Association, Parkinson's Research, or Breast Cancer Research. Condolences may be shared at bullocklongfuneralhome.com.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 31, 2021, at 4:00 PM at the Bullock-Long Funeral Home in Grant with John Long officiating. Burial will be in the Grant Fairview Cemetery.

Bullock-Long Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.