Kathy L. Anderson

Kathy Louise Anderson

February 23, 1935 - January 26, 2022

Kathy Louise Heuschkel was born a farmer’s daughter, at home, in Bayliss, California. Along with her brother Charles and sister Janete, she enjoyed a carefree childhood growing up in the country. She was the youngest and they affectionately called her “Babe.” When she was 2 years old she lost 2 fingers on her left hand when she grabbed onto the hay baler, but that didn’t slow her down one bit!

Kathy met Everett "Ebby" Taylor, a farmer’s son from south of Willows. They married in 1956 and moved to town where they had 5 children in 8 years, 4 girls, Janie, Linda, Julie, Lori and finally a boy, Timothy! Kathy and Ebby divorced in 1976. She married Charles "Charlie" Anderson of Manitoba, Canada in 1982. Charlie was a lineman and they moved around with his job living in various places around the U.S. and Canada, finally settling in Charlie’s hometown of Fairfield, Manitoba…way up north. Charlie died in 1987 in an auto accident. Kathy then moved down to the Bitterroot Valley in Western Montana, where she settled in Hamilton. This is where she lovingly called home ever after.

Kathy was a fierce and competitive card player; Pinochle was her game. She also was an avid reader and gardener. Her yard was full of beautiful flowers. Yet travel was Kathy’s true passion. She had many travel adventures with Charlie, but her longest and most enduring travel pard was her daughter, Janie. "Two peas in a pod,” they traveled the world together. That was brought to an abrupt halt when Kathy suffered a stroke in July 2016, just weeks after returning from her yearly trip to Alaska. On Jan 26, 2022, with her daughters at her side, Kathy went to be with her Lord Jesus. She was one month short of her 87th birthday. Kathy knew no strangers and was beloved by many.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents Theresa Mary (Poncia) Heuschkel and Charles John Heuschkel, husbands Everett Taylor and Charles Anderson, her brother Charles Heuschkel, Jr, and her daughter Julie Theresa Taylor. She is survived by her sister Janete Warren, her children Janie Taylor (Steve Hilsgen), Linda Taylor, Lori Taylor-Morgan (Russell Morgan) and Timothy Taylor, grandchildren Yashoda Devi Ma, Casey Perry and Katy Taylor, Bennett and Aaron Hilsgen, Christopher, Blake and Ashley Taylor and 3 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local women’s shelter or your favorite charity. The family will host a Zoom Memorial at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88912670670 on Wednesday, February 23, 2022 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm MST. There will be a slideshow half hour before the memorial starts. Please join us in sharing your favorite memories of Kathy. You can also email your memories to: janiemariataylor@gmail.com and we’ll read them aloud for you.