Kathy L. Gallagher

Kathryn Louise Muehsam-Gallagher was a devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and cousin. She was a friend to many. She often gave when she knew it meant she had little left for herself, and she forgave when many perhaps would not. Kathy genuinely cared about other people, and in so doing she became an example to all of us, demonstrating what it means to live a life of Love.
Her life will certainly continue to influence how we live our lives. This fact is obvious to those who knew her because Kathy, with the beautiful way she lived, taught us all how to love every moment that God has given to us, to show the people we love how much we love them, and to love everyone, no matter how unlovable a person may seem.
There is no greater gift than this: Love.
Kathy gave this gift to her children, husband, sisters, parents, extended family, friends and, yes, even to those who may have wronged her because Kathy knew that her job was not to judge but to love. She demonstrated to us that which love requires and, in so doing, has been an example of what it means to live in forgiveness, which requires both humility and sacrifice. That is no easy task, but Kathy was up for it.
Kathy was able to provide so much love to so many people because she knew the source of Love, and she tapped into that source daily, several times each day, because she knew that if she connected with Love, Love would prevail.
As we celebrate Kathy's life, we in part celebrate the fact that Love has prevailed, and she is right now basking in the power that gave her the strength to forgive, to accept, to be a conduit for healing to so many people around her. Kathy can no longer tell us with words how much she loves us. This much is true. But the Love she demonstrated remains. Where Love is, there God is, and God is forever. With that knowledge, we can remember Kathy the way she would have liked for us to remember her-as an ambassador for God's love, a living example of what it means to lay down one's life for one's friends.
For that, we can and should be thankful.
Kathryn Louise Muehsam-Gallagher was the daughter of Mary Lou and Konrad Muehsam, born December 10, 1942 in Oakland, California. At age seven she moved to Portland, Oregon. That summer, she began attending a little church across the street from her home where she found her faith in Jesus. She spent her growing up years in the Northwestern United States.
At age 18 she moved back to California where she met and married Ralph Butterworth; they had four children.
She later met Tom Gallagher. They married and moved to Hamilton, Montana.
Kathy is survived by her husband of 35 years, Tom; her mother, Mary Lou Osburn; sisters Anne Christensen and Marjorie Boyd; daughters Annette "Brandie" Coombes of Stevensville, MT; Shannon Connolly of Roseburg, OR; Angela Gallagher of Santa Cruz, CA; Suzanne Evans of Helena, MT; and son Daniel Butterworth of Holland, TX. She has 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Kathy worked in the medical field as a medical secretary transcriptionist, then for Public Assistance and the Department of Revenue for the State of Montana. She loved to read and often used the insights gleaned from her reading to positively impact the lives of others.
For nearly six years Kathy had been battling cancer. The family is very thankful for the prayers and support of family and friends. If you wish to honor her memory in some manner, please consider donating to Voice for Life in Hamilton, Montana; The Voice of the Martyrs in Bartlesville, Oklahoma; or Saint Pat's House in Missoula, Montana.