A life that touched so many hearts will be forever remembered.
Obituary
Kathryn Louise “Kathy” Guy, 77, passed away peacefully on January 23, 2026, in Litchfield Park, Arizona. A devoted wife, loving mother, proud grandmother and great-grandmother, and a steady presence in the lives of those around her, Kathy was known for the quiet warmth and kindness she shared so freely. She was born February 17, 1948, in Bremerton, Washington, to Joe and Virginia Smith.
Kathy had a quiet way of loving people that made them feel seen, safe, and welcome. She carried herself with calm warmth and an easy smile, allowing others to relax and be themselves. She showed up for others with patience, care, and generosity, and her home became a place where family, friends, and neighborhood kids alike felt they belonged.
Kathy married her high school sweetheart, Myron “Jack” Guy, on March 23, 1968. Together, they built a life centered on family, loyalty, and an enduring partnership that spanned nearly six decades. Their life together was rooted in love, laughter, and a deep commitment to the family they raised.
She was the devoted mother of Mark, John, Brian, and Erin. Kathy supported her children with trust, encouragement, and a steady belief in who they were becoming, helping shape the strong and caring family that surrounds her today.
In addition to raising her family, Kathy owned and operated several small businesses in Gig Harbor over the years. She also loved to travel and enjoyed many cruises throughout her life, always appreciating the opportunity to explore new places and share those experiences with family and friends.
Her influence extended well beyond her immediate family. Friends of her children often spoke of her as a “bonus mom,” welcomed into the Guy home with the same warmth she gave her own family. Whether on the sidelines of games, around the dinner table, or in simple everyday moments, Kathy had a gift for making people feel remembered and valued.
Kathy’s greatest joy was her family. She was a proud grandmother to Justine Southworth (Christien), Delany Oppedahl, Oakley Oppedahl, John Guy, and Anna Guy, and a loving great-grandmother to Wesley Southworth. Time spent with her grandchildren brought her immense happiness, and the bonds she nurtured among them remain one of her greatest legacies.
She is survived by her husband, Jack; her children, Mark Guy (Erin), Brian Guy (Jody), and Erin Oppedahl (Ryan); her grandchildren and great-grandson; and her siblings, Terry, Tim, Tony, Patrick, and Kimberly.
She was preceded in death by her son, Johnathan Eric Guy, and her parents, Joe and Virginia Smith.
A memorial service will be held at Saint Nicholas Catholic Parish in Gig Harbor, Washington, on April 23, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Donations to the church in Kathy’s memory are welcome. Kathy will be interred in a private ceremony at Haven of Rest Memorial Park in Gig Harbor, beside her beloved son Johnathan.
Kathy’s love created a circle that continues to hold her family close. Though deeply missed, they find comfort in knowing she is reunited with the son she carried in her heart every day.
Welcome
Kathy had a quiet way of loving people that made them feel seen, safe, and included. She showed up, she listened, she cared deeply, and she gave of herself without asking much in return. Her impact lives on in her family, in the people she welcomed so easily, and in the countless small moments that made others feel at home.
This space was created to honor Kathy and the life she lived so generously. It is a place to share memories, stories, photos, and reflections. There is no right way to participate. Whether you leave a note, read what others have shared, or simply spend a moment remembering her, you are welcome here.
Thank you for being part of the circle of love that surrounded Kathy and continues to carry her forward.
Timeline
Gallery
Memory wall
I spent a lot of pennies in the gumball machine at the Evergreen Park corner store near my home trying to score a little trinket that I so desperately wanted to give to Kathy as a token of my affection. When, after days of trying, I was finally successful at getting that little trinket, I couldn't wait to go to school the next day to give it to her.
However, being a very shy young man, I realized I would be too embarrassed to hand it to her up close and personal so I decided to wait until all my classmates left the room for morning recess. With nobody around to see what I was up to, I placed that little, silver colored plastic heart-shaped trinket on her desk. The inscription on the heart said "I LOVE YOU". When we returned from recess I watched as she picked it up, smiled, and looked around as if to see who might have put it there. I quickly looked away, then looked back to see her place it in her pocket.
I never told Kathy, and I was certain she had no clue where that little heart came from. But then, about two years later, when we were in 4th grade, Kathy invited me to have cake and ice cream with her and Pat Daugherty at Jill Stoffel's house. My first and only "date" with her made me think that maybe she really did know where that heart came from. If and when I ever make it to heaven I'm going to tell her about it - face to face, and I'm going to ask her if she knew.
There are no words big enough for what you meant to me, but I want to try.
You were strong and gentle all at once, loyal, and so incredibly patient. Your love was steady and unwavering, and your commitment to your family was the center of everything you did. Your children, your husband, and your grandchildren were your whole world, and all of us felt that in a million different ways. You loved with your whole heart, and that love shaped all of us.
You were happiest when you were with your family, making memories in the everyday moments, or off cruising the world and enjoying life the way you deserved to. You had this quiet way of making life feel safe and full at the same time. You let us make our own mistakes, but you were always there, gently guiding us, supporting us, and loving us without ever making us feel like we had to earn it. You were my beacon in that way—steady, comforting, and always there when I needed you.
Some of my favorite memories of you are the little things that now mean everything. You trying to teach me how to make a pie crust every single year, and somehow never giving up on me, still makes me smile. You were always there at my softball games when I was little, always driving me to practices, always showing up. And your attempts to get me into ballet or to wear dresses—well, those didn’t exactly stick, but you sure tried. I can laugh now thinking about it, because that was you too: always wanting the best for me, even when I was determined to be exactly who I was.
I will always treasure our lunch dates, our trips to Costco, and all the ordinary moments that never felt ordinary because they were with you. Those small moments are part of the fabric of my life, and they will stay with me forever.
I can only hope that one day Delaney and I will have what you and I had. I would be so lucky. What a gift it has been to be your daughter, to be loved by you, and to know the kind of bond we shared. That love is one of the greatest blessings of my life.
I miss you deeply already, but I will carry you with me always—in the way I love my family, in the way I show up, in the way I try to be strong and patient like you. Thank you for being my mom, my safe place, and such a beautiful example of unconditional love.
I love you forever, Mom.
Lub you,
Erin
Losing Kathy is an indescribable loss and pain for you and for all who knew her. My sympathy and hope that, in time, some comfort comes to you with your memories and the love she had for you.
Kathy was one of those moms we all loved, welcoming the neighborhood kids as part of her own family. From rides to the movie theater to raids on the refrigerator, a group of us always found our way to the Guy house because of the warmth of their home.
Even as we got older, Kathy was always the one who greeted me with a special “Hello, Chad,” said in a way that always carried a bit of laughter in it somehow and love. I can still hear it now. She made me feel welcome even when I intruded on family moments — Erin’s college graduation, the family cruise to the Caribbean, or even randomly joining them for dinner when we both happened to be in Southern California at the same time. There were probably a million more times I interrupted some family moment.
Thank you to the entire Guy family for allowing me to share a little bit of your wife and mom in my life. I am a better person for having known Kathy, and she will truly be missed.
Dear Kathy,
I can’t stop thinking about you...What keeps coming to me is how much you have radiated love and safety into your world. Not in a dramatic way, just in the way you’ve always carried yourself. You have always had this quiet steadiness that makes people feel like they can breathe and just be themselves around you. Kids, friends, in-laws, neighbors, teammates, random people who pop into your life…you just have a way of making everyone feel seen without making a show of it.
I saw it so clearly even when I was a little girl. I was seven years old, scared to stay the night at your house, trying to look brave, and you didn’t tell me I was in a safe place...you just created it. Your smile was so bright. Your house felt calm (even with three boys). Your presence felt warm. Because that is who you are…someone people can lean into without even realizing why.
Over the years, I watched you move through so many lives that way. You weren’t loud about your influence, but it was everywhere. On the sidelines of our softball games, in car rides, on vacations, in kitchens, over the phone, in holidays or celebrations, or even in ordinary moments that ended up being the most meaningful. You didn’t need the spotlight…because you were the ground beneath everyone else.
What strikes me most is how you shaped your children…Not by control, but by trust. You let them be who they were meant to be, stumble when they needed to, and find their way. That’s why they are who they are. Erin’s strength and heart. Mark’s grace and steadiness. And Brian…your patience with him, your belief in him, your willingness to let him grow into himself…that is why he is the man he is today…loyal, kind, hard-working…the man our kids look up to.
I also think a lot about John in this moment. You carried a loss that would have broken many people, and instead, you turned it into something that kept your family together. That wasn’t accidental. That was your character, your resilience, and your love. Because of you, your grandson carries a name that means something deep and good.
You have loved and cared for others your whole life, Kathy. Your love has traveled far and didn’t stop at your kids. It reached me, your grandchildren, your friends, the kids you watched play sports, the people who passed through your home. You made belonging feel easy, and family feel bigger than blood.
I just want you to know that the circle around you is strong because of you. The people who love you are better because of you. You created a kind of love that lives on in how your family treats one another and how we show up in the world. You are deeply loved by Jack, by your kids, by your grandkids, by me, by your siblings, by your friends, and by everyone who was lucky enough to be in your orbit.
Thank you for all you’ve brought into my life and the lives of everyone you’ve touched. You loved us good, and we felt every ounce of it.
Until next time, sweet lady…I love you.
Jody
Family tree
Service
A memorial service will be held at St. Nicholas Catholic Parish in Gig Harbor on April 23, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. The service will be a time to gather, reflect, and honor the life Kathy lived and the love she shared with so many.
Following the service, Kathy will be interred in a private ceremony at Haven of Rest Memorial Park, where she will be laid to rest beside her son, Johnathan.
In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Nicholas Catholic Parish in Kathy’s memory are welcome.
3510 Rosedale Street NW
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
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