Kathleen Doering Harding, 82, passed away Monday, March 24, 2014, peacefully at her home on Sullivan Springs.
Kathleen was born July 28, 1931, in Kalamazoo, Mich., to Anne Sullivan Doering and Maxton “Mac” Doering. At the age of 4, Kathleen and her family moved back to Clayton, Idaho, to be closer to the many aunts, uncles and cousins with whom she formed a special bond. They’d remain forever close.
Kathleen attended Clayton Elementary School for many years before moving “over the hill” to Ketchum (where she would live for almost 60 years). She attended Hailey High School, graduating in 1949. Upon graduation, she enrolled and studied music at the College of Saint Mary of the Wasatch, a Catholic women’s college located in Salt Lake City. There she developed her lovely soprano voice and sang for the college and KSL radio broadcasts. Kathleen sang often for weddings, anniversaries, and occasionally at Stanley during Saturday night dances. After living and studying in Moscow, Idaho, and for a short time back East, she returned to her beloved Idaho upon the sudden death of her father in 1953.
Kathleen worked for the Union Pacific’s Sun Valley Resort for many years. She married Glen Harding on New Year’s Day, 1958, and to this union was born five children. They owned Harding’s Trail Inn in Ketchum. Kathleen devoted so much of her time to their three boys and two girls. She loved Ketchum, and she made sure they grew to love and appreciate the beauty of the Salmon River country as well; it wasn’t unusual to pack up the station wagon at the spur of the moment with the kids, head to the Clayton area, and spend several days at a time at Sullivan Springs to allow them to experience the adventures and love she grew up with.
Kathleen returned to the family homestead (settled in 1889) for good in 1998. While sad to have moved away from her many dear friends in the Wood River Valley, she was happy to be home again. She felt blessed for the new and wonderful friendships she made and treated friends to samples of her delicious cookies and candies at different times of the year. She loved the family dinners when all the “kids” were home. Kathleen was an original board member of the Clayton Area Historical Association, and she was passionate to see the Clayton Museum come to fruition. She believed the people, families, places and history of this area should forever be honored and remembered.
Kathleen is survived by her son Bill (Charlotte) Harding, Bismarck, N.D.; daughter Anne Shannon (Don) Boesiger, Boise, Idaho; daughter Mary Kate (Steve Spiller) Claycomb, Hanford, Calif.; son Gene (Susan) Harding, Meridian, Idaho; son Pat Harding, Clayton, Idaho; grandchildren Meghan Claycomb, Santa Barbara, Calif., Bridget Claycomb, Williamsburg, Va., McKenna and Garrett Boesiger, Boise, Idaho, Johanna and Sabrina Harding, Pocatello, Idaho, Courtney Harding, Boise, Idaho, Kate and Harry Harding, Meridian, Idaho, and Keira Spiller, Hanford, Calif.; her cousins Jimmy (Thelma) Ennis, Caldwell, Idaho, Aileen (Tom) Chivers, Challis, Idaho, Jerry (Vangie) Ennis, Paul, Idaho, Doug (Carol) Lightfoot, Santa Rosa, Calif., and Janet (Frank) Schroeder, Dade City, Fla., and many special friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, sister Sarah (“Terry Anne”), brother Max (“Macky”), and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
At Kathleen’s request, there will be no services. Memorial contributions can be made to the Clayton Area Historical Association, P.O. Box 1, Clayton, ID, 83227, or please consider volunteering your time. Arrangements were under the direction of the Jones & Casey Funeral Home of Challis, Idaho (www.jonesandcaseyfh.com).
