Katy Willadson

Services for Katy Willadson, 74, of Aiken, SC, will be Friday, November 17, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton, officiated by her cousin, Delbert Morgan. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be at the Salem Cemetery in rural Chariton.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may directed in Katy's name, to the Almost Home Animal Rescue (113 East Lincoln Avenue, Chariton, Iowa 50049).

Kathryn Louise Dean was born February 18, 1949, to John D. Dean and Dorothy Louise (Morgan) Dean in Wichita Falls, Texas. Her early childhood was spent in Wichita Falls before her family moved to Midland, Texas. Katy attended school in Midland and graduated from Midland High School.  Katy raised her only child, Tanya, in Midland

Using her business degree, she worked for Dresser Atlas and HNG Oil. In 1987, Katy moved to California briefly. In 1995, she relocated to Ruidoso, New México, where she enjoyed working at The Lincoln County Museum and meeting her loving husband in 1998, Max E. “Gene” Willadson. Gene and Katy were married November 27, 1999, in Branson, Missouri. Katy loved to travel, some of her favorite trips were taken alongside her husband, Gene, to Charleston, SC; Biltmore House in Asheville, NC; Savannah, Georgia; Ruidoso, New Mexico; Galena, Illinois; and the Great Smokey Mountains. Katy also looked forward to time away to travel and visit her daughter, Tanya, in California with her family and friends. 

Katy loved the holidays and looked forward to decorating their home throughout the year. She was a collector of antiques, was extremely talented at cross-stitch, was a great homemaker, baker, and cook. She also kept an impressive garden and flower beds. More than anything, Katy enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren and her fur babies, Kassie and Katie. 

Katy passed away peacefully in her sleep on November 2, 2023. She will be dearly missed. Surviving family members left to cherish her memory include her beloved husband, Max E. Willadson; daughter, Tanya R. Lozano (Mike); her grandchildren: Kathryn (her namesake), Michael and Heather; her step-daughters, Kimberly Franks (Michael) and Kristin Knowles; her grandchildren: Abigail Turner, Thatcher and Embrie Franks; sister-in-law, Max Willadson; along with many other family and friends.