Kathleen "Kathy" M. Farley

kathleen

December 18, 1936 ~ May 23, 2023

Born in: Denver, CO
Resided in: Pueblo, CO

Kathleen “Kathy” M. Farley (December 18, 1936-May 23, 2023)

Kathleen Maybelle (Murphy) Farley, an iconic Coloradoan and a proud Puebloan, died Tuesday, May 23, 2023, surrounded by her loving family and Wonderdog, Jake. In her 86 years, Kathy left an indelible mark on our State and the hearts of those who knew her. Born in Denver to Maxson and Doris Murphy, Kathy cherished her childhood memories, especially the time she spent with her best friend and late brother, Dick. Her parents’ emphasis on discussing current events and politics at the dinner table shaped her into the strong role model she became on local, state, and national levels.

Kathy graduated from Denver’s East High School and went on to earn her BA in History from CU-Boulder. While a Buff, she met her late husband, Thomas T. Farley, who couldn’t resist inquiring about that “cute blonde” outside the Delta Gamma sorority house. In 1960, Kathy and Tom married and moved to Pueblo, CO where they built a family and embarked on a lifelong journey of advocacy for Colorado’s people and beautiful landscape while fully dedicating their lives to public service.

Kathy fell in love with Pueblo and fostered inclusiveness and championed the cultural and economic development of her treasured city. She became an activist for change, serving on many foundations, commissions, and boards to get things done. With Pat Kelly and John E. Hill at her side, she worked diligently to establish Pueblo’s Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center. As its first chairperson, she helped handpick a core group with the likes of Sandy Stein and Maggie Divelbiss. Together they broke ground to build and sustain what has become the cultural heart of Southern Colorado.

Throughout her life, Kathy trailblazed a path for women and the people of Southern Colorado with a string of firsts: first Puebloan asked to join the Colorado Women’s Forum and later served as its president, first Southern Coloradoan to lead the Colorado State Parks Board, first woman to serve as a Pueblo County Commissioner, and the first executive director of the Southern Colorado Community Foundation.

Kathy, a political juggernaut and servant-leader, also worked as a community development specialist for the late U.S. Representative, Ray Kogovsek. Alongside Nancy Pelosi and others, she served on the Democratic National Committee and National Executive Committee as well as the Democratic National Steering Committee for both the Clinton and Gore Presidential campaigns. Her forceful voice, collaborative mindset, and extraordinary vision made a positive difference.

After leaving public office, Kathy worked with powerhouse organizations such as the El Pomar Foundation’s Statewide Non-Profit Awards Committee and the Pueblo Community College Foundation to seed and develop key projects and educational scholarships. She was inducted into the Pueblo Hall of Fame in 2005.

For six decades, Kathy was unselfish with her time and gave generously. She continually did small things to make grand things possible. Together with her fellow Pueblo Conservancy District directors Pat Kelly and Gus Sandstrom, Kathy moved water, hearts, and minds to establish the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk Project and was instrumental in the development of Pueblo’s beautiful and inspirational Riverwalk. As one of her proudest achievements, Kathy fondly remarked, “It’s something that everyone can enjoy.”

In her last decade, the Women’s Foundation of Colorado recognized her for her many contributions to further women’s rights in Colorado. And in May 2023, Kathy received the Special Community Achievement Award from the Pueblo Historical Society for her efforts to document county history and for her lifetime support and creation of local cultural heritage.

Kathy was great fun and will be deeply missed. Her courage, Irish wit, stylish fashion, unbounded curiosity, penchant for travel, sense of adventure, and infectious love of the arts, good food, new places, and good times with friends are legendary. Her wisdom and sharp insights educated many other activists and led to solutions for campaigns, policymakers, and legislators throughout her career.

Kathy is survived by: her Wonderdog, Jake; her children Fr. John B., Michael (Stella), Kelly, and Anne Farley; her grandchildren Maria (Mike Nichols), Isabella, and Thomas Farley; her first great-grandchild Murphy – her namesake and great joy; her nephew Kevin Murphy and niece Sharon (Eric) Helm.

Kathy enjoyed her friends who made her smile and laugh throughout the years. Kathy also reserves a special shoutout to her Outward Bound sisterhood established in 1985 – the River Rats!

The family expresses great appreciation to her medical team: Dr. Meghan Timmerman and staff; Dr. Shin Yin Lee of CU Memorial Hospital; and Denver Hospice for their end-of-life care. Most of all, the family thanks Virginia Lopez, Kenia Urias, KB Avery, and Michaelyn Torres for their warmth and kind caregiving to Kathy during her last 5 months of life as she battled lung cancer.

We love you, KMF! May God’s blessings go with you.

In lieu of flowers or food, Kathy asks that donations be made to:

HARP: https://www.puebloriverwalk.org/ways-to-give/

Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center: http://sdc-arts.org/ways-give

Pueblo Community College Foundation: www.puebloccfoundation.org and click the Donate tab

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, June 7, at 11 am, at Christ the King Catholic Church, 1708 Horseshoe Dr, Pueblo, CO 81001. Following Mass, the celebration of Kathy’s life will continue at the Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center. Online condolences, www.MontgomerySteward.com

Services

Memorial Mass: June 7, 2023 11:00 am

Christ The King Church
1708 Horseshoe Dr.
Pueblo, CO 81001

719-542-1552

Life Celebration: June 7, 2023 1:00 pm

Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center
210 N. Santa Fe Ave.
Pueblo, CO 81003

719-542-1552

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Memories Timeline

Guestbook

  1. I feel very lucky and blessed to have met Kathy Farley and her family at the later part of her life. She was always a great lady, a personality and had great energy and what I would call pizazz. I hope you are smiling down on all of us Kathy.

  2. I hadn’t seen Kathy for over 20 years, but I know we could have picked up where we left off. She was a great lady and I’m proud to have known her. Rest in peace.

  3. Always a dear friend. She will be missed by many. Loving and healing thoughts to her family.

  4. I became Kathy’s neighbor in 2015 but feel like I have known her all my life. We shared many “porch talks” solving the world’s problems. She is missed so very much.

  5. I am fortunate to have known Kathy my entire life. Along with our family we shared many great memories including an amazing trip to Lake Powell when I was very young and many hours of swimming in the Farley pool. What a great force that shaped Pueblo and what a great friend who was always supportive of our endeavors. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and we are celebrating the blessing of knowing KMF.

  6. Kathy was a wonderful woman, full of love and dedication to family, friends and our community.

  7. Having just found out about Kathy’s passing, I am both saddened and contain a warm place in my heart for her. Saddened, yet smiling and grateful that her loveliest of hearts knows no grief, no pain. She was invariably quite kind and giving of her time and her heart to both Mary and myself. More than a few times, Kathy opened her door to us during her family holidays. Both Mary and I will miss her bottomlessly, but we will be comforted, knowing that she has been welcomed into a greater universe. Hod love you, Kathy; I know we did.

  8. My condolences to the family of Kathy,
    Your mother had a truly kind and caring way of letting you know what you had to say was worth her time to listen to.
    I always had a wonderful time talking to her and she made it easier to resolve issues and problems.
    Kathy’s passing leaves a large hole in Pueblo’s heart!

  9. My sincerest condolences go out to John, Mike, Kelly and Ann, your Mom was one of a kind. She always had the time to stop and visit when seeing her out and about and was genuinely interested in catching up with your life. The world is missing a good soul and a classy human being. May God bless.

  10. We, the board of Pueblo African American Concern Organization (PAACO), send heartfelt condolences to Kathy’s family. May God give you strength and comfort during your time of grief. Kathy was an awesome and amazing woman. Her support and generous contributions to our scholarship program were invaluable. She was truly an advocate for higher education and the Pueblo community.
    RIP Kathy,
    Carl Wright, President and Board Members of PAACO

  11. My sincerest condolences go out to Mrs. Farley’s children who I’ve known since we were children ourselves. Always remember the love she has taught you.

  12. Kathy was a wonderful and caring supporter of all things Pueblo. She made an impact on many things that have proved to be a huge benefit to all citizens of Pueblo. She was a kind, generous, uncomplaining, gracious, classy lady. Those who considered her a friend were honored to say that. I spent many hours with her in service to the Pueblo City-County Health Department and my admiration only grew through that time. It was a great surprise to learn in 2018 I began her neighbor. What joy.

  13. I met Kathy through her daughter Kelly in Kindergarten. I loved playing at their beautiful castle home. I’ll never forget the beautiful baby doll she gave me.

  14. Kathy was an amazing lady. Pueblo was so fortunate to have her with her fantastic ideas!
    Rest in Peace, Kathy. You are missed.

  15. Kathy was a trooper and an absolutely unstoppable person when she decided to get something done. She was amazing and I am delighted she and I were friends and walking our little dogs together for so many years. Rest in Peace, Kathy.


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