Kathleen Ann Huntsman, 44, sister of former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., and daughter of Utah industrialists/philanthropist Jon Huntsman Sr., died Tuesday, April 20, 2010, from complications following a cardiac arrest, family members said.
Huntsman was born Jan. 5, 1966, in Glendale, Calif. Her early years and schooling were spent in California; Washington, D.C. (where her parents were serving an LDS Church mission); and Salt Lake City, Utah. She attended Brigham Young University and the University of Utah where she affiliated with Chi Omega sorority.
Huntsman is survived by her children: James (19), Kate (18), Christopher (16), Mark (14), Amanda (12), Rosie (11) and Lexie (9); parents Jon M. and Karen Huntsman; husband of two months Gaines Ashley Boyd; siblings Jon (Mary Kaye) Huntsman, Jr., Beijing; Peter (Brynn) Huntsman, Houston; Christena (Richard) Durham, Salt Lake City; David (Michelle) Huntsman, Salt Lake City; Paul (Cheryl) Huntsman, Salt Lake City; James (Marianne) Huntsman, Houston; Jennifer (David) Parkin, Houston; Mark Huntsman, Salt Lake City. She was married to James A. Huffman from 1989 until 2009.
Family members said she was proud of her heritage in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (One of her grandfathers was the late Apostle David B. Haight, Quorum of the Twelve).
A family statement read: "Her affection and devotion for her children overrode all the personal needs of her own. She was both a pianist and a creative artist."
Funeral services will be at noon Saturday, April 24, 2010, at the Monument Park Stake Center, 1320 Wasatch Drive, Salt Lake City. The viewing will be at the Monument Park Stake Center Friday evening, April 23, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. There will be no public viewing prior to the services Saturday.
Family members said Huntsman served honorably on the staff of the Huntsman Cancer Foundation. In fact, they said Huntsman passed away in a special patient room in the Huntsman Cancer Hospital she helped decorate in 2003.
In lieu of flowers, family members asked that donations be made in her name to the Huntsman Cancer Foundation.