Kathleen L. DeWitt

Kathleen Lorna DeWitt (affectionately known as Biddles) passed away peacefully at home in Ft. Collins, Colorado on Sept 19, 2025 from complications of lung disease. She spent the previous day in full display of her resilience, creativity, feistiness, and humor. She was the epitome of “young at heart”. Kathy was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on October 14,1948. She was the youngest adopted daughter of Julia and Richard DeWitt and had many fond memories of her early years with her sister Annie and brother Skip in Holland, Michigan. Her hankering for independence, big pastures, chickens, and most of all horses was fostered on their family properties in Michigan and Texas. As a teenager, Kathy attended Stoneleigh-Burnham School in Massachusetts. While making lifelong friends, she became an accomplished equestrian winning numerous titles riding Hunter/Jumpers across the Midwest and East Coast Circuits. Kathy also spent some time in the late 1960s telling her family she was attending Colorado Women’s College, but her stories inform otherwise. Most of her college days were spent skiing in Vail, seeing concerts in Denver, relishing her autonomy and sowing her wild oats. Her three children Jennifer, Riley and Katie were born in the 1970’s. She was a most loving and generous mother and all 3 of her kids inherited her gift of creativity, individualism, and a sprinkle of her sass. In 1995 Kathy moved permanently from Michigan to Colorado and joined Jen as the co-owner of the Happy Horse Tack & Saddle Shop. They recently celebrated their 25th Anniversary and proudly the business is one of the few remaining independently owned, women run, full service tack shops. In 2000 she met the love of her life, Malcolm Hughes. Native to Wales, Mal moved to Colorado and brought his magic tricks, jokes, and much deserved adoration to Kathy’s life. He was her rock and their 25 years together were her happiest. With him, there was a peaceful presence in her life and together they have enjoyed traveling around America and Europe, attending countless Josh Gorban Concerts and having a grand time with family and friends. From an early age, Kathy had a passion for adventure and some highlights include trips to Russia, Greece, Turkey, Italy, Scotland, and in 2007 a most memorable trip to the Netherlands. With her beloved sister Annie, they found the hometowns of all four of their adoptive grandparents. They were great travel companions and the trip galvanized their deep bond. Kathy’s list of talents has no end. Her way of showing love was through food and handmade items. She was a superb cook and anyone lucky enough to experience her ribs or welsh cakes knows her mastery. The perfection of her quilts and crochet blankets are museum quality. There was no end to what she could sew, from the finest tailored clothing to the most abstract and hilarious Halloween costumes. Her generosity was legendary and she spread her kindness around the world. She could light up any room with her warmth and make everyone blush with her wit and sense of humor. Kathy had an encyclopedic memory of every place she traveled, every song lyric from the 1960’s, every pattern on Port Merion China, every fiber in a skein of yarn, and every person that touched her heart. She is survived by her loving husband Malcolm, her sister Annie, her three children and two sons in law, David and Lucas. Her five grandchildren Adrian, Hauna, Teva, Zoe, and Emmitt were her pride and joy and whenever they said “I love you Grammy” she would always remind them “I love you more”. A Celebration of Life will be held on Oct 14th from 3-6PM at the family property, 4000 Buckskin Trail in LaPorte, Colorado. This will be a celebration in its truest form with games, snacks, and music….just how Kathy would want it to be. If you would like to speak or perform at this event please contact katiedirkse@hotmail.com

Kathleen L. DeWitt

September 19, 2025