Kathleen Marie Shoaf

Kathleen Marie Carnes was born to Kenneth and Leslie Carnes of Compton, California at St. Francis Hospital in Lynwood, California. She arrived just a few minutes after her twin brother and only sibling, Don.

Kathy lived for a brief time, during her 5th grade year of school, in Utah because of a construction job on a dam which Kenneth’s company was working on at the time.

Upon their return to California, the family purchased a home in Downey and Kathy spent the remainder of her childhood years growing up in Downey. She attended Rives Elementary, West Junior High and graduated from Warren High in 1969. She attended Cerritos College for two years following high school.

During high school, Kathy worked at a small fabric store behind Spire’s restaurant on Firestone Blvd. in Downey. For a time there was even a friend of Kathy’s whom she had known since 7th grade who also worked at the fabric store. Her friend’s name was Denny Hocker. During her college years she was also employed at the Buffum’s department store in Lakewood. Employed by the Pacific Bell phone company for a number of years, she eventually found work at Southern California Edison. She was employed by Edison for almost 25 years, primarily at the office in Long Beach, prior to her retirement there.

Kathy met her husband, Dan, through his sister, Rose, who also worked at the phone company with Kathy. Kathy and Dan married on September 30, 1978 at Downey First Christian Church. Their marriage allowed Kathy to welcome Dan’s two children, son Scott and daughter Kim, into her life and heart.

She attended Downey First Christian Church for over 40 years and loved working in the nursery with the babies for many of those years. She was a talented seamstress and accomplished home cook. She was a loving and affectionate friend to her many friends and loved to spend time with them.

Kathy was known to be a loving and sweet person by all who knew her. Her faith and gentle personality saw her through the trials she experienced during her life, always caring more for others than for herself. She loved her husband of 45 years, her son and daughter, and loved being Memaw to her granddaughters.

She was a devoted caregiver to her family members over the years, including her mother, her father and Dan’s mother. She devoted many selfless hours to their care without complaint or concern for herself.

Kathy was predeceased by her parents, Ken and Leslie, and her brother, Don. She is survived by husband, Dan; son, Scott; daughter, Kim (Paul); and granddaughters, Kaitlyn and Lauren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the American Heart Association (heart.org) or the American Cancer Society (cancer.org).

A visitation for Kathleen will be held Wednesday, September 13, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Miller Mies Downey Mortuary, 10229 Paramount Blvd, Downey, California 90241. A Celebration of Life service will be held Thursday September 14, 2023 at 10:00 AM at the First Christian Church of Downey, 10909 New St, Downey, CA 90241. A time of fellowship will follow the service in the church café. A shelter service will occur Thursday, September 14, 2023 from 2:15 PM to 2:30 PM at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Blvd, Riverside, CA 92518.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.millermiesdowneymortuary.com for the Shoaf family.