February 9, 1928 – October 27, 2022
On Thursday, October 27, 2022, the 94-and-a-half-year-old beautiful, generous, caring,
creative, tender hearted, teddy bear loving, piano playing Kitty Ellen Honaker left this
earthly life, and was reunited with her sweet husband of 71 years, Bill Honaker, in their
eternal mansion on high. As sad as her friends and family are to no longer have Kitty in
their physical presence each day, they all thrive in the knowledge that she is, in true
Kitty fashion, running the show on the other side of the veil, and they know,
wholeheartedly, that she is serving alongside her elder brother, our Savior, Jesus Christ,
with all of her heart, might, mind, and strength.
Kitty was born on February 9, 1928 in Bluefield, West Virginia to Robert and Virginia
(Godsey) Tidwell. Kitty’s childhood was filled with love and laughter. As a young girl,
Kitty enjoyed going to school, spending time with her grandparents, playing the piano,
riding in airplanes with her father who was a pilot, and spending time with her baby
sister, Boots. In May of 1946, Kitty met and fell in love with a local boy who had just
returned from serving in the Marine Corps in World War II. His name was Bill Honaker,
and by October of the following year Kitty and Bill were engaged. They were then
married on Christmas Eve, 1947.
Kitty and Bill had two children: Karen who was born in 1949, and Randy who was born in
1951. They moved from West Virginia to Arizona in the fall of 1954. It was while in
Arizona that the family was introduced to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. On September 30, 1956, Kitty and Bill were baptized into the church and, as Kitty
stated, “life really beings now, because it has a purpose.” Kitty, Bill, and their children
were later sealed as an eternal family in the Mesa Arizona Temple.
In 1960, Kitty received her teaching degree from Grand Canyon University, and her
lifelong love of teaching began. Kitty taught everything from second grade through
junior high, but her creativity and her passion for teaching truly began when she was
offered a position to teach music. It was there that Kitty was able to help put on plays,
musicals, and choir performances that are all still talked about to this very day. Music
was Kitty’s love language, and it touched the hearts of all who were blessed enough to
hear it.
After 27 years of teaching, and blessing the lives of countless students, Kitty retired.
Being one who never liked to sit still for long, Kitty’s retirement was focused around
serving others, as she devoted much of her time, talents, and energy to volunteering at
several local organizations. Kitty was President of the Grandmother’s Club, spent
numerous hours helping to run Solecito Services, and served as a faithful member of the
Lion’s Club for many years. She kept her love of music alive by playing piano in a local
band called the “Jolly Diggers”, and she helped to bring musical theater to life in Peoria
by donating both her time, and money to Theater Works, and Arizona Broadway
Theater. Kitty and Bill helped send numerous young adults on missions for The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and loved spending time serving in both the Mesa
and Phoenix LDS Temples.
Kitty loved the Lord, her family, and had a zest for life that could not be matched. She
was truly a friend to all, and her love, light, and friendship will be missed greatly.
Kitty is preceded in death by her husband, Bill Honaker, her parents, Virginia and Robert
Tidwell, and her sister and brother-in-law Boots and Jack Richardson. She is survived by
her daughter, Karen Honaker, her son Randy (Kay) Honaker, her grandchildren Ryan
(Mary Kay) Honaker, Kimberly (Mike) Felix, Kiersten Honaker, and Ellen (Alan) Johnson,
as well as her great grandchildren Aaron (Maddie) Felix, and Lily Felix.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00AM on Saturday, November 12th, 2022 at The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 7871 W. Acoma Ave, Peoria, AZ 85382. A visitation
with the family will be held that morning at the same location at 9:00AM. Kitty’s family
invites all who knew and loved Kitty to join them in the celebration of her life, and
legacy.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.17