Mary Kay Belnap

It is with great sorrow that the children of Mary Kay Belnap announce her death on Thursday, September 9, 2021. Our mom was the very best person we know, and the world seems a little less bright with her passing. However, she taught us by the way she lived to be strong in adversity, and we are comforted by our belief that Mom and Dad and Bryden are all together again. Mary Kathryn Taylor was born in Bakersfield, California, to E. Wayne and Margaret Sutherland Taylor, on October 1, 1944. Mom was the second of four children in her family, and her love of family was born in her home. Julie and Laurie, mom’s sisters, were her best friends, and although the girls felt that their baby brother, Brian, was their parents’ favorite, they adored him. The Taylor family gathered often with their Taylor and Sutherland extended families, and spent idyllic days and evenings in a close-knit neighborhood in Bakersfield, or camping and fishing in the mountains. Mary Kay was educated in Bakersfield, and graduated from East Bakersfield High School, where she was a song leader and played violin in the orchestra. After graduation, Mom attended Brigham Young University, in Provo, Utah, where she studied elementary education and special education for the blind, and played in the symphonic orchestra. It was in Zoology lab that Mary Kay met a handsome farm boy. Mary Kay and Jerry Belnap fell in love over French fries and cows and were married on September 2, 1964. The pampered city girl became a farmer’s darling wife. Jerry and Mary Kay soon began raising their family and moving through many of the western states before settling in Cache Valley, Utah. After many years in Lewiston, Utah, the family moved to Boistfort, Washington, where Dad was employed as the herdsman of a large dairy. In Boistfort, our family gained our angel brother, Bryden. Bryden was definitely a surprise, but the perfect gift for our family. Mom was Bryden’s primary caregiver for all of his 31 years. Bryden faced many challenges due to Down Syndrome, and Mom and Dad stood with him all his life. After Dad’s passing three years ago, Mom took all of Bry’s care into her hands, and we are inspired and humbled by her example of selfless love and commitment. Mary Kay was raised in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Her life was marked by service to God and love for all of his children. Mom’s last calling was as the secretary in the Young Women’s organization; it was devastating to her when she became too ill to continue to serve. It was vitally important to Mom to be a valiant disciple of Jesus Christ. Our mom personified love. Mom loved generously, and that generosity of spirit brought many souls into our family. The circle of Mom’s love was ever-expanding. Mary Kay had never spent a night in the hospital except to have her babies until her cancer surgery in March, 2021. She was strong and healthy all of her life before cancer came calling in November 2020. Mom loved her cancer team, Dr. Robertson, Dr. O’Boyle, the caregivers at the infusion center, and especially Dr. Bethany Sweet. Our whole family expresses our deepest gratitude and love for this team, and Dr. Sweet. Thank you for loving our precious mom, and giving us more time with her. Mary Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Wayne and Margaret Taylor; brother, Richard Taylor; sister, Julia Ann Chambers; grandson, Taylor Raymond Brady; our dear dad, Gerald Mac Belnap; and our perfect brother, Bryden William Belnap. Mom is survived by her brother, Brian Taylor; sister, Laurel Kowssar; and children: Jeri Kay (Stephen) Brady, Scott Belnap, Darin (Kellee) Belnap, Sandy Falter, Kyle (Tracy) Belnap, Barbi Mecham, Manu (Sterling) Hatch, and Cody (Jessica) Peters. The grandchildren of Jerry and Mary Kay are: Stephanie and Matthew Wood, and their children, Taylor, Mattisyn, and Amelia Grace; Alyssa and Scott Self and their son, Henry; Jordan and Claire Brady and their son, Kade; Ashleigh and Jeremy Butler and their sons, Jackson and McCoy; Brittany and Nate Leavitt; Sarah Brady; Colin and Brooke Belnap and their children, Sebastian, Lucas, Paige, and Tiberius, Karli and Devin Soelberg and their son, Cohen; DJ Belnap; McKell Belnap; Kylee and Luke Maughan and their children, Brody, Piper and Rowen; Lauren and PJ Pace and their children, Charlie, Maelie, and Lola; Brooklyn and Yanni Beckdol; Austin and Tracy Falter and their son, Turner; Adam Falter; Emmalee Falter; Harlee Ann and Christopher Woodbrey and their daughter, Seraphina; Cassie and Jake Rawlins; Marissa Belnap; Cali Mae Belnap; Sydney Mecham; Ian Mecham; Owen Mecham; Ava Mecham; Hannah Hatch; Cooper Hatch; Parker Hatch; Lili Hatch; Ava Peters; Cohen Peters; Layla Peters and Gemma Peters. Services for Mary Kay will be held on Saturday, September 25, 2021, 10:00 a.m. at the Nisqually LDS Chapel, 9341 4th Avenue NE, Lacey, WA 98516. Please leave condolences or share memories and photos on the Tribute Wall to the left.