Obituary for Katherine Lynn (Westfield) Phelps "Kat" February 24, 1961 – July 17, 2025

Katherine Lynn (Westfield) Phelps, known lovingly to her friends as Kat , passed away peacefully in Arcadia, Florida on July 17, 2025, at the age of 64, after a courageous and graceful battle with cancer. True to the way she lived, Kathy met her final journey with strength, dignity, and deep love for the world around her.

Born in Reno, Nevada, Kathy was the daughter of Dolores (Chambers) Westfield and the late James Delon Westfield. After graduating high school, she proudly served in the United States Army before earning a degree from Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her professional career was marked by dedication and excellence, most notably in her long-standing role as a Database Administrator with Ocean Spray. After retiring, she explored her creative side, finding success in book design and seeing her name in print—something that brought her great joy.

Kathy had a kind and sensitive disposition, matched by a fierce determination to act on the causes she held dear . A natural empath, she extended her love and care to people, animals, and the environment. With her warm smile, keen brown eyes, and the uncanny ability to find anything—or anyone—that needed attention, Kathy brought clarity and comfort to those around her.

Passionate about conservation and sustainability, Kathy lived in alignment with her values every single day. She and her beloved husband Frank were known for putting up and maintaining bluebird houses at Ocean Spray's corporate headquarters, a small act with lasting impact that reflected their shared love for nature.

Kathy and Frank married on May 19, 1990, and enjoyed more than 30 wonderful years together. They built a life rich in adventure, love, and purpose—from constructing a log cabin in Plympton, Massachusetts, to selling their brick-and-mortar home in Florida and exploring the country in their RV. In 2020, they settled into an environmentally friendly Flex Home in northern New Mexico—the second of its kind—blazing trails with their off-grid, self-sustainable lifestyle. They continued their travels between New Mexico in the summer and Arcadia, Florida in the winter. Kathy cherished her cozy mini-loft Forest River home in Arcadia, a space she made uniquely her own and was surrounded by a community of neighbors that loved her.

Kathy was preceded in death by her beloved husband Frank Phelps, who passed away on December 24, 2020, and her father James Delon Westfield. She is survived by her devoted mother, Dolores (Chambers) Westfield; her sisters Susan C. Hendy, Robin Westfield, and Vicki Nurse; six nephews, one niece, and five grand-nephews and nieces. She is also lovingly remembered by Frank's children, Carol (Phelps) Merriman and Tyler Phelps, and his two grandchildren.

Those who knew Kathy will remember her as a can-do spirit with a soft heart, a sharp mind, and a deep-rooted love for the Earth and all its creatures. Her life was a testament to compassion in action and joy in simplicity. She will be profoundly missed.

A celebration of Kathy's life will be planned at a later date. In honor of her environmental legacy, the family suggests planting a tree, supporting conservation efforts, enjoy the new day greetings of bird songs in the morning, or simply taking a moment to care for a birdhouse in your neighborhood.