Kathleen Mavourneen O’Dwyer

Kathleen Mavourneen O’Dwyer, beloved mother of Dorey, Sager, and Peter Kern passed away from natural causes on November 15, 2023 at her home in Missoula, Montana. 

Katie was the 8th of 10 children born to Horace and Helen Dwyer on April 14, 1954 in Anaconda, Montana. She grew up in Anaconda and Missoula and graduated from Hellgate High School in 1972.

Katie earned her degree in elementary education with an emphasis in early reading at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington in 1979. In 1980, she married and had her first of three children. From the time Katie was a very small child, she knew she wanted to be a mother. As a toddler, she would tell people, ‘I’m one of the mothers.”

Katie stayed home to raise her three children, where she made good use of her elementary ed degree, providing them with a strong educational foundation. Katie loved her children with every fiber of her being and made them the center of her universe. 

Katie’s three children and two grandchildren were her pride and joy. She would tell anyone who would listen about how proud she was of her children, and she showed off pictures of her precious grandbabies wherever she went. Being a mother and a Nonnie Bear were, by far, her favorite roles in this life.

Katie also loved plants and nature. She filled her home and balcony with many beloved plants and flowers. She loved going for drives in the mountains of Montana to soak up the beauty and serenity.

To those who knew her best, Katie was known for her loving heart and her welcoming demeanor. She considered every stranger a friend she hadn’t met yet. She gave freely of her love, and was always kind and generous to everyone she met.

Katie was preceded in death by her parents, siblings Ruth Anne Kelly, David Dwyer, Pat Dwyer, Ed Dwyer, and Tim Dwyer and her in laws, Jack Kelly, Peter Beese, and Donna Wright. 

She is survived by her three children and their spouses: Sager’s wife Keri Kern and Peter’s wife Hailey Kern; two grandchildren: 

Sager’s daughter, Lilah Kern and Peter’s son, Henry “Hank” Kern; siblings: Marilou Lewis, Michelle Beese, Denny (Tom) Tuin, and Bill Dwyer along with many nieces, and nephews and a wide array of friends who considered Katie family.

There will be a celebration of Katie’s life on Friday, December 1st at the Holiday Inn Downtown in Missoula from 5-7pm where parking will be validated. Family burial service will be on December 2nd at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Anaconda. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to the Missoula Food Bank in Katie’s name.