Kathryn Mulnix

“It is not the strength of the body, but the strength of the spirit” – J.R.R Tolkien

A fifth-generation Colorado native, Kathryn Morrell Mulnix was born at home in Loveland, Colorado on July 6th, 1994. Many knew her as Katja, Kat, or Rynn. She passed peacefully on June 9th, 2022.

She attended Liberty Common, Traut Core Knowledge, Kinard Junior High, and Fort Collins High School. She played club volleyball from the age of 12 to 18 and was a 4-year varsity volleyball player at her high school. She was a fierce competitor and loyal teammate.

Kathryn was on a full-ride scholarship at the collegiate level for volleyball when chronic illness forced her to leave during her freshman year. She later attended Front Range Community College where she earned her Associates degree and later completed Cosmetology school, where she found her passion for the beauty industry. Kathryn had a unique and independent sense of style, she could often be found wearing long flowing skirts or dresses, corsets, and other clothing items that seemed to be from another era.

An early and voracious reader, she returned to fantasy classics like The Hobbit and Harry Potter series throughout her life. Kathryn had a sophisticated sense of humor from a young age. She and her sister Martha enjoyed watching Monty Python films, Mel Brooks’ classics, and always loved to sing together. She enjoyed coffee and tea dates with her brother John, who was always up for buying snacks for his little sisters and their friends.

A deeply spiritual, old soul who loved her time in nature, Kathryn had an insatiable curiosity about all living things, the universe, and the meaning of existence. She was an animal lover, especially of her cats Maria, Winston, and Tippy. Her eclectic collection of dried flowers, butterflies, feathers, rocks, crystals, and preserved animal specimens are evidence of her many adventures. Whether making new discoveries in solitude or enjoying the company of her many friends, she loved exploring the outdoors through camping, biking, tubing, hiking, shooting her bow, and gardening. When health permitted Kathryn attended the Renaissance Festival almost every year of her life.

Kathryn thrived in her work and loved to share her knowledge with others. Her coworkers, clients, family, and friends all appreciated her enthusiasm to help them do (and look) their best. She found value in her career, which gave her a sense of normalcy and purpose in a life filled with health obstacles.

With courage and tenacity, she fought a ten-year battle with lupus nephritis.

Even during the most challenging aspects of her health struggles, she sought to find joy and light in the darkest moments of her life.

All who met Kathryn were drawn to her exuberant personality, infectious smile, contagious laugh, and beautiful, big, blue eyes. She was generous and always treated others with love and respect.

Kathryn is survived by her mother, Jill Jones (Rod); her father, Brett Mulnix; her brother, John (Simone); her sister, Martha (Jordan); her godmother, Christina Zerillo; as well as two grandparents, many aunts, uncles, cousins, and so many loving friends. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother, Martha Pyle; her paternal grandfather, Dr. John Mulnix; and her beloved cats, Maria and Winston.

Due to the intimate space at the Natural Funeral Home in Lafayette, CO the viewing is limited from 12:30-2:00pm on Monday June 13th. However, all are welcome to Kathryn’s Celebration of Life Service the evening of Saturday July 9th, 2022. More information will be forthcoming on family members’ Facebook pages.

Donations in her memory can be made to the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program (https://www.rmrp.org/) in Fort Collins, CO. Please consider registering as an organ donor in honor of Kathryn.

“Don’t adventures ever have an end? I suppose not. Someone else always has to carry on the story.”

– Bilbo Baggins, The Fellowship Of The Ring, J.R.R Tolkien