Kathleen Margaret Cunningham

She was born on April 14th, 1949 to Eugene and Eileen Leslie in Bishop, CA, where she grew up. She eventually moved to Barstow, CA, where she would finish and graduate high school and attend Barstow Community College.

She met and married the love of her life, Stephen Cunningham, in 1976 and he brought with him two sons, Steve and Ben, whom she loved from the moment she met them. In 1977 they welcomed their daughter, Dianna.

Kathleen was a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother who loved her family with every ounce of her heart and soul and she made sure they knew that every day of their lives.

Kathleen led a very full and happy life. She worked for Goldstone Deep Space Communications, Edwards Airforce Base, Marine Corp. Logistics Base, and eventually became a nail technician in the 80’s, doing the nails of many actresses who filmed movies and television shows in the Mojave dessert. Her most favorite job was as a P.E teacher and cheer coach for Mount Saint Joseph’s Catholic School in Barstow, CA, where she could be close to her daughter, Dianna, and the church.

Steve and Kathy moved to Washoe Valley, NV, in 1990 and both worked for the El Dorado Hotel and Casino. She loved to travel and loved to take family vacations to Klamath and Crescent City, CA. She took many crazy road trips with her daughter and grandkids- almost always landing them at the beach or Disneyland.

Ever since she could walk, she was always involved with horses and when she was younger she was a part of all the local rodeos in the Southern California region, and later on became a volunteer with the Reno Rodeo. She loved to crochet, write, make jewelry, read, collect antiques, fish, gardening, baking, and absolutely loved all things Disney and Star Wars, but her most favorite thing to do was spend every minute she could with her family and her chihuahuas, Johnny and Josie.

She had an amazing sense of humor and could make light of just about anything that was thrown her way. She always tried to put a positive spin on everything. She was tough as nails, and she proved that during her fight with cancer.

When she decided it was time to go home, she took a huge piece of all of us with her and she will be forever missed and loved for all eternity.

She is survived by her dad, Gene Leslie Sr; son, Steve Cunningham Jr and daughter-in-law, Scheri; daughter, Dianna and son-in-law Mike; granddaughter, Stephanie (Justin), grandson, Dakota, granddaughter, Tiffany (Cote), and grandson, Dylan (Lexie); and three great-grandkids: Kenzly, Kayden, and Jorden. She is also survived by sister, Patricia Leslie, and brother, Gene Leslie Jr.; several nieces and nephews; Aunt, Pat; sister-in-law, Vicky; and many, many cousins. She is preceded in death by her mom, Eileen; husband, Steve; son, Ben; brother-in-law, Dave; niece, Lane; and several aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins.

May the road rise to meet you

may the wind be always at your back,

may the sun shine warm upon your face,

and the rain fall soft upon your fields,

and until we meet again, may God

hold you in the hollow of his hand.

Mom,

Thank you for everything, I will love you always and forever.

- Dianna.