Kathleen Derrick Pyper OBITUARY Kathleen Derrick Pyper, 79, passed away on December 5, 2017, in Boise, Idaho in the company of family in peace and love. Kathleen was born July 4, 1938 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Elwood Glade and Pearl Kimball Derrick, the second of four daughters, and raised in Omaha NE, Chicago IL and Phoenix AZ. She is a 1959 graduate of Brigham Young University (Provo UT) in Elementary Education after earning an associates degree from Phoenix Junior College and attending Arizona State University in Tempe. She taught 1st grade in Arizona and Utah. On June 6, 1960, Kathleen married John Romney Pyper in the LDS Mesa Arizona Temple. They raised their family, mostly in the Sagemont community of Houston TX, but also in Elwood UT, Champaign IL, Monmouth OR, West Lafayette IN, and Layton UT. In 1971 she moved to Houston TX with her husband, now Dr. John Pyper, Ph. D., and their first five children, into the developing Sagemont neighborhood. They later welcomed two more children into this world while living at their long-time residence (43 years) on Sagetrail Drive. In Houstons Southbelt area, while successfully raising her children, she taught a year at Humpty Dumpty Preschool (now Sunshine Childrens World) and worked from home in various pursuits, including tutoring children struggling in beginning reading & math skills and self-esteem. As her own children grew up, she was delighted to substitute teach in schools of Pasadena Independent School District. She held leadership positions in Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and a local troop of Girl Scouts of America. Over the course of her life, Kathy was afflicted by lung disease and many other accompanying illnesses, but never gave up. She loved mothering little ones, and despite ill health for most of her life, bore and raised seven beautiful children. Kathy and John valued education, especially music education; four of their children formed a string quartet in junior high and high school, one studied opera, three became music teachers, and all the grandchildren have studied music as well. Her children have earned a total of eight Bachelors and Masters Degrees. Kathleen Pyper was devoted to living the teachings of Jesus Christ, and teaching children about faith in God. A steadfast member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often serving as Visiting Teacher, Compassionate Service Leader in the womens Relief Society, and teaching many Sunday School lessons to both children and adults. Her favorite scripture was Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10). Her favorite motto was Choose The Right (CTR). Her favorite song was Kindness Begins with Me, by Clara McMaster: I want to be kind to everyone, for that is right, you see. So I say to myself, Remember this: Kindness begins with me. She never let a moment pass her by to testify of Gods tender mercies and share His goodness. She stood courageously for truth and righteousness, while also exhibiting kindness and compassion. Kathys special talent was in nurturing others. Many felt embraced by her love, welcomed into her home and fed at her table, counting her as their second mother. She was preceded in death by parents Elwood Glade Derrick and Pearl Emma Kimball Derrick of Salt Lake City UT, and sister Yvonne Fisher of Danville, CA. She is survived by husband Dr. John Romney Pyper of Boise, ID; seven children--Marguerite aka Peggy (Scott) Simpson of Eagle, ID; David Kimball (Rhonda Smith) Pyper of Nampa, ID; Daniel Romney (Nancee Lindquist) Pyper of Houston, TX; Deborah Elizabeth (Corey) Hansen of Kenmore, WA; Rebecca Vilate (Paul) Busselberg of Houston, TX and Rexburg, ID; John Derrick (Michelle Spedden) Pyper of Friendswood, TX; Emma Kathleen (Michael) Enszer of Sioux City, IA; twenty-five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; sisters Janice Curtis of Cedar Hills, UT and Dorothy (Roger) Felix of Pleasant Grove, UT. A Memorial Service will be held Friday, January 26, 2018, at 7 pm at the Clear Lake LDS Church, 1802 Gunwhale Rd., Houston, Texas 77062. Funeral services were held Friday, January 5, 2018, 1:00 pm at the LDS Church, 6655 N. Meridian Road, Meridian ID 83646, with viewings January 4, 2018, 4:00-6:00 pm at Bowman Funeral Home, 10254 W. Carlton Bay Dr. Garden City ID 83714 and 12 noon 12:45 pm before the service at the church. Interment at Dry Creek Cemetery in Boise, ID was Friday, January 5, 2018 following the funeral.