Katie Amanda Woolstenhulme

Katie Amanda Cooper Woolstenhulme, age 49 of Apex, North Carolina, passed away peacefully after a courageous five-year battle with Multiple System Atrophy, a rare neurodegenerative disease. Katie was born on May 9, 1976, in St. Anthony, Idaho, to Van J. Cooper and Cindy Smith Knuth. She spent her early years along the Snake River, where she enjoyed an active childhood with her six siblings. At age 15, Katie moved with her mother and siblings to the Cottonwood area of Salt Lake City, later settling in Sandy, Utah. She graduated from Cottonwood High School in 1994.

After high school, Katie moved to Twin Falls, Idaho to pursue a nursing degree at the College of Southern Idaho. While there, she lived with her beloved grandparents, Lee and Wilma Smith, forming a close and cherished bond with them. During this time, she also met her dear friend Louise Kirlew of Milton Keynes, England, who had moved to Twin Falls to be a nanny for a local family. The two of them quickly became lifelong friends and shared laughter, adventure, and a friendship that brought joy to all who knew them.

It was also in Twin Falls where Katie met the love of her life, and eternal companion Wes Woolstenhulme, her husband and best friend of nearly 30 years. A college trip to Sun Valley in February 1995 landed them in the same van along with each other's friends. A shared chair by the fire at the Sun Valley Lodge along with Wes’ ice skating skills sealed the deal. After the trip, their friend groups were hanging out together daily and Katie and Wes quickly paired off. After nearly a year and a half of fun and romance, Katie and Wes were sealed and married in the Salt Lake City Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on June 27, 1996.

The couple began their life together in Salt Lake City’s Sugarhouse neighborhood, Wes attending school fulltime at the University of Utah, and Katie working at Wells Fargo Insurance in downtown Salt Lake and attending school part time.

In September 2001, Katie and Wes bought their first home in Herriman, Utah. Earlier that year, Katie received the spiritual impression that they needed to pursue adoption to grow their family. Nine months later in February 2002, they welcomed the birth of their first child Cameron into their family through the miracle and blessing of adoption. Emma would later finalize their family with her birth and adoption in April 2005.

While balancing being a stay at home mom, Katie returned to her pursuit of becoming a nurse. She worked part time for Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, serving as a nurse in the neuro unit where she compassionately cared for children facing serious neurological challenges.

In October 2010, Katie and her family relocated to Apex, North Carolina for a career opportunity for Wes. She chose to be a stay at home mom and loved driving Cameron and Emma to and from school each day while they were elementary and middle school age. Katie loved going to the Carolina beaches as a family or with a group of her friends, or on long walks along the beautiful greenway paths in the Apex area.

Katie was a life long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She loved serving with the young children and young women of her church congregation. Katie knows her Saviour Jesus Christ and exemplified Him in her love, compassion, service, and friendship toward others. Upon her passing, Katie was welcomed into His loving arms, as well as those who preceded her in death; her grandparents Lee and Wilma Smith, her brother Jeremy Cooper, her Aunt Cheri Bentley, and her in-laws Larry and Sherry Woolstenhulme.

Katie is lovingly remembered by her devoted husband Wes, their son Cameron Woolstenhulme (Alia) of Provo, Utah, their daughter Emma Beal (Aidan) of Rexburg, Idaho, her mother Cindy Knuth (Jerry) of Santaquin, Utah, her father Van J. Cooper (Janice) of St. Anthony, Idaho, her siblings Grace Smithers (Brad), Heidi Jameson (Larry), Christy Stutsman (David), John Cooper (Erica), Hollie Leslie (Nate), along with many nieces and nephews.

The family expresses heartfelt gratitude for the nurses and aides of Amedysis Hospice who provided compassionate guidance and care during Katie’s last few days. Additionally, the family would like to extend love and thanks to their friends, Formal Place cul-de-sac neighbors, and their church family in the Apex area for their years of love, support, and friendship. A special and profound thank you is given to Lea Nicholson, Katie’s devoted daily caregiver, whose constant presence, bubbly personality, and care over the past two years brought comfort, laughter, dignity, and peace.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly invites donations to a GoFundMe established for Katie’s caregiver Lea Nicholson, in recognition of her extraordinary care and compassion. Supporting her is a meaningful way to honor Katie’s life and the love she shared so freely.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/a-gift-for-lea-in-katies-memory

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