Kathleen Sue Gommesen

Kathleen Sue McMurray Gommesen, 70, entered into the presence of her Savior and Lord on June 15, 2023. She was born on June 5, 1953 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Rex and Denna McMurray. Accepting Christ as her Savior at the tender age of five, she devoted her life to Him. After graduating from Otsego High School, she went on to graduate from Michigan State University with a BA with honors. While attending MSU, she met the love of her life, Donald Gommesen. They married in 1974 at Calvary Baptist, Lansing, Michigan.

Serving as a church planting missionary beside her husband, she ministered as a pastor’s wife for forty-five years, serving in churches in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. Homeschooling four children, she also worked as a secretary, medical transcriptionist, and a short-term disability analyst. Through it all, she continued filling the world with beautiful piano music, quilts, love, and laughter.

She left behind her spouse of forty-nine years and their children: Rachel Rossano (Greg), Hannah Gommesen, Bethany Vallerie, and David Gommesen, and her grandchildren: Jonathan, Braeden, Katelyn, and Daniel. She is survived by her parents Rev. Rex and Denna McMurray and her siblings David McMurray (Pam) and Karen Whitaker (Danny). She was predeceased by her sister Kaylyn Koetsier. Kathy’s brother-in-law Ken Keotsier remained close to her and her husband even after his wife’s passing. She left behind many beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, grand nieces, and grand nephews.

Kathy loved playing word games and board games with Jocelyn Carter, friends, and family. She was an absolute boss at Scrabble, but she preferred to play cooperatively with her friend Lois Fromm. She loved the color purple, and her favorite hobbies were reading and quilting. They were activities she enjoyed discussing with Ann McDougal and Michelle Allen. She accomplished everything swiftly, cheerfully, and accurately and was the speediest quilter. A loving and practical personality, she excelled in accumulating friends that became like family. She will be greatly missed.