Kathryn Farrell

Kathryn Ann Farrell was born April 17, 1929, in Valley Junction, Iowa, the fifth child of John Francis and Monica Williams Begley. She passed away at her home in Vail, Iowa, on Monday, April 11, 2011, at the age of eighty one.
She attended West Des Moines public schools where she had an early exposure to the music world, winning her first superior vocal music contest on her 6th birthday, and many more thereafter. She later attended St. Joseph Academy in Des Moines, Iowa, graduating with the class of 1946.
She married Dr. E. Michael Scott in West Des Moines, and to this union four children were born: Michael, Conner, Rosemary, and Brian. She later married Don Farrell in 1962, and they settled in Vail, Iowa, in 1963, and to this union three children were born: Patrick, Fred, and Peggy.
Katie was active in Sweet Adelines, performing in several quartets and choruses. She was a charter member of the Crawford County Sweet Adelines chorus and served as its director. She composed and arranged music for the Barbershop style of singing, and formerly served as organist and choir member at St. Anns Catholic Church in Vail.
She was a member of the Sweet Adelines Association of Arrangers, Carroll Serra Club, Carroll County Iowans for Life, and an honorable member of the Robert Emmet Society.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Don in July 2000; two brothers John , and his wife, Mildred; Austin; one sister, Rosemary and her husband, Paul; brothers-in-law, Robert, Richard, Carl, Charles, Edward, and Gerry; three sisters-in-law: Johnetta, Mary , and Barbara; and one niece, Mary Frances. Survivors include seven children: Michael and his wife, Gennifer; Conner; Rosemary and her husband, Jim; Brian; Patrick; Fred and his wife, Kim; and Peggy and her husband, Allen; thirteen grandchildren: Holly, Mary, Eileen, Erin, Claire, Olivia, Caroline, Quinn, Molly, Lilly, Jack, Michael and Andrea; three step grandchildren, Jeff, Ranae, and Erika; one sister, Frances; two brothers-in-law, Robert and his wife, Betty; and Joe and his wife, Joey; three sisters-in-law: Joan, Bobbi, and Cecilia; other relatives and friends.