Kathryn "Kathy" E. Medley

Kathyrn (Kathy) E. Medley of Albuquerque, N.M., passed away on October 16, 2024, due to complications caused by anti-rejection medications she was required to take after her 2017 lung transplant. Kathy was born in St. Louis, Missouri on October 1, 1952, to Ernest and Dolores Burch. They moved back to her parents’ home state of New Mexico shortly after her birth and settled in Albuquerque where she lived for most of her life. On October 18, 1969, Kathy married the love of her life, her soul mate, Anthony (Tony) Medley. Kathy and Tony settled in the Albuquerque area and welcomed two children Michael and Jennifer. They would have celebrated 55 years of marriage on October 18, 2024.

 In 1971, Kathy began working for Mountain Bell as a repair service clerk and worked her way up through the company as a Senior Field Engineer and maintained over 18 years of management experience in the telecommunications industry. Kathy retired from Quest Communications in 2004 with over 33 years of service. She worked as a contractor at Kirtland AFB for approximately 8 years before retiring in 2014.

 In 2007, Kathy was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis and in 2017 received a bilateral lung transplant in Phoenix, AZ. Kathy and Tony temporarily relocated to Phoenix for Kathy’s surgery and subsequent rehabilitation. They returned to Albuquerque in the fall of 2017and enjoyed their time together, especially celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in 2019 with a family cruise with their children and their spouses and grandchildren.

 She greatly enjoyed cooking and entertaining family and friends during holidays and birthdays and is fondly remembered for her holiday and birthday parties. She had an immense love for nature and animals, and her fondness for her cats was legendary. She enjoyed hiking and going for walks and loved to go for her annual “birthday hike” with Tony in the Sandia Mountains to see all the trees that were changing color during the fall.

She is preceded in death by her parents Dolores and Ernest, and stepfather Charles Halper. She is survived by her children, son, Michael S. Medley and wife Jolyn; grandchildren Mikelle and husband Isa; Jared, Justin, and Matthew Medley; and great-grandson Caetano Medley of Albuquerque; daughter Jennifer and husband Dominic Barrios; grandson Miqueas Barrios of Phoenix, AZ; step-brothers Charles Halper JR and wife Arlene, of Poway, CA; David Halper, of Leucadia, CA; John Halper, of Del Mar, CA; Mark Halper, of Albuquerque, NM; Eric Halper, wife Hermie and family of San Diego, CA; and step-sister Charlene Halper, of San Diego, CA. 

A visitation and rosary will be held on November 11, 2024 at 5:30 pm at FRENCH-Lomas. Funeral Mass will be held on November 12, 2024 at 10:30am at St. Charles Borromeo with Burial to follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.