Katie said "the stork didn't bring her, Santa Claus
did!"
It was December 25, 1928. Lucy Walker arrived to serve
as mid-wife. Katie's sisters, Beulah and May were
dispatched to fetch Dr. Looney who was playing cards at the
Farrell Bar, and in due time, Inez Finnegan gave birth to
Kathleen Ann. She was born in their house (next to where
Charlene Tracy lives now) at Big Piney.
Edward D. and Inez Thomas Daniels Finnegan had son
Edward Jr. and three nearly grown children, Clifford,
Beulah, and May, from her previous marriage to "Dutch"
Daniels, who was killed in World War One. Edward and Katie
grew up in Big Piney except for times when their parents
worked on ranches. One summer was spent living in a sheep
wagon when they herded sheep for Fears. Finnegans were
working at a Tie Camp and were going to be snowed in one
winter. Edward and Katie were sent to Ed's family in Mt.
View for that school year.
The Finnegan's started a dairy in Big Piney. Katie and
Edward Jr. (Finn) delivered milk both morning and night.
There was a CCC camp near town at that time so the family
was kept busy providing milk for everyone. When they moved
to the Corder Place west of Big Piney, they still had the
dairy but delivered milk once a day. Then they bought the
Harry Springman ranch about the time the kids were starting
high school. They were still milking cows but gave that up
when Edward joined the service and Katie couldn't always
make it through the snow to town to deliver milk and attend
school.
Between her junior and senior year, Katie was an extra
in the movie, "Bad Bascom" that was being filmed near
Jackson. She became good friends with Carol Ann Beery,
daughter of the actor Wallace beery. Katie was invited to
spend her senior year with Carol Ann and her father in
California. Katie said it was more than a school education
for her, it was a real education to live in the city and
especially in Beverly Hills. After graduation she came back
to Jackson with the Beerys who had a cabin on Jackson Lake.
She went back to California and intended to go to UCLA but
was discouraged at the long lines to get registered and
found a job in a bank instead. She drove in the city but
didn't have a license. Instead, she carried a letter from
Wallace Beery saying it was okay for her to drive.
The next summer, Katie was hired at the Jackson State
Bank in Jackson, Wyoming and worked there for the next four
years. She met and married Wayne Bardin and she continued
to work in the bank while they lived at Battle Mountain
Lodge in the Hoback Basin. Their daughter Pennie was born
in Jackson not long before the family moved to Evanston
where Wayne helped build, then managed a new Texaco
station. Wayne was stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in the
National Guard at the time their son Bardy was born.
The Bardins moved back to Big Piney and Wayne helped
build the compressor station southwest of town. They were
living on the ranch with Katie's parents at the Finnegan
place when their son, Chris was born. They moved to Provo,
Utah when Chris was six weeks old.
Katie starting working in the State Bank of Big Piney
a few years later and continued to work there for
twenty-seven years until retirement.
Katie and Wayne were divorced. Later she married Joe
King and after their divorce, she returned to Big Piney.
Katie had varied interests and many friends to share
her interests. She was an active member of the Episcopal
Church, served on the Museum Board, and was a member of
Eastern Star. She was a guardian of Job's Daughters, served
on the School Board, and is a past member of the Senior
Citizen's Board. She was past president of the American
Legion Auxiliary in Jackson and received her 75 years
membership pin from there. Later, she became a member of
the Big Piney American Legion Auxiliary. She has been a
regular at the Senior Center on meal days and often takes
part in the activities sponsored by the Senior Center.
Katie always felt that the best part of all her
community service was the 34 years that she worked with
Campfire girls. She began when Pennie was a Campfire girl.
She continued to spend a week in the mountains at summer
camp when her granddaughters Taylor, Amy, and Katie were
Campfire girls. She had fond memories of working with Madge
Funk, Bonnie Weber, and Ruth Hendricks and all the people
who helped with camp.
Katie used to do a lot of crafts but reading was her
favorite pastime until macular degeneration limited her
sight. About that time, the gift of companionship between
Chuck Porter and Katie King flourished. Their attention,
care and support of each other was legend. They encouraged
one another through medical hardships, as well as family
joys and sadness. His passing left a great void.
Katie was then joined in companionship by dear friend
and chauffeur, Helena Linn.
Katie is survived by daughter, Pennie (Gary) Espeland of Laramie,
Wyoming; son Chris (Jill Iverson) Bardin of Sandy, Utah.
She also leaves grandchildren Taylor (Brandon) Leingang of
Mandan, North Dakota; Jason (Aeron) Orr of  Sandy, Utah;
Anders (Robin) Espeland of Laramie; Katie (Dag) Espeland
Eidem of Troudheim, Norway; Amy (Jeff) Smith of
Evanston, Wyoming and Halen (Asher) Seevinck of Provo, Utah.
She has seven great-grandchildren and
loving nieces Rusty, Carolynn, and Marilynn and nephew
Bobby.
Katie was preceded in death by her parents, Ed and
Inez; siblings Clifford, Beulah, May, and brother Edward
Jr.; son Bardy Bardin; grandsons Garrett, Matt, and Jess
Bardin; nieces Carmen Preuit and Jeanne Shaffer; nephew
Russell Daniels, and great friend Chuck Porter.
Katie liked being at home where her roots grew deep
and her family tree grew tall.
A memorial luncheon will be held Friday January 19th at
12 noon at the Marbleton Senior Center.
If friends wish, memorial donations can be made to
Southwest Sublette County Senior Center in Marbleton at PO
Box 33, Big Piney, WY 83113.