By Sarah Morton Taggart | [email protected]

It wasn’t the 90th birthday party they’d hoped for, but Jean Katis’ children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were still able to celebrate with her. On the afternoon of her birthday, more than 50 friends and family members drove by to honk and wave.

Katis was born on Oct. 30, 1930 and has lived in Midvale for more than 70 years. She moved to Grant Street in 1964 and raised six children there with her husband, Gus Katis.

Gus Katis had a long career at the Kennecott Copper Mine and served on the Midvale City Planning and Zoning Commission for many years. He passed away in 2015. Jean Katis was active in the PTA for nearly 30 years as each of her children attended Midvale Elementary, Midvale Junior High and Hillcrest High School.

“Generations of Midvale kids always had a place at her dinner table or a sleeping bag on her floor,” said her youngest son, Chris Katis of Murray. “She’s as much Midvale as the town itself—resilient, strong and welcoming to all.”