Kaya Christensen

Kaya Christensen, 39, died at home suddenly on Saturday, January 21, 2017 due to unknown heart disease. 

She was a fierce spirit in the world and had so much love and light to share. She was finding herself in the last year and she was happier than I had ever seen her.  

She was born to Kurt and Cathy Christensen on October 25, 1977 in Layton Utah and given the name Jon Michael Christensen. She was raised in Clearfield and graduated from Clearfield High School in 1995. 

She married the love of her life, Jocelyn, on June 19, 1999. (Never get married on a holiday weekend, it made things weird with Father's Day.) We had a love story like no other. People often joked that you couldn't see one of us without the other. We often talked about how we grew up together since we were married so young and we were always grateful that we still had so many shared interests. We had so much love for each other. 

Kaya and Jocelyn have two amazing children. Neil is 12 years old and Ella is 7 years old. Kaya had spent the last 12 years as a stay at home parent and was amazing at it. She loved her kids and always wanted to protect them from the bad things in the world. 

Kaya enjoyed video games, especially World of Warcraft and Everquest. She had a group of friends that she played Dungeons and Dragons with every few weeks. She loved comic books and all things ''nerd'' related except for Big Bang Theory (she hated that show). We would watch anything Marvel or DC related and were excited for the ongoing Star Wars movies. 

We've created the most amazing village and I can't let a few people go unnoticed. Lucas, you were her best friend and she loved you. There are things you know that I don't because you shared such a bond. Anna and Tom you are amazing. Aaron and Katie thanks for checking up on me so much. This is by far not a totally inclusive list because there are too many of you who have checked in with me to thank and name. Thanks for being our village, I'm going to need you guys!

Kaya is survived by her wife Jocelyn; her children Neil and Ella. Her parents Kurt and Cathy; her sister Jeanette; her nephew and niece, Nicholas and Patricia. Her grandparents Elmer and Joann Simmons.  Also survived by her mother-in-law Debbie Smith and John Feustel; Craig, Brooke and Max Feustel; Caren and Chris Kahan.  

Kaya was preceded in death by her grandparents Neil and Patricia Christensen, and Uncle Gene Simmons (who was a very important person in her life).  

Donations in Kaya's memory may be made to the Utah Pride Center or Planned Parenthood. Please go to your doctor and have an annual check-up. Hug your loved ones. 

A memorial gathering will be held Friday, January 27, 2017 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road.