Kate Hames

HAMES, Kathleen “Kate”; age 85; of Rochester; November 10, 2015. Loving wife of Herbert for 67 years; dear mother, grandma and great-grandma. Visitation Friday 10 a.m. to 12 Noon with service 1 p.m. at Pixley Funeral Home, 3530 Auburn Rd., Auburn Hills. In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Kate can be made to Rochester Hills Museum, 1005 Van Hoosen Road, Rochester Hills, MI 48306 (Please make checks payable to Community Foundation of Greater Rochester and a notation on the check should indicate that it is a donation on behalf of Kathleen Wallace Hames and mail to the museum address). Checks must be made out to “Community Foundation of Greater Rochester” with a notation on the check that indicates a donation on behalf of Kathleen Wallace Hames.

Kathleen Joyce Wallace Hames, dear wife of Herbert and loving devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother answered the call to her eternal home on November 10, 2015. She regretfully left her loved ones but departed with the same strength of character that defined her throughout her many years of unselfish giving to others. She was the wind beneath the wings of each person in the large and ever-growing family she and Herb nurtured and loved.

Kate shared her many talents with everyone she knew and never expected recognition or reward for her love and effort. Kate will continue to serve in people’s hearts as a role model for living a worthy life in eager pursuit of knowledge, adventure, and fun. She poured her full energy into the family she worshipped and will be missed beyond expression by all those she left behind. Her hospitable, genuine nature also touched the lives of untold numbers of extended family members, friends and acquaintances, including those she new and loved in distant places outside the USA.

Kate was born on September 4, 1930, the youngest child of Oswald and Agnes Wallace. As the much younger sibling of Jim and Helen, she enjoyed a carefree childhood in Stoney Creek that was filled with special caring and love from her parents and older siblings. She spent many days visiting the prominent Van Hoosen sisters or frolicking near or on the large Van Hoosen farm. While a Rochester High School student in the 1940s, she was hired by the Van Hoosens at her first job—at the local Black and White Cow where she enjoyed assisting them by making cottage cheese, handling other chores, and happily helping customers.

Upon marriage to Herb, to whom she devoted her life, she moved to nearby Rochester and applied her energies to family, raising six children with him in a healthy, happy setting. She innately valued the importance of good nutrition and nurtured loved ones with delicious and skillfully prepared home-cooked meals that provided a sociable framework for all occasions, especially to the great benefit of her children and later her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. With her cake decorating skills, she provided lovely made-to-order wedding and shower cakes for many of her grateful grandchildren. Even into her early 80s her kitchen talents included home-canned fruits and vegetables, jams and jellies, and pickles and sauces, much of it made from the family garden. She was also accomplished in knitting (especially mittens for her young children) and sewing (for her young daughters), and her influence led to such skills and interests becoming activities in her daughters’ adult lives. For many of her younger years she also enjoyed square dancing in a sociable club setting with Herb, painstakingly sewing their matching Western wear. After her children were grown, she involved herself for a time in the Rochester Historical Society.

Kate's devotion to youngsters and joy of cooking led her into a long and satisfying career as a food service manager in a Rochester Community Schools elementary school. Any interaction with children brought joy to her face and heart: Children of all ages sensed her warmth and gained from her delight.

Kate's curiosity led her to travel extensively with her family. She enjoyed camping trips throughout Michigan and the United States, and when the children were young, she tirelessly packed and unpacked for camping adventures across the country. They traveled in a big and dependable station wagon with her husband at the wheel; and the vessel inhaled and exhaled the noise and energy of a family gone exploring. Later with her husband and grown children she experienced Europe on three occasions, visited Canada, the Caribbean and Alaska, and enjoyed some stateside favorites such as California and New Orleans. Upon retirement she spent many winters as a snowbird in southern Texas with Herb and sometimes her brother Jim, often leading to day-trip adventures to Mexico.

Kate’s energies extended to life-long community volunteerism through her service as a Girl Scout leader, Cub Scout den mother, Sunday school teacher, room mother for her children's elementary classrooms, and school PTA member. She consistently and unselfishly donated blood through the American Red Cross, and more recently she volunteered at a soup kitchen. For many years she demonstrated her love of country by serving as an election precinct worker—

a responsibility she took seriously and enjoyed immensely.

Kate’s sense of adventure and zest for this beautiful world was never more evident than two years ago when, at her and her husband’s 65th wedding anniversary party given by her youngest son at his home, she fearlessly strapped on a motorcycle helmet and climbed onto the back of a Honda owned and driven by a granddaughter's husband. Behind him and clutching him for all she was worth, she roared down the bumpy rural road with her family and friends watching in awe and understanding that this special gal had again shown them the true value of life.

Kate is survived by her husband of 67 years, Herbert Ralph Hames, children and their spouses, grandchildren and their spouses, and great grandchildren:

Children: Herb Hames, Jr. (Cathy), Penny Briscoe (Rick), Cherri Glowe, Denise Baker (Tom), Mike Hames (Colleen), Kevin Hames (Tami).

Grandchildren: Celia Hames Woodfill (Scott), Ian Hames, Allison (Brian) Willey, Katie (Mike) Hughes, Amanda (Greg) Wood, Scott (Kelly) Beggs, Rick Briscoe, Jr. (Cathie), Chad Briscoe (Kristiana), Zachary Baker (Heidi), Lindsay Baker, Shannon Hames Polcyn (Frank), Heather Hames, Vanessa Smith, Katie Hames-Zubi (Ahmed), Allie Hames.

Great Grandchildren: Leah Willey, Owen Willey, Jack Hughes, Katlin Wood, Abbey Wood, Maddy Wood, Ingrid Beggs, Daphne Beggs, Joshua Briscoe, Andrea Briscoe, Eric Briscoe, Jameson Briscoe, Lauren Briscoe, Jack Briscoe, Alexandra Baker, Addison Polcyn, Brianna Polcyn, Chloe Durphey, Saraa Hames-Zubi.