Kathy Bullard Hart

Kathy Bullard Hart died Monday, July 23, 2012 in Cary, NC. She passed away to the sound of laughter and love as her son and daughter recounted heart-warming memories of her to Rev. Tim Tudor of Heartland Hospice.

Born in Charlotte, NC, to the late Elgit and Stella Morehead Bullard, Kathy was one of eight children. In November 1954, she married the love of her life, Gene Evon Hart, and enjoyed 57 happy years together before his death separated them in April 2011.

Kathy devoted herself to the health and welfare of her family. She was an excellent Southern cook, and her family liked nothing better than one of her wonderful home-cooked meals topped off by one of her special desserts. She took great pride in maintaining a beautiful home and gardens. In March and April, her gardens exploded with azalea, dogwood and spirea blooms that heralded the arrival of spring.

Kathy and Gene believed strongly in the value of higher education and wanted their children and grandchildren to receive the college education that was outside their reach. College was not an option; it was an expectation - an expectation that has always been met.

Family was paramount in the Hart household. Kathy took pride in the accomplishments of her children and their spouses, and dearly loved each of her grandchildren. She appreciated Allie's drawings, Kate's hand-written notes, Eileen's love of animals, Thomas' laughter and Stephen's playfulness. Kathy remained close to her brother, Kenneth, throughout her life, and spent hours on the phone with Fran, her niece, who was like a second daughter to her in her heart.

Even though dementia robbed Kathy of her memory in her last year, she always remained kind and loving to the staff at Waltonwood Assisted Living in Cary. She never forgot the value of saying “thank you” for the many things others did for her. A special thanks to the Waltonwood staff: Lisa, Kim, Keva and Nancy. They were angels on Earth for Mother. Heartland Hospice was a comfort to Kathy and her family. Roseanne Smith and Rev. Tim Tudor offered health and spiritual guidance, respectively.

Kathy is survived by a daughter, Kathy Hart and her husband, Michael McDonald, of Cary, NC; a son, Stanley Gene Hart and his wife, Roberta Sech, of Ridgefield, CT; and five grandchildren, Stephen Safriet and his wife, Gwen, Thomas McDonald, Eileen McDonald, Katherine Safriet, and Alexandra Hart. She also leaves one brother, Kenneth Bullard and his wife, Betty, of Concord, NC. Special relatives in Kathy’s life were her loving niece, Fran Chapman and her husband, Ronnie, of Matthews, NC. She had many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at Christ United Methodist Church, 8020 Bellhaven Blvd., Charlotte NC, on Sunday, September 16, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. A celebration of Gene and Kathy’s life will follow.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to Heartland Hospice through: http://www.heartlandhospicefund.org/