When my Dad first told me about Kit, I was happy for him and nervous at the same time.  He hadn't dated in 50 years.  My nervousness went away quickly when I saw how happy she made my Dad.

Kit got him to finally untuck his shirt, literally!  She got him back on the dance floor and loving life again.  Going to the Master's golf tournament  and taking little get- away trips, collecting little birds  on each adventure to put on their special Christmas tree and now after 13 years the tree is beautifully full of those memory birds.

I knew Kit had my Dad wrapped around her little finger when she moved to his house and brought her bright decorative magic with her, when she convinced Dad to paint rooms with mauve, pink, and mint green and to re-wallpaper several room.  I also knew it when Dad took her beloved Maxie (a Boston Terrier with no tail) for walks and Maxi had that kind of bottom that needed wiping after he had done his business . . . that really cracked me up.  When Kit left the room I asked if he really wiped him all the time - he just tilted his head and smirked - I took that as to mean, not all the time only when Kit was around.

Doesn't everyone have those clothes they just throw on to clean house or do yard work?!  Not Kit Carnes-Woody!  She was always dressed to the MAX!  Shoes, purse, jewelry - everything had to perfectly coordinate!  Hair - make-up . . . Red Carpet Ready All The Time!

Strangers that would approach or follow them in the grocery store or out in public probably thought they were a new couple, but even after all the years they were together they never lost that "fun love" they shared.  They teased each other like teenagers with affectionate nicknames.

My Dad was blessed, no . . . the Woodys were blessed to have Kit in our lives.  She was a Classy Lady, beautiful, smart, kind,  gentle, and funny . . . One of a Kind!

We will miss her
Merritt (step daughter)

(continued)
9) Being Loved - All women like to be told that they are loved (men also).  One of the things that I did in our first year of marriage, was to add a paragraph or two to whatever card I was giving her: birthday, anniversary, valentines, etc.  that would remind her of something we had done together: a trip, an event, or whatever, to tell/tease her about an incident, but mainly how I enjoyed being with her and how much I loved her - she came to expect them and couldn't wait for me to read them to her.  We continued this tradition throughout our marriage.  She kept every single one of them.  Sometimes during the winter months, with a fire blazing in the fireplace, soft music, and a glass of wine - she would come into the living room with a handful of these cards and messages and ask me to read them to her - it always ended up in an embrace with tears.  I have boxed them all up with a note on the outside that upon my passing, the Carnes family and the great-great grand children can read them and know how much she was loved.  Maybe Kit never won an "Oscar" or a "Nobel Peace Prize", but know this . . . She Touched A Lot of Lives!



(continued)

6) Presents and Surprises - Kit, at 80, could not contain herself if there was a card or present on the kitchen table or under the Christmas tree a couple of days early.  I loved to tease her and  I usually gave in to her prodding (how could I not - it was always fun).
7) Shopping - You can see from the pictures that she was never under-dressed.  She loved to shop and I enjoyed shopping with her.  While walking to the check-out, we would have to pass the Jewelry counter, the shoes had to match etc. etc. - Just about every Monday she would walk into the school wearing one of her new outfits and would get encouragement from fellow staffers and especially from the students with their compliments.  She was so attractive even in her late 70's and early 80's that she drew attention at the grocery store and at the Mall - people would approach her and comment on her hair or her outfit.

Kit thanked God every night for her blessings and what He has given her, even though her final last few years were a struggle and painful: she went through two hip replacements, a broken arm, three back surgeries and several hospitalizations.  She was so tough and strong - What  a Trooper!

Well, here it is two months (Valentine's 2021) since you left me and I still miss you like crazy!
To the people who will read this Memory Book can see from the pictures and the wonderful memories that were shared - what a fun-loving southern chick she was, but there is so much more to her.  I want her grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren to read this and know more about her.  So I am going to try and finalize the Memory Book with a few more stories and traits of your Great Grandmother . . . and my loving wife:

1) Every semester at graduation at the Golf Academy, the Director of the college would introduce the faculty and staff to the parents in attendance.  But they would always wait and announce Kit at the end, because the students would stand and give her a standing ovation and cheer their "House Mom".  She would stand, wipe her eyes and throw kisses.  They Loved Her!

2) Dance - You have already heard from family and friends how she like to dance - almost every weekend and almost every song, if she liked the beat (especially if she could Shag to it),  she would drag me onto the floor ( I wish we could do it again).

3) And Sing - Such a wonderful voice: at home, in the car.  There is a picture of her in this book where she is at the piano with Johnny Cobb at Cagney's, where we would dance on weekends, and she would go up to the microphone and sing with Johnny, especially if it was "Sweet Caroline" or "Carolina Girls".

4) Humanitarian - Whenever we were in the car and pulled up to an intersection that had an individual with a sign "homeless", "no job, no money", she would ask me to roll down her window and give him something from my wallet - she did not like to see anyone or anything suffer.

5) Animals - Any and All!  We have four birdfeeders (or squirrels) visible from our windows - she would not let me let them get empty - sometimes we made a special trip to Ace's just for bird seed.

(to be continued . . .)

I remember the first time I met Kit at the Golf Academy, I could tell she was a special lady.  I got the feeling she was special to all the staff and especially the students.

When my Dad and Kit started seeing each other I was excited for him and also terrified.  My Dad is pretty special too, but I was terrified for him since their relationship was so new.  I visited them in Myrtle Beach and as I watched them together all the scary feelings went away.  I could see she was special to my Dad and they were in love.  Kit would laugh at my dad teasing her about how she pronounced so many words in her Southern Carolina accent.

I had the honor of sharing a dance with Kit at Drunken Jack's Beach Cafe' and Grill that evening too.  She was trying to show me how Carolina girls Shag Dance.  She was just alot of fun to be around.

I am so happy my dad brought Kit into our lives and we were lucky enough to know and love her.  Kit was small, but mighty and extraordinarily special!

Love, Andy


Kit Woody was a classy lady and a wonderful neighbor and a TRUE friend, and my partner in crime.  She would always call to check on me and I would always to call to check on her.  She would invite me over for Happy Hour and a chat.  We would have hilarious times: she, Tom, myself and Stormy (their dog).  Such hilarious times, that one time Tom had to come out on the porch and tell me to quiet it and calm it down because he was afraid he was going to have to call 911, because Kit was laughing so hard she couldn't breathe.

She will be missed beyond words - I think of her every day and unfortunately  due to an upcoming surgery, I was not there when she departed.

I miss her beyond words.  Kit, I will raise my next glass of vodka tonic at Happy Hour to you - forever!

I love you girl!
Danielle, her neighbor and good friend

Kit had many talents including the ability to cook and bake.  She was self taught in the kitchen, and she certainly excelled.  She enjoyed making us personal birthday cakes.  She made bears, trains, and my personal favorite - the drivers license cake for my 16th birthday.  Although my mother did not have much in the way of athletic abilities, she did have an NFL moment on my 10th birthday.  This particular year she made a wonderful two layer carrot cake.  The party was being held in the backyard since this always made for easy cleanup and wonderful weather in April.  As she was coming down the back door steps, she stumbled and fell off the side into the grass.  During the fall she had no regard for her own safety, only that of the cake.  She came down arms outstretched, keeping the cake upright as she hit the ground.  The cake was intact and undamaged, however we cannot say the same about my mother who walked with a limp for weeks.

My mother had a big heart and could not handle seeing people suffer.  This is one reason as a young woman she did not finish nursing school.  She got attached to her patients during her training and it really hurt her if someone died.  

My mother always put on a good smile and cheery disposition.  For years I took this for granted until my father died.  I did not know sadness until this day, and the days after watching her suffer.  

One of my best memories was watching or listening to her on the phone come out of the darkness, and return to cheery self.  She was blessed for the second time with finding love.  One day she called to inform me that she was seeing someone.  Not only was she seeing him, she needed to know if it was ok with me and my brother if she got married again.  She had always put her boys first this included her husband Ken, and now it time for her to move on and enjoy life again.  I was happy for her then, and happy now that she found Tom Woody.  They had many years together, and I know she loved every minute.



Mabel Ruth Curlee born June 28 1938, died December 13th 2020

Married Kenneth Mason Carnes in July of 1957.  She was also very naive and trusting, which was one of her endearing traits.  Those traits made it quite easy as a young man in high school to pull pranks on her.  To call and disguise your voice while asking if the refrigerator is running, if so you may want to catch it was priceless.  I will say she had a wonderful sense of humor.  The one thing my mother never accomplished even thru years of trying, was telling a joke.  Even if she was successful in telling the first part of the set up, she always screwed up the punchline.

Kit had a love for music and dance which was one of the reasons she was attracted to my father.  That and what she described as his good looks.  I loved the stories of her and my dad singing while he played guitar, all while sitting on the hood of his 1950's Cadillac.  She also was asked to sing on the local radio station as a young woman in Marshville, NC.  She was always complimented on her wonderful voice in church, and was a joy to listen to.  Singing was a cornerstone of family gatherings while I was growing up, it not have to be a special occasion for everyone to gather round while my father played guitar and sang songs into the night.

Did I mention she liked to dance? Yes, she was a wonderful dancer.  She tried to pass this along to her son, however we never became the mover she was.  My mother and Ken Carnes would spend one Saturday a month for years meeting with a social dance club.  She and dad did ballroom dancing, but the love of her life was the Shag.  Again she tried to teach her sons the shag, but we were never elevated to the level of grace she possessed.  On area of dance that most may not know of is the classes she took to learn "Belly Dancing". Yep, middle east dance style.  She had the costume, including the little finger symbols.  

Glenn (her son) 

The first time Kit walked into my salon, my first impression was what a beautiful lady.  I did Kits hair every week for 5 years and in those years we became closer then just stylist and client -  We became friends.  Sometimes when you do someone's hair for that long and every week you start to run out of things to talk about, but not Kit.  We always had things to tell each other each week.  She was funny and made me laugh and sometimes we even cried together.  She loved her family and she adored Tom.  You can just tell a lot bout someone in how they talk about their family and even their pets - she loved animals!

She loved music and loved to dance, and I know she is dancing with her Heavenly Father right now.

I'm sure going to miss our talks, Love you Kit!
Sabrina Jolly (long time hair dresser and friend)

One of my favorite memories is of Kit trying to tell a joke that was so NOT funny, but she was doubling over laughing.  And so then she had the rest of us laughing hysterically too.

The other one is when she would tell about Tom catching her in front of a mirror practicing a joke that was a guy with a speech impediment.  Tom thought she was having a stroke or something.  She just laughed so hard that the rest of us were just in stitches with her.

But my favorite of all is that if she hadn't seen me in a few days, she would call me to come over for a happy hour drink just to see me and make sure that I was doing okay.  She was truly a caring friend.  Love and miss her so much!

Debbie White (across the street neighbor)

I was so happy for Kit entering my Dad's life 13+ years ago.  It was quite clear from the beginning of their relationship that she brought him great joy, love, and hope.

One of my fondest memories of Kit was seeing her acquired love of golf history, which was a passion that both my Dad and I also shared.  One one trip to North Carolina, I met Dad and Kit Pinehurst for a hickory golf tournament that celebrated the early origins of golf in the United States.  We had dinner at the famous Pine Crest Inn that evening where you felt you were stepping back in time and sitting where many golf dignitaries had dined before.  On another trip we went to lunch at Sam Snead's Bar, Grill  Tavern in Myrtle Beach.  On both occasions, Kit showed off her golf history knowledge of Francis Ouimet, Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods among others and interesting tidbits about the historical golf courses in the area.  Her knowledge was quite impressive and she was rightfully proud of it.

What meant the most to me was witnessing how much she put into being interested and caring about those things that were important to my Dad.  I will ways appreciate and be thankful for the love and companionship that Kit brought my Dad for over 13 years!

Love,
Matt

OBITUARY

Kit (Mabel) Carnes-Woody

28 June, 1938 – 13 December, 2020

Lee Funeral Home

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services