Katherine Dobbs March

Katherine Dobbs March departed this life to be with her Lord and Savior on July 30, 2024. Born on February 17, 1939, in Lakeland, Florida, Katherine and her family moved from town to town with her father’s military postings before finally settling in Birmingham where she graduated from Shades Valley High School. She attended the University of Alabama before starting work as a medical assistant.

It was there that she met the love of her life, Barney March. The first date consisted of wallpapering her kitchen with brick wallpaper, after which the courtship ensued. . . and never ended. The marriage contract included two requirements – they would live in Mobile and they would sail together. She followed Barney to Mobile where they sailed together, fished for speckled trout together, and flew airplanes together, but she drew the line at motorcycles!

Katherine became heavily involved in numerous civic activities, most notably the Junior League of Mobile. She took great pride in raising her two children and was active in their schools and outside endeavors. As her children grew older, she found new passions and opportunities – she became a licensed pilot (this in response to Barney’s newfound passion for flying and a firm belief that she might someday be called upon to land the plane if Barney became incapacitated!); she designed the parade theme and floats for a mystical parading organization for several years; she opened a dress shop in the upstairs part of her home; she went to work for the Mobile Carnival Association, helping to organize coronation events and making certain that the ladies of the Mardi Gras Court were always attended by nice young men (earning her the nickname of “Carnival Pimp”); she worked on various projects with her church, most recently knitting prayer shawls. She delighted in having grandchildren, as well as great nephews and nieces, spend time at “Camp March” on Dog River, regaling them with tales of “Captain Hook,” whose adventures could be inspired by something as innocuous as a piece of flotsam floating by (“Oh, look! Capt. Hook must have left that bottle when he passed thru last night!”).

Katherine was predeceased by her parents, Martha Bray Dobbs and Hoyt McWhorter Dobbs, as well as her sister, Martha Dobbs (“Suki”) Yarbrough, and her brother-in-law, Ralph H. Yarbrough, Sr. She is survived by her loving husband of nearly 61 years, E. Russell (“Barney”) March, Jr.; her children, E. Russell (“Barney”) March, III (Corinne), and Sutton March Tremayne; her grandchildren, Martha Hamilton March, E. Russell March, IV, Richard Ray (“Tripp”) Tremayne, III, and Edward March Tremayne; her beloved golden retriever, Bear; and numerous nieces, nephews, and great friends (“the Ya-Yas!”).

A private family burial service will be held Saturday morning. Visitation will be held from 11:00 – 12:00 Saturday at Dauphin Way United Methodist Church, followed by a memorial service at 12:00. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Dauphin Way United Methodist Church (507 Dauphin Street, Mobile, AL 36604) or the Mobile Carnival Association (Post Office Box 2121, Mobile, AL 36652).