Kathy was a wonderful Wife, one of a kind Mother, Aunt, best friend to many and the best Grammie to her grandchildren. Born, Willie Kathryn Barnett on February 7th, 1940 to Vernice and “Sam” (Troy Franklin Sr.) Barnett of Stuttgart, Arkansas. Growing up, she loved being a big sister to her brother “Sammy”, Dr. Troy F. Barnett, Jr. She never used her given name Willie. Her family, childhood and college friends affectionately called her “Kitten.” She later went by Kathy after she graduated from college, but she is still known as Kitten by many. She graduated from Stuttgart High School in 1958 and attended the University of Arkansas. She pledged Delta Gamma Fraternity and was part of the Alpha Omega chapter. She graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Education. After graduation, she moved to Houston to teach elementary school and met Charles Ellis Ames. They were married for almost fifty years, Charles passed away February 3rd, 2018. Kathy and Charles lived in many states from Florida, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Texas where Kathy continued to teach kindergarten. While living in Memphis, Tennessee and After 10 years of marriage they had their daughter, Laurie Kathryn Ames. At this time Kathy took a break from teaching to raise Laurie, they lived in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and then moved to Dallas when Laurie was in 2nd grade. Kathy returned to teaching when Laurie was in Junior High School and taught Kindergarten at John Neely Bryan Elementary school a DISD school. She retired from teaching in 2000 and November 11, 2000, Laurie and Jeff Petty were married.
Kathy spent her retirement involved in Delta Gamma Alumnae activities, Book clubs, Garden Clubs, she played Mahjong weekly, traveled around the world and volunteered. Friends were everything to Kathy, Kitten loved to go on her yearly getaways with her Stuttgart, Arkansas “Class Act” friends and host annual Summer and Holiday parties in her home with her former teacher and Dallas friends. She loved to garden and took great pride in her yard. During retirement, Charles and Kathy had an active Photography business and were involved in many local organizations until his death in 2018. Kathy had a wonderful eye as a photographer and earned awards for her work. In April of 2005, Kathy’s grandson Ethan was born. She then became a devoted Grammie to Ethan and in September 2007 to Sarah. She took care of her grandchildren while her daughter Laurie worked. Sarah and Ethan benefited from her loving care and devotion. She hardly ever missed anything the two of them were involved in, always cheering them on! Over the years she took vacations with her daughter’s family to Alaska, Dauphin Island, Alabama, many family trips to Arkansas & Tennessee, Disney World and most recently two different trips to Maine. She was always up for an adventure and the busier the better! She traveled avidly with Charles as well, they loved traveling on Viking Cruise ships all over Europe. In 2017 at the age of 77, while on a trip to Kauai, Hawaii with Charles, his sister Angela and brother in law John Heinaman, she did one of her Bucket lists must do’s. She zip-lined across the Kauai Island – hiking up mountains to do this adventure of a life time. After Charles passed away in 2018, Kathy sold her home and moved in with Laurie, Jeff, Ethan and Sarah. They had recently finished renovating their home with a Grammie suite - perfect for Kathy to have her own space but be involved in all the family activities. She had big plans to travel, throw parties in her new home and continue her many activities with her friends and DG alumnae group. Kathy will be missed by so many. She was a friend to all – never met a stranger, never forgetting a name or important information about anyone she met. Her strength through personal loss and challenges was always met with perseverance, kindness, strength and grace.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 29th, 2020 at 1pm at NorthPark Presbyterian Church, Dallas TX. In Lieu of flowers donations can be made in Kathy’s memory to one of her favorite Charities, Metrocrest Services https://www.metrocrestservices.org/idonate.php or to the Delta Gamma Foundation https://donate.deltagamma.org.
Visit online for more information: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/richardson-tx/kathryn-ames-8972486
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