Kathleen W. Curtis

doctor who delivered her at her parents’ home completed the birth certificate with the wrong birthdate and when it was brought to her attention many years later she decided not to change it. Last December 30th she gleefully announced that she turned 95 again! (something most people don’t get to do).

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of over 52 years, Howard D. Curtis, Sr.; sisters Betty Mae Pace and Adelaide Hawkins; brothers R.F. Ward, Lewis Ward, James Ward and Roy Ward and a son-in-law, Joseph Hester.

She is survived by 2 daughters: Linda J. Adams (John)and Anita H. Kossmann(Mike), and son Howard D. Curtis, Jr. (Sally); 7 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Kathleen graduated from French Camp Academy in the top of her class and was a loving wife, mother and grandmother, homemaker, talented seamstress, and crafter. In her younger years she enjoyed being outdoors digging in the dirt and making things grow. She was devoted to her children and spent many hours reading to them, teaching them, and taking time to have fun. Her daughters recall being the only children at school with custom embroidered flowers on their tattered tennis shoes to camouflage the holes in the toes. Her son fondly remembers her taking him to the pastures to pick blackberries when visiting grandmother’s house. There were fun times making homemade ornaments and popcorn balls at Christmas time, having pretend tea parties on the back steps, baking homemade carrot cakes for birthdays and holidays, making sock puppets and ice cream spoon dolls on a sick day from school, listening to your favorite children’s book while being rocked in the little blue cricket rocker. She was also dubbed “warm, fuzzy grandma” by her granddaughters.

And surely she holds the record for most craft magazines collected over the longest time. Kathleen trusted Jesus as Savior and was baptized at the age of 16 in a creek near French Camp. In the past she was a member of Colonial Cumberland Presbyterian Church, then Wolfchase Community Church and in recent years she supported Fellowship Baptist Church in Bartlett. Using her exceptional self-taught sewing skills she joyfully created beautiful gifts for the Operation Christmas Child organization. She also blessed hundreds of other people for years with lovingly created handmade gifts. Her devotion to her husband of 52 years and determination were exemplified by her refusal to leave his side for the 3 months he was in the hospital prior to his death in 1999. She said that her mother always told her that she was “part pineknot” because she was so resilient despite many health challenges. In the last couple of years

that nickname was mentioned repeatedly as she struggled with being confined to the bed and attached to an oxygen machine, yet maintained her wit and sharp mind. She battled every moment just to breathe. She was exhausted and The Lord called her home in what seemed to be a sudden moment and she will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

A gathering of family and friends for Kathleen will be held Tuesday, July 26, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38133. The family will receive friends and family from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Tuesday July 26, 2022 at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38133. A celebration of life service will occur Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 10:00 AM Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens , 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38133. A committal service will occur Wednesday, July 27, 2022 immediately following at Memphis Memorial Gardens, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38133.

In lieu of flowers please support St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Memphis Union Mission or Fellowship Baptist Church in her memory

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralGermantownParkway.com for the CURTIS family.