Katherine C. Pendergras

Katherine Cornelia Patterson Pendergras, 101, passed away March 5, 2026, in Jacksonville, Florida. Born August 19, 1924, in Stillmore, Georgia, Kay moved to Jacksonville in 1925, and graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in 1942, where she was a Pepperette. She worked for General Electric until marrying her soulmate, Kenneth Pendergras, on June 1, 1943.

Kay and Ken built a beautiful life together raising two daughters with Kay as the household engineer. She was renowned for her culinary skills, and her signature dish was a Sour Cream Poundcake. Kay took great pride in her landscaping and was a regular recipient of the University Country Club’s “Yard of the Month” award. She served as a Navy wife and was an active mother in her daughters’ PTA, school activities, and dancing throughout the 1950s and 1960s. She supported both Ken throughout his skeet shooting career traveling around the country and the family florist at home where she channeled her creative side.

Kay was active in Gateway Woman’s Club, the Jackson Jill’s Club, the University Country Club, and the Seminole Club of Clay County. She enjoyed a vibrant community of friends who were like family. Together, they traveled the world, threw parties, danced, played cards, and enjoyed new life experiences. Kay was an avid cruiser and traveled to Alaska seven times with her last cruise celebrating her 90th birthday. She encouraged others to “travel while you can” and to enjoy the world.

Kay was predeceased by her loving husband of sixty-four years, Kenneth Pendergras; her brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Joy Patterson; her son-in-law, David Thompson; and her nephew, Chuck Patterson. She is survived by her daughters, Kathie Thompson (Richard) of Asheboro, North Carolina and Karen Thompson of Orange Park, Florida; her grandchildren, Bink Skinner (Maria) of Woodbridge, Virginia, Kenny Trewin (Jason) of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Katie Neilson (Rob) of Jacksonville; her great-grandchildren Ashley Skinner and Cooper Skinner of Woodbridge, Virginia; and her nephew, Craig Patterson (Kim) of St. Johns, Florida.

A graveside service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at the Jacksonville National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the Safe Animal Shelter in Clay County.