Kathleen Francis (Andries) Harris

Kathleen Francis Andries Harris passed away on March 6th, 2025, at Legend Oaks Rehabilitation and Healthcare in Kyle, Texas at the age of 70. Diagnosed in August with IDH-mutant astrocytoma, she gently left this world, her hands held by the family that surrounded her.

Kathleen, or “Kathy,” was born on September 21, 1954, in Longview, Texas. The second oldest of nine children, she was charged with taking care of the younger siblings, a role that she would carry for the rest of her life. She attended Tomball High School in Tomball, TX, where she took part in cheerleading, pageants, choir, and the theatre program. It was in the performing arts that she embraced her first true love of singing. Her voice often brought tears to the eyes of those that heard it and led her to study voice at Sam Houston State University. She wouldn’t finish her coursework, however, instead deciding after a year to devote her life to a different path: motherhood. She gave birth to her first child, Jennifer, in 1974, followed by her second, Christy, in 1979. After becoming a mother, she found herself becoming a “Jackie”-of-all-trades in order to ensure that her kids always had what they needed: working as a horse trainer, a paralegal, administrative assistant, director of airport security at Robert Mueller Airport, apartment manager…. She did a little bit of everything.

She would be struck by a major blow in 1986, when she had a massive stroke, which left her unable to speak and with severe limitations in movement. But those that knew her will not be surprised to know that, after a month in the hospital, she walked out of the front doors with her ability to speak and to walk once more. Four years later, after the birth of her youngest daughter, Kimberly, in 1990, she was hit with another severe stroke. But, as before, she fought her way back and found her way back home to care for her children.

In the year 2000, Jennifer (Kathy’s oldest), gave birth to her first child, William, making Kathy a grandmother. By 2009, she was a grandmother five times over, a role she thrived in. Her favorite part was going over to visit her grandchildren, giving them plenty of sugary sweets, and then leaving her daughter and son-in-law to deal with the aftereffects. Unfortunately, by 2011, both Jennifer and her husband, Clint, had passed away and Kathy was chosen by the pair to step in as guardian for their five children in their absence. She often heard comments from people, saying that they “didn’t know how she did it”. But, in her words, “you just do it.” She was a caretaker until the very end of her life. If someone needed her, she would be there, whether it was her siblings, her parents, her children, her grandchildren, or a stranger on the street, she would offer a helping hand.

Even at the end of her life, Kathleen loved to sing and to listen to music. She had a sharp intellect, a witty sense of humor, and a wonderful laugh. She will be dearly missed by the many that knew her.

Kathy is preceded in death by her mother, Carol Ann Bennington Andries, her father, Francis Milton Andries, and her youngest sister, Elizabeth Carol Andries. She is also preceded in death by her daughter, Jennifer Ann Coleman Slatton and her husband, Kenneth Clinton Slatton.

She is survived by her daughters, Christine Louise Recio, 45, and Kimberly Michelle Davis, 34, and her husband, John Perry; her five grandchildren: William Henley Slatton, 23, Emma Victoria Slatton, 21, Ryan Philip Slatton, 19, John “Jack” Spencer Slatton, 17, and Thomas Kent Slatton, 15, all of Pflugerville, Texas.

Kathy’s surviving siblings and extended family are: Christopher Ralph Andries, 73, and his wife, Stephanie Andries, of Plano, Texas, and their son, Derek Andries and his wife Nicole Andries of Austin, Texas;

Karen Ann Andries Lumpe, 69, of Niwot, Colorado, her husband, Jerry Lumpe, and their sons; Jared Lumpe and Aaron Lumpe; Mark Gilbert Andries, 67, of San Diego, California; Helen Elizabeth Andries, 65, of Seattle, Washington; Elaine Claire Andries Hartle, 63, of San Marcos, Texas, her husband Steve Hartle, and their sons; Reece Hartle and his wife, Brittany, their daughter Braxton, Keith Hartle, Gabe Hartle, and Caleb Hartle; Paul John Andries, 61, and his fiancé, Lori Kangun of Austin, Texas; Therese Louise Andries Alexander, 60, of San Antonio, Texas, and her daughter, Madeleine Alexander.

Kathleen is also survived by her cousins; Suzanne Bennington Hall of Carrollton, Texas and her husband Steve Hall and Carol Ann Bennington Ratliff and her husband Steve Ratliff of Dallas, Texas, Bobby Yelverton of Dallas, Texas and Melissa Yelverton of Dallas, Texas.

A celebration of Kathy's life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, March 16, 2025 at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home in Pflugerville.