Kathy Mayberry

Kathy Rhea Mayberry, 62, passed away February 6, 2015, at Christopher House in Austin. Survivors include sons Dustin (Cecilia Fellet-Currie; granddaughter Olivia expected in April), Ian, and Nicolas (Elizabeth Zhao) Currie; sister Michelle Bearden (Doyle), brother Ed Mayberry; niece Elizabeth Nunnery (Shane and daughter Zoe), nephews Logan Bearden, and John and Ronnie Mayberry, and other extended family, plus her long-time beau Mike Koetting. Our family considers the Hockleys of High Wycombe as extended family.

Kathy, the second of three children, was born in Seguin, Texas, to Jack and Joyce Mayberry on December 19, 1952. Because her father was career Air Force, Kathy also lived in Anchorage, Alaska; Abilene, Texas; High Wycombe, England; and Council Bluffs, Iowa, before finishing high school at Crockett and living in Austin. She worked at IRS for 31 years, retiring as a taxpayer advocate.

All through life, Kathy’s sons came first. The cats she collected were a close second; there was never a stray cat that wasn’t welcomed at her house. She always had time to help someone solve problems. Kathy’s nephew John remembers spending hours on her deck talking about life. Her interests also included genealogy, and she searched records of ancient family members online and scanned photographs and old birth, marriage and death certificates for posterity. She indulged her lifelong love of horses with occasional rides whenever she could.

Kathy’s music tastes ranged from Roy Orbison to George Harrison, from Bob Dylan to Rod Stewart, from jazz to blues. With Mike, she loved to hear old blues musicians perform live, and with her brother, she met and heard artists like Billy Preston, Eric Burdon, Ian McLagan and Bobby Keys. But it was Orbison her sons remember hearing every morning before school.

Although Kathy loved bluebonnets, in lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Christopher House, Thundering Paws Animal Sanctuary or any other animal rescue organization.

A Funeral Service will be held, Friday, February 13, 2015 at 3:30 p.m. in the Chapel of Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks. Interment will follow at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Memorial Park.