Kathryn Brooke Hammons

Kathryn Bergeron Hammons passed away peacefully on the evening of May 8, 2025, at her home in Lake Jackson, Texas. She is survived by her husband Roger; sisters Karol, Mary, and Annie; sons Chris and Matt; daughters-in-law Daniela and Terri; and grandchildren Emilie and Nathaniel.

Kathryn is the daughter of Russell "Bobby" Bergeron and June Poirrier Bergeron. She was born on February 3, 1949, in Houma, Louisiana, and grew up immersed in the rich Cajun culture of beignets, boudin, crawfish, and Mardi Gras. Her tiny house on Duval Street included her parents, three sisters, and an older brother. The house was rich in love and traditions and always full of extended family, neighbors, red beans and rice, card games, and laughter.

Kathryn was encouraged to follow her artistic interests as a child, particularly by her dear mother, June. Kathryn practiced ballet and tap dance, played the clarinet, and was a twirler and majorette in the Terrebonne High School marching band. She loved to write, evident in the numerous letters and poems she exchanged with her mother and Roger. Throughout her life, Kathryn continued this tradition and would sometimes write letters of condolence and encouragement to strangers who had suffered tragedies she read about in the newspaper.

Kathryn graduated from Northwestern Louisiana State University in 1968, majoring in Home Economics. She was considered by many to be the "belle of the campus" with stunning good looks and a great smile. While she caught the eye of many young men on campus, a skinny boy named Roger from Harrison, Arkansas, managed to catch her heart. The two enjoyed the music and dancing of the late 1960s, attending college football games in Natchitoches and touring the French Quarter in New Orleans. They were married in 1969. They moved to Fort Hood, Killeen, Texas, after Captain Roger Hammons volunteered to fly helicopters during the Vietnam War. Their first son, Chris, was born at Fort Hood in 1970, but Kathryn and Chris returned to Houma for a year while Roger was deployed overseas.

When Roger returned from Vietnam, the young couple moved to Abbeville, Louisiana. Kathryn completed a Master's in Education and their second son Matt was born in 1974. The young family made their way to Lake Jackson, Texas, in the mid-1970s, where Kathryn taught elementary school in Jones Creek and then Home Economics at Brazoswood High School. She spent the latter part of her career teaching Computer Science at Lake Jackson Intermediate School. Many of her lifelong friends stem from her days as a teacher.

Like all little boys, Chris and Matt believed their momma to be the most beautiful lady in the whole wide world. She was always quick with a smile and hug. Rather than punish, she was prone to impart important life lessons about decency, community, and family. She made fabulous cakes for birthday parties and fantastic costumes for Halloween, school plays, and church pageants. She loved to sew, and her boys enjoyed a childhood of sock monkeys, superhero capes, and Star Wars costumes. In retirement, she won several awards for her quilting artistry and often passed on her creations as keepsakes and gifts.

Kathryn was a voracious reader. She liked vampire stories and ghost tales, probably due to her upbringing in the New Orleans area. She also read histories and biographies of British kings, queens, and the Royal Family. While she could playfully imagine herself as Queen of England, she took comfort in small things like Hershey's Kisses and little bottles of cold Coca-Cola. She joked that she was a queen with simple tastes.

Later in life, her grandkids (Emilie and Nathaniel) knew her as Granny Kat and enjoyed spending nights at her house and hearing her talk with a lost Cajun accent that sometimes spilled over in ways that made them giggle. One summer, Granny Kat bravely joined the entire family for a tree-top adventure and ziplining in Durango, Colorado (even if she did skip most of the activities).

Kathryn made many close friends in Lake Jackson over the years. She valued their friendship and shared experiences and relied on them for strength and comfort, particularly during her illness. Her family is extremely grateful for the prayers, kindness, and efforts made on her behalf. You brought her peace and normalcy at a time when both were lacking.

These last few years with Lewy Body Dementia were difficult. Even during her worst nights, she was brave and strong. She knew what was happening to her and didn't like it. She had good days and bad. She fought to enjoy each good day left to her. On her bad days, she powered through with varying degrees of success but always with grace and dignity.

Her boys and grandkids watched with awe and respect as Roger and Kathryn weathered this terrible disease together. It took a toll on them both. Each time a little piece of Kathryn evaporated, Roger stepped up to fill the void. He was with her until the very end. Their love and commitment remind us of the timeless words of 1 Corinthians:  "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

In place of flowers, please consider donating to the Lewy Body Dementia Association in Kathryn's name.

www.lbda.org/donate