Catherine Kinard Latz

Catherine was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend. While dancing was her professional passion, God, family and her friends were the center of her life. She moved to El Campo in 1950 and opened her first dance school in the American Legion Hall. She would continue teaching dance for over fifty years in El Campo, Houston and Sugar Land. At the age of 80, she danced in the 55th annual recital of the Kinard School of Dance with her daughter Carolyn and granddaughter Cori. During her dancing career, Catherine touched the lives of thousands of students, teachers and parents as a teacher and friend.

However, Catherine’s true passion was her family and friends. She consistently gave the most important things one person can give to another, her time, attention and love. She was a very kind and caring person with a strong will and impeccable character. Catherine leaves behind a legacy of showing kindness, compassion, and love to her family and friends.

Catherine is survived by her brother Colonel John T. Rickert and wife Josie, sister Mary Jane Houssiere and sister-in-law, Elizabeth Rickert; children Cecil Kinard and wife Linda, Nancy Mickelson and husband Tom, Bill Kinard and wife Pam, and Carolyn Reese. She is also survived by eleven grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents Albert and Catherine Browne Rickert, brother Albert Rickert, husbands Billy Latz, Cecil Kinard and John Latz and her lifelong friend, Betty “Miss Fitz” Fitzgerald.

Arrangements are under the direction of Earthman Southwest Funeral Home and a viewing will be held at their location in Stafford, Texas on Sunday, November 20th from 5:00 to 7:00 with a Rosary following. A Mass and celebratory reception will be held at St. Laurence Catholic Church in Sugar Land at 10:00 AM on Monday, November 21st.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Laurence Catholic Church or to Houston Hospice, 1905 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, Texas. The hospice staff were a wonderful blessing to Catherine, as well as to her children and their spouses, during her final days on earth.