Katherine Davidson Dickson, known to her friends as Kay, was born August 16, 1925. She was a native Memphian, the only child of the late Robert Parks Davidson and Elbye Neal Davidson. She was raised on the family farm outside the rural town of Collierville, Tennessee.
Her father contracted Malaria while abroad on a business trip. He died suddenly when Katherine was ten years old. During the following years, due to her father’s premature death, she and her mother would leave the farm during the school year while her mother taught school wherever there were jobs available in the Memphis and north Mississippi areas.
Katherine graduated with a teaching degree from Memphis State College in 1945. She taught high school English for a short while in Arkansas. She was a great encourager of education and always said that education could not be taken away from you. Years later, she took continuing education courses in accounting.
She met her husband when her mother accepted a teaching job in the East Tennessee town of Englewood. Teaching at the same school was her future mother-in-law. She met, dated and married the love of her life, Harold Wayne Dickson. Shortly thereafter, they returned to Memphis to live. While she worked as a bookkeeper for King Juices, Wayne was able to study and graduate from Memphis State College. Later, she became the bookkeeper for Flicka Sales and eventually kept the books for Wayne’s grocery store, D & D Big Star.
Wayne and Kay were blessed with fifty six years of marriage before Wayne passed away in February 2005. Together they raised two daughters. She leaves Doris D. Pittman (Carlton) of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and Patricia D. Holder (Elmer) of Bartlett, Tennessee.
She was affectionately known as ‘Nan Nan’ to her four grandchildren, Katherine Holder Peak (Chris) of Arlington, Tennessee, William Pittman of Austin, Texas, Edward Pittman of New York City, and Patrick Holder of Bartlett and one great-grandson.
Kay worshipped with the Jackson Avenue church of Christ where she was active in teaching children’s Bible classes. She later attended the Sycamore View church of Christ which was formerly the Jackson Avenue congregation and most recently worshipped with the Great Oaks church of Christ.
She enjoyed playing the piano, sewing, reading and taking care of her canine and feline companions.
The family greatly appreciates the Baptist Reynolds Hospice House for their kindness and compassion in caring for her during her final days.
A gathering of family and friends for Katherine will be held Friday, July 12, 2019 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38133, followed by a celebration of life service from 2:00 PM to 2:45 PM.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralGermantownParkway.com for the Dickson family.
