Kathryn Ann Lively

KATHRYN ANN LIVELY (FOX)

Weatherford, Texas

“Kate the Great”, was 93 years old when she passed away on her farm, Wednesday, November 30th at 2:00 p.m.

Kate was born in Bethany, Illinois to Earl and Eugenia Fox. She has one brother, Art Fox (Ruby), of Parker, Arizona.

Kate was an accomplished pianist from an early age playing at church and special occasions. She graduated from the high school in Shelbyville, Illinois (where she first got her taste for crowns, as Homecoming Queen). It was in high school that she met her partner for life and only love, Judson Richard Lively. They wed at First Methodist Church of Shelbyville on December 17, 1947. They were married for 60 years, celebrating this milestone just days before Judson’s death on January 7, 2008. The farm is filled with beautiful poems, cards, and drawings he did for her through the years. Jud and Kate had five children: Jeane (Harris), Judson Bruce, Jill, Joel (deceased), and Jeff.

Throughout their marriage, they lived in various cities in Illinois, Colorado, Arizona, California and Texas. Judson was a bi-vocational pastor and tool design engineer, last working at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth. They were devout Christians, and their church home of 30 years, 11th Avenue Bible Church in Mineral Wells, Texas, was where they had their deepest roots. Jud was Associate Pastor and Kate was the undeniable “Piano Princess” (and had a crown perched on the baby grand). She released two CDs in her later years full of her favorite hymns.

Jud and Kate lived a full and interesting life, always putting each other first… except when it came to garage sales. Neither sleet nor snow, nor rain, nor Texas heat could keep Kate home when there were bargains awaiting. Some of her grandchildren’s earliest memories are of her waking them early on Saturday, piling them in the car, and driving erratically to get to the first sale. Her home (and garage, shed, and barn) were full of her treasures.

Kate was quite entertaining. She was a pastor’s wife, pianist, seamstress, bargain hunter and antique dealer. From her various booths at antique malls throughout Fort Worth, she made lifelong friends. She was well known for her sense of humor (sometimes irreverent), generosity, creativity, work ethic, immaculate home, love for dogs, and devotion to her family and friends. Her love was unconditional. She was easy to love and distinguishable by her sense of fashion and her beautiful head of white hair, of which she was very proud.

Kate’s joy and the objects of devotion were her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews: Christian Schofield Harris (wife Sarah Clem), of Little Rock, ARK, and daughters, Sadie and Scarlett, Emily Gaydos (husband Michael) of Weatherford, TX and daughters, Hazel and Kathryn (her namesake), Lauren Lively of Houston, TX, Jeff Allen (wife Claudia) of Arlington, TX and sons, Michael and Christopher, Stacy Allen Webster (husband Frank) of Austin, TX and children, Sophie and Jameson, Jason Womboldt of Houston, TX, Jordan Lively (wife Ashley) of Burleson, TX and children, Marleigh and Beckham, Josh Lively of Basalt, CO, Robin Fox (Steve) of Mesa, AZ and daughter, Sarah, Gary Fox (Judy) of Columbus, GA. and son, Matt, Tom Fox (Jenny) of Worden, MT and Breann, Jake, and Ryan.

Her sense of humor was legendary. She had a rare gift for turning friends into family, sensing when someone was unmoored and scooping them up and enveloping them into her beautiful life. She made you feel like the most important person in the room and was always on your side. This inspired devotion and fierce loyalty from those around her. She was adored by all children, including (but not limited to) her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Her farm in Weatherford was a magical place, especially in the summer, filled with laughter, hiding places, slumber parties, Burger’s Lake, treehouses, mint tea, fishing and swimming in the pond, silly songs, games, homemade ice cream, Nigerian Dwarf Goats, and numerous dogs.

As one grandchild put it, “She was home.”

We are not sure how to live in a world where “Kate the Great” is not. The hole is cavernous. For now, we must be content with memories and figuring out what to do with all the shoes, clothes, purses, jewelry and sunglasses.

We thank God for placing this unique and wonderful woman in our lives. God now has his hands full.

A memorial service will be held at 11th Avenue Church in Mineral Wells, Texas on Saturday, December 31st from 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Lunch will be served.