KATHARINE "KAY" KOHLER

Katharine "Kay" Kohler, 97, entered into God's loving arms on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2006.A celebration of Kay's full life will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 18, in the Sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Nathaniel A.B. Hankins officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be her grandchildren. The family will receive visitors from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17, at Robert Massie Funeral Home. Kay was born on March 19, 1909, in Arapahoe, Neb., to Mary and Josiah Bratt. Her mother died when Kay was two years old. Kay was reared by her grandparents and an aunt. She graduated from Denver University in 1930, with a degree in business. After marrying Carl Kohler in 1936, they lived in Denver, Albuquerque, N.M., and finally settled in Lubbock, Texas. Kay taught upper-level courses in English, stenography and speed typing at Droughton Business School, where she taught until she was 66 years old. Throughout her life, she met adversity and challenges head-on and with steely determination that was tempered by a calm and subdued personality. Kay's marriage to Carl Kohler lasted 54 happy years, and he preceded her in death in 1990. Kay and Carl moved to San Angelo in the late 1970s and lived at Rio Concho Manor since 1984. Kay was a very active part of the Rio Concho community and enjoyed playing Bridge and dominoes with her friends on a weekly basis. She also loved to play Skip-Bo with her great-grandchildren. She leaves behind many dear friends but was welcomed by many others as she entered God's heavenly kingdom. She was a joyful member of First United Methodist Church for nearly 30 years and up until a month ago, regularly participated in her much-loved Delia Bolding Sunday school class. She passed on her care and concern for others to her children, who are active in mission work. A woman of quite authority, she had an independent streak which kept her from acting her age. Kay was dearly loved and her memory will be cherished by her two children, Carol Hirschfeld of San Angelo, Texas, and Bob Kohler and wife Judy of Bowling Green, Ky. Kay thoroughly enjoyed her eight grandchildren, David Hirschfeld Jr. and wife Betty of Frisco, Shawnee Hirschfeld Ingrum and husband Russell of Coppell, Kendall Hirschfeld and wife Lisa of San Angelo, Texas, Carla Kohler of Antioch, Tenn., Lisa Kohler McKay and husband Shaun of Bowling Green, Ky., Wendall Hirschfeld and wife Melanie of Austin, Texas, and Joel Kohler and wife Kim of Chicago. Her 14 great-grandchildren also held special places in her heart; Davy and Katy Hirschfeld, Alyssa, Aaron and Austin Ingrum, Chris, Amanda and Bobby Hirschfeld, Leigha and Kaleb McKay, Jacy and Miles Hirschfeld, and Arizona and Zavier Kohler. The family would especially like to thank Dr. Wade and the staff at San Angelo Community Medical Center, the staff at Regency House and Hospice of San Angelo for the respect and care they gave Kay in her last days. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, Methodist Assistance Fund, Hospice of San Angelo or a charity of the donor's choice.