In the comfort of her home of 68 years and enveloped in the love of her family, Kathryn Hamilton Willis (Kitty) passed away on Sunday, October 15, 2023, from Congestive Heart Failure. Kitty was 100 years old.
The third of four children, Kitty was born January 17, 1923, in Whitmire, SC, to John Gary Hamilton and Mary Ruby Corley Hamilton of Anderson, SC. Kitty graduated from Girl’s High School in Anderson in 1939 and continued her education at Anderson College. While Kitty enjoyed school, she enjoyed even more going to the soda shop after school each day to dance the Jitterbug with friends.
At 14, Kitty met her future husband James Willis (Jim) at a Halloween party. Kitty and Jim married in May 1944, and moved to Newport News, VA, where they worked for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) at Langley Research Center in Hampton. In 1954, Kitty and Jim moved to Huntsville, AL, with their two daughters and one on the way to join the Marshall Space Flight Center family working on the moon shot.
Kitty was many things to many people: a fun friend and co-worker; an involved and caring neighbor; a fastidious and excellent cook and homemaker; and a terrific mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Had she ever pursued a career in journalism, she would have made a crackerjack investigative reporter. Her parents used to say that if Kitty had five minutes with anyone, she would know more about them than they did themselves.
Kitty’s passion in later life was researching family genealogy and DNA ancestry. She was also deeply fascinated with space exploration and the discovery of multiple galaxies. Kitty was spunky, quick-witted, and playful. In short, she was a character. No one had to wonder where they stood with her.
Kitty was preceded in death by her husband; Jim Willis; her sons-in-law; Sam Stewart, Donald Ramsey, and Wayne Claeren; and her granddaughter; Julie Claeren.
Kitty is survived by her daughters, Kay Ramsey, Lisa Stewart, and Jan Kratohvil (Greg); her grandchildren, Emily Burch (Matthew), Gina Morrison (Jason), and Kirk Kratohvil (Jada); and her great-grandchildren, Hannah Ramsey, Leela Williams, Will Morrison, Henry Blewster, and Zelda Morrison. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Deepest thanks to Kitty’s longtime physician Dr. Brian Roberts whose sense of humor and excellent care were just the right medicine for her. Special thanks to the medical staff at Huntsville Hospital’s ER, MICU, and Sixth floor for world renown care and treating her “like royalty.” Special thanks to Hospice workers Dawn, Evelyn, and Sheila for their indispensable help and guidance and much needed reassurance as well as to Christy from Brite Star who steadied the ship mightily for Kitty and her girls with her highly skilled caregiving. A loving thank you to Landon at Laughlin Service Funeral Home for his gentle guidance through making funeral arrangements.
Very special thanks to longtime neighbor and friend Alton Lewis (Buddy) for his love and endless acts of generosity to help Kitty and the family in ways too numerous to count.
A private graveside service will be held at Maple Hill Cemetery officiated by Travis Collins, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, Huntsville. Pallbearers will be members of the family.
