Kathryn Diane Gregory

A native Houstonian, Kathryn was born to Kegham and Alice Hovas Gregory on Nov. 23, 1934. She graduated from San Jacinto High School in 1952 and the University of Texas in Austin in 1956. A classically trained pianist in her early days, Kathryn eventually employed her artistic talents in the pursuit of photography. Her subjects were many and varied, from a burgeoning downtown Houston skyline in the 1970s to the native flora and fauna of Africa, which she photographed while on five safaris. Kathryn was an enthusiastic global traveler, eventually logging time on all seven continents. She was especially proud of her Armenian heritage, visiting her family’s ancestral homes throughout the Middle East and western Asia, cooking Easter bread by a traditional recipe every spring and captivating her many friends and family members with her photographs and stories from abroad. She also served as an officer at Gregory-Edwards, Inc., a mechanical contractor founded by her father in 1946. Her liveliness and quick humor, appreciation for art and good food, and keen and caring presence will be missed by all who knew and loved her. She is preceded in death by her parents Kegham S. and Alice Hovas Gregory and sister Carolyn Gregory Souther.

She is survived by her brother William A. Gregory and wife Gloria Hill, niece Theresa Gregory and husband Martin Hajovsky, nephew William A. Jr. and wife Kelly Gregory, nephew Douglas and wife Meryl Gregory, Devon and Thomas Sinkovic, great-nephews Timothy and Nathaniel Hajovsky, Jeremy, Barrett and Griffin Gregory, Taylor Camacho and William A. Gregory III, Madeline and Luke Sinkovic, extended family and many dear friends. The family wishes to send special appreciation to Kathryn’s caretakers, especially Ms. Ruth Otieno, who in Kathryn's final years provided loving attention and eased her passage from this life.

A memorial service for Kathryn will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 14 in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. Reception to follow at a venue to be announced during the service. In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions in Kathryn’s name may be directed to the Phi Beta Kappa Alumni Association of Greater Houston, online at pbkhouston.com/scholarships.