Kate Estes Staggs

Kate Estes Staggs (Katy) of Nashville age 87 entered heavenly realms on Sunday, May 19, 2019. She is preceded in death by her Father Julis Estes, Mother Rachael Longworth Estes, and Brother Johnny Lee Estes. She is survived by her Son Von Varnell, Brother Jeff Estes and Wife Virginia, Brother Benton Estes and Wife Kathleen. Katy was born and raised in the East Tennessee town of Tazwell where scarcity was the norm, and necessity was the motivation. At the age of 20 Katy had managed to save enough money to move to Nashville where she had enrolled in a business college and later earned a degree. Katy then began a career as a book keeper and a few years later met her future husband, Gerald. They had a son together before divorcing in the late 1960's. Katy's success in providing a better life for her son than she had experienced was achieved through hard work, determination, and support from the Smith Springs Church of Christ community throughout the 1960's and 1970's. During the 1980's Katy changed career's when she and good friend, Joyce Mercer, together, walked away from their book keeping jobs to try their hands at hotel management. Pretty gutsy since neither of them had any experience within the hotel industry. However, their instincts and wills to succeed lead to them quickly becoming a highly respected and sought after management team known for transforming neglected properties into clean and desirable profit centers. Their reputation carried them quickly across the country. One challenge after another. And they were having fun! 1991 brought Katy back to Nashville to recover from a severe head injury suffered in an auto accident. Her rehabilitation included recovery from complete memory loss, multiple broken bones, and multiple surgeries to once again regain her independent life. Upon a full recovery Katy spent her next 25 years engaging a skill she learned from her Mother, Aunts, and neighbors as a child. Quilting. Katy quilted at home and also with her church group. The group donated their quilts to different charitable causes. Knitting was also a skill which Katy excelled at as she donated many, many "premmie blankets" she had made for premature born babies. Katys' "Katydid Quilts" as she called them also found their way into the arms and homes of people whom she had known and loved over the years. And sometimes their children too. Katy spent her final few days beneath a quilt made by her Mother and her Aunt Myrtle.

Services for Katy will be held on Thursday, May 30, 2019, at Hibbett and Hailey Funeral Home, 429 Donelson Pike, Nashville, TN. Visitation will start at 1:00 P.M. followed by the Funeral Service at 3:00 P.M. in the Chapel. As she learned early on, Katy spent her life caring for others. She touched the hearts of other people with love, guidance, and example leaving this world a better place. A wise woman recently said, "Katy lived her life the way she wanted to." And that she did. Katydid.