Kathy Souther

Kathy was born December 18, 1957, in Jacinto City, TX to Robert ‘Pat’ and Patricia ‘Pat’ Souther, both whom predecease her. Kathy is survived by two brothers: Gary and his wife Lisa and their sons Shelby and Shane; Michael and his wife Becky and their daughter Avery and son Ben; her beloved dogs Lilly and Oliver; and many friends who were like family to her.

Kathy grew up in a loving home, living in Texas, California and New Jersey. She graduated from Texas A&M University in 1980 with a B.S. in Sociology. Moving to Houston, she eventually began a career in sales at Kelly Services. Kathy’s gregarious personality and strength in communication skills propelled her through several promotions, leading to an eventual transfer to Austin, TX as a regional manager in 1993.

In 2004 she accepted a job in sales for Hewlett Packard which she held for 6 years. The position allowed her to travel, which was something she loved to do. In 2010 she combined her passion for gardening with a lifelong dream of owning her own company, and she started Serenity Scapes Landscape Design.

Kathy had a passion for many things. Like any good Souther, she loved to fish. Wherever there was water, she was always ready to wet a hook. She loved all the beautiful things nature has to offer our world, especially the rainbows that she knew represented God’s promise to us. She loved to be outdoors, whether sitting on her back porch watching humming birds dart amongst the many blooming flowers and plants she tended, or walking through the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the Texas Arboretum in Austin, or enjoying a zip line ride through a Costa Rican jungle. Her love for travel also took her to places like Argentina, England, France, Germany, Spain and Hawaii. Some of her fondest memories, though, came from spending time at the family’s nearby beach home in Galveston.

Kathy also loved to entertain. A mirrored disco ball that still hangs from the dining room ceiling of her house is a testament to her zeal for parties and celebration of life in general. Her love for disco music, even 30 years after most people have hung up their polyester suits, remains unmatched. And though she enjoyed being creative in the kitchen, and was an excellent chef in her own right, nothing pleased her more than dining out at a nice restaurant with friends.

Above all else Kathy loved spending time with her family and friends. She adored her niece and nephews, and though she did not have children of her own, she also heaped her love on her four legged schnauzer children Lilly and Oliver, and Daisy before them. Kathy also had many dear friends in Houston, Austin, and across the country.

Kathy was a member of Riverbend Church and was active in the Axis Sunday School Class at Hill Country Bible Church. Per her request, a memorial service will be held for her at the Smith Chapel in Riverbend Church in Austin, TX on Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any one of the charities that Kathy supported - Austin Children’s Shelter in Austin, TX; Riverbend Church in Austin, TX; and the Texas A&M Foundation, specifically for scholarship funding for students enrolled in the landscape architecture department.