Kathy Roberts

Katherine Roberts died on Sunday, July 28, 2019 at age 63. She passed away at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, Texas after a long illness. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday August 17, 2019 2pm-4pm, at Stonebriar Funeral Home, in Frisco Texas.

Kathy was born on April 6, 1956 in Chattanooga, Tennessee to Alma Ellis Barnes. She was the second of four siblings and grew up in the Kingspoint community of East Chattanooga. She graduated from Central High School and married her high school sweetheart, Jeff Roberts. They were married for over 45 years with no children.

Kathy had a personality that would light up the room and her laugh was one of the most beautiful sounds in the world. She was smart with a quick wit and her big brown eyes would sparkle with her delightful, often mischievous playfulness. She and Jeff married very young. Her mother signed for her to get married at age 17. Kathy and Jeff grew up together and really became like one person.

Kathy worked at a variety of difficult jobs in fast food to help pay for Jeff to get through college. She had a strong work ethic and started babysitting when she was 12 years old, so she could have her own money. She was tenacious and overcame her abusive father and childhood struggles to live a very successful happy life. In 1978, she and Jeff left their families and moved to Memphis for Jeff to go to graduate school. While there she managed a delicatessen and had several regulars who came there mainly to see her. Kathy didn’t like school, but she was willing to work hard to support Jeff and when she was able to stop working, she continued to support his career throughout her life.

Jeff got a job in New Orleans and they moved there in 1980. Kathy loved New Orleans, especially the great food and music. The city fit her personality. She enjoyed visiting the variety of shops in the French Quarter looking for special old things. She and Jeff ended many days at Café Du Monde enjoying coffee and beignets. They moved to the Dallas area in 1982 and lived there until her death. They made many great friends in DFW and during the 1980’s Kathy loved to throw parties and spend time with her friends. She and Jeff started a chili cookoff that grew to over 200 guests and involved several of their friends to put on a show. It was an event that people looked forward to and still remember.

She was an excellent artist and enjoyed drawing and making special crafts for friends and family. She loved Christmas and made hand-crafted packages for giving presents. She had a unique talent for giving people the perfect gift in the perfect package. Kathy loved children and animals, with a special place in her heart for cats. She loved Fidget and Frodo, her two cat “kids”. They both lived long lives, but she was devastated when they died in the late 1990’s.

Kathy enjoyed a variety of music but she especially loved Elvis Presley, Motown and Steve Perry. She was an excellent dancer and she and Jeff enjoyed going out to dance during the disco years. Before her health worsened, they went to a lot of concerts and plays. Kathy loved old musicals like “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”. She also enjoyed horror films. She liked being scared. Kathy liked entertainment that was romantic and exciting.

Kathy’s favorite place was the area in and around the Great Smoky Mountains. She loved the woods, the streams and mountains. She and Jeff took many trips to the Smokies over the years. Kathy would take in the peace and tranquility of the foggy mornings and she would marvel at the dance of the fireflies at night. The beauty of the fall foliage drew her back again and again. That was her happy place.

Kathy had a heart attack the day before her 37th birthday in 1993 and spent 9 days in intensive care. She recovered with triple bypass surgery and had a few good years. In the late 1990’s she began to have recurring problems with her heart and lungs and became increasingly home bound. Her physical abilities slowly deteriorated but she maintained her humor and zest for life. She was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis and in April 2019 her symptoms worsened dramatically. The last 90 days of her life were very difficult and her courage in the face of her struggle was inspiring. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation in her name.

Kathy was preceded in death by her mother, Alma Barnes of Hixson, Tennessee; brother, Joie Barnes of Dallas, Texas; and sister, Carolyn Nayadley of Hixson, Tennessee.

She is survived by her husband Jeff Roberts of Oak Point, Texas; sister, Donna Bass of Hixson, Tennessee; sister-in-law, Gaye Roberts of Oak Point, Texas; and mother-in-law Shirley Jarrett of Oak Point, Texas.

Kathy was an incredible wife, sister, daughter and friend. She will be missed beyond belief.