Kathleen Ruth Simington Eagle

Kathleen Ruth Simington Eagle, age 84, passed away on February 2, 2012, at Sunnybrook Healthcare in Raleigh, NC. Kitty was born on June 9, 1927, in Clay County, Iowa, daughter of the late Lillie May Wertz and Leslie Harlow Simington. She was preceded in death by sisters Charlotte Blanche Simington Cherry Campbell and Geneva “Tillie” Marie Simington McGuire, and former husband Cole Wesley Eagle.

She is survived by her son, Don Jay Eagle of Raleigh, her grandchildren who loved her so: Sean Ragan Eagle of Raleigh and Leslie Anne Eagle of Washington, DC, former daughter-in-law Novie Beth Ragan Gad of Cary, oldest sister Zerena Frances Simington Dardis of Spencer, Iowa, youngest sister Luetta May Simington Seagren of Omaha, Nebraska, and several nieces and nephews, including Delores Cherry Batey of Raleigh.

Although Kitty was a child of the Depression, her sole complaint about her 1930s Iowa farm upbringing was the scratchy wool socks she had to wear. She was truly a member of the "greatest generation". The first to attend college in her family, she graduated in 3 years from the University of Iowa World War II-era nurses’ training, and went to work at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. An Army wife, she raised her family in Raleigh. She was always busy, taking in sewing during her years as a housewife. Finding herself single in midlife, she went back to work as an OR nurse supervisor at Wake Medical Center. For several years she ran the Side Street Cafe and a small antique gift shop in Oakwood, while also restoring her Victorian house around the corner and continuing to work full time as an OR nurse. A hard worker her whole life, only Parkinson’s Disease stopped her.

A devoted daughter, her life was peppered with regular road trips to visit her parents in Iowa, and in later years, she took care of them both in their infirmity. Kitty always enjoyed exchanging ideas about crafts with her four sisters. Ever the midwestern farm girl, she loved flowers; her yard was always ablaze with color.

Kitty often said her most precious gift was her grandchildren, and she was among the best of grammas – kind, never a harsh word, loving and supportive. She will be missed.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 1:00 PM at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home - 300 St. Mary's Street - Raleigh, NC 27605.

Condolences to the family at www.BrownWynneRaleigh.com