Mrs. Nancilee Katherine Kaatz

Nancilee Katherine Kaatz, 79, of Gary, Texas, passed away peacefully at her home on October 27, 2024 after a lengthy illness. She was born on January 4, 1945 in Abilene, Texas to her parents Carrie Lois Gameson and Marvin Lowrey Downey and her brother, Merwin Leon Downey, whom she adored. Nanci was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who lived a life filled with love, creativity, and faith. Over the years, she was blessed with wonderful, caring friends and she treasured those friendships deeply. Nanci was a proud 1963 graduate of Hawley High School where she excelled both academically and athletically. After graduation, she attended business college and then went on to work in a variety of fields. A majority of her professional life was dedicated to Southwestern Bell, where she was known for her strong work ethic and warm spirit. Through her work at SWB, she met the love of her life, Bob Kaatz, and together they enjoyed 34 wonderful years of marriage. Nanci was a talented seamstress who loved making garments, her daughter’s wedding dress, home décor items, and any type of dress-up clothes or costumes her grandchildren could think of. After her retirement, she became an avid quilter and spent countless hours creating beautiful pieces that brought joy to family and friends. She was a member of both the Busy Quilters Guild and the Panola Squares Quilt Club in Carthage, TX and served as co-chair of the Piney Woods Quilt Festival for ten years. She was also a member of “Women in Stitches”, a local hand-quilting Bee, where she made lasting friendships and enjoyed hours of fun and fellowship. More than anything, Nanci loved spending time with and serving her family. She was an excellent cook and enjoyed having everyone gathered together, whether it was for a holiday dinner, a weeknight supper, or a weekend pizza and movie night. She and Bob shared their home openly and generously and she recounted often that she was blessed to have had five generations of her family live on the same property over the years. She enjoyed road trips, helping in her daughter’s business, volunteering in the community, and attending any event that involved her grandchildren or great-grandchildren. Her faith and commitment to her church family were evident in her active participation in church activities, where she made even more lasting friendships, and inspired others with her kindness and generosity. Her warm smile, nurturing spirit, and unwavering love will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Nanci is preceded in death by her parents, Lois and Marvin; her brother, Merwin; and her stepson, Ronald Kaatz. Left to cherish her memory are her devoted husband, Robert (Bob) Kaatz; her loving daughter and son-in-law Lycia & Michael Evanoff; her precious grandchildren: Matthew Dickenson & wife Jennifer, Emily Spuza & husband Preston, and Parker Dickenson; five great-grandchildren whom she cherished and adored: Henry Spuza, Tegan Spuza, Quincy Spuza, Zoe Dickenson, and Oliver Dickenson; and sister-in-law Joan Downey. A funeral will be held in her honor at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 2, 2024 at the Tenaha Church of Christ with Dr. Andrew King officiating. Burial will follow in the Ramah Cemetery under the direction of Hawthorn Funeral Home. Visitation will be 6-8:00 p.m. Friday night at Hawthorn Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be made in Nancilee’s honor to Tenaha Church of Christ, P.O. Box 204, Tenaha, TX 75974 or HeartsWay Hospice of Northeast Texas, P.O. Box 5608, Longview, TX 75608 or online at https://www.heartswayhospice.org/about/donate/. The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the entire staff of HeartsWay Hospice - Carthage for their kindness, support, and care, most especially Alysha Cockerham whose guidance during our precious “Gigi’s” final days with us was kind, thoughtful, and helpful beyond measure. An online guestbook may be signed at: www.hawthornfuneralhome.com

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Mrs. Nancilee Katherine Kaatz

January 4, 1945 - October 27, 2024