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Katherine Cragg Horney: September 23, 1923 – January 6, 2002

A Son’s Perspective
By Jack Horney

My Mom passed away of cancer on January 6, 2002. She fought the disease for over three years. I think about my Mom all the time. I want you to know her, because she was a very special person. I’ve had a chance to think about my Mom, not just from a son’s perspective, but the other aspects of her life; a sister, a college classmate, a sorority sister, a wife, a teacher, a neighbor, a friend and a grandmother.

What strikes me most was the number of friends she had. Not just people who she knew, but true friends, individuals that she has known for 60 years, people that she has stayed in contact with on a regular bases, people who trusted her, valued her opinion and just enjoyed her company. All of these friendships have passed the test of time and distance.

I know you as groups, Kitty knew you as individuals, each different, each special to her. The groups include; The Sorority, Classmates at Towson State Teacher’s College, St. Timothy’s Parish Day School, neighbors and friends on Edridge Way in Catonsville, Maryland and Palm Coast Florida, and of course her family.

The Sorority:
I just heard the other day, that the sorority actually had a name, "Delta Sigma Beta, Beta Chapter", but I still don’t understand what you were affiliated with, except each other, and there is no other reason necessary. As a group they shared high school proms, college, engagements, weddings, children and grandchildren.

I can’t tell you how many times I heard my Mom say, I’m going out with the sorority, and a smile would come across her face. Those meetings every other Wednesday were never considered a chore, but an opportunity to be with very special people. I know she was very close with each and everyone of you, but it was also the group she loved being apart of "The Sorority" Carolyn, Lib, Betty, Doris, and Dottie - you are truly sisters to my Mom, in every sense of the word.

Towson’s State Teacher’s College:
My Mom graduated from College in three years, and my brother, sister and I were amazed that she could do that, and gave credit to her academic ability. Mom gave credit to WWII and there wasn’t much else to do. I’m sure there was time for a party or two, and again she developed lasting friendships. She was very proud of being an alumnus of Towson State Teacher’s College and always attended the reunions. As with the sorority, Mom’s friendships and relationships with her college classmates have lasted over 50 years. Larry and Judy with Mom you not only shared the good old college days, but a lifetime fun and sharing.

A Teacher:
Mom taught in Baltimore City for a year or two, but her real teaching career was right here at St. Timothy’s Parish Day School. To the best of our knowledge she was one of the original teachers along with Anna Phillips and Joyce Towns. She taught here for 23 years.

Mom loved to teach, and looked forward to every September and a new class eager to learn. She seemed to get a gleam in her eye as she started creating bulletin boards, writing nametags and developing lesson plans. She influenced over 450 students, providing them with the individual attention they needed and the skills required as they prepared for elementary school. The best compliment she had was teaching kids of former students – and hearing them reminisce about her as a teacher. She also knew that when that occurred it was time to end her career and she retired in 1978.

226 Edridge Way – Catonsville:
The Baums, Rossbergs, Chambers, to name just a few.
Edridge Way was a not just neighborhood, but family and again, strong friends and relationships developed that have lasted even after individuals retired and moved away. Mom and Dad moved to Edridge Way in 1952, and lived there until they retired and moved to Florida in 1980. The past 21 years have not eroded these relationships; in fact I think some are even stronger.

Catilian, bridge games, parties or just sitting in the back yard, it was very common for a group of friends just to be visiting and enjoying each other’s company. Hanging out, as my generation would call it.

Palm Coast, Florida:
I know it was difficult for my Mom to leave Edridge Way, and all her friends in Baltimore, but off to Palm Coast she went in 1980. Mom’s outgoing personality and sincerity made it easy to meet and make many new friends. Her golf game developed and she had a real love for the game. Flight Championships, and Chair-lady of 2 different women’s golf associations kept her busy. My brother is probably the only golf professional to have fewer hole-in-ones than his mother - Mom had two!

Mom was unique. She was beautiful inside and out. Her smile, her warmth, and her sincere interest in all of us made her standout. She never seem to forget a fact, was interested in the smallest details, and most of all was caring and loving.

Her Family:
Mom was a sister. Tim Cragg is her older brother and through her eyes he could do no wrong. She truly loved you, looked up to you and admired all you accomplished. I’m sure like all brothers and sisters they had their moments, but I never heard any of those stories, only stories of love and support.

Mom was a Grandmother, 7 times. If you measured her love for her grandchildren by pictures alone, no one could love more. Lindsey, Kylie, Brooke, Mark Jr., Tyler, Annie, and Matthew, you were all the center of her life. She knew more about you than you can imagine, and talked about you all the time. She loved hearing about what you were up to - in school, sports, hobbies and just growing up. You were always in her thoughts.

Peggy, Donna and Mark: Mom never thought of you as in-laws, just 2 more daughters and a son. Yes, she thought you were all very lucky to have married one of her children, but having accomplished that, you were part of her family and she loved you because you loved us. She talked about you, enjoyed your company, and admired your special qualities.

Bill, Pris and me: We knew all along that our Mom was special. She was our biggest fan, understood our individual needs, and made each of us a better person. My wife calls me a "Momma’s boy", because whenever we visited Florida, my Mom would cook my favorite meal, stratch my back, and wash and iron my clothes as I took them off. Peggy teased me as well as my Mom about spoiling "us"

When Bill and I were both in college, she would write to us every Sunday night. In the beginning we both would get originals, but she than started using carbon paper and one of us would get a copy. She had a subtle way of telling us if she wasn’t hearing from one of us often enough, by sending that person the carbon copy every week. She would also change from Dear Bill and Jack to Dear William and Jack or Dear William and John. Bill won the award for most carbons, but he was a senior and I was only a freshman.

Mom also had a special Mother’s intuition. She always seemed to know when something was happening. Priscilla remembers her pulling her aside and telling her she was going to marry Mark, a day or two before they were going to announce it. Mom also knew when Pris was pregnant, again privileged information. Mom had a way of knowing us better than we knew ourselves.

Mom even made our friends feel special. She would take a genuine interest in them and they knew it. They enjoyed coming to our house and talking with her. She had a skill of being able to listen and communicate with anyone, even teenagers.

Dad: Mom would follow you anywhere – and she did. Washington State during the war, to Palm Coast in retirement. You were truely best friends, 57 years of marriage only tells part of the story. Anyone that saw you together knew right away that your love was special. She talked about you all the time, enjoyed the challenges and rewards of marriage. I know how special the past 21 years have been living in Florida. Being able to enjoy each other during retirement, playing golf and traveling around the world or just going to the beach and watching the ocean, you two shared a deep bond. I want to thank-you for taking care of her all those months; you never left her side.

Kitty Horney was a special person, and words can’t describe how she impacted us all. We have all been blessed because our lives have been touched and influenced by her.

Keep her in your hearts, because I know we are in hers.