Kathy Borth passed gently into eternity on Friday, April 19, 2024 at age 68.
Kathy was born November 2, 1955 in Denton, Texas to Aaron & Norlane Borth. She was preceded in death by maternal grandparents, W.V. & Mozelle Tunnicliff, paternal grandparents, H.H. & Katherine Borth, and both parents.
She is survived by one brother, Wm. Curtis Borth, one nephew, Wm. Curtis Borth II (L.C.), two grandnephews, Zach and Zayne Borth, one aunt, J’Nevlyne Tunnicliff Shrock, and four cousins: Rickie Borth, Donna Stewart, Myra Fleming & Myron J. Borth II (Scooter).
Kathy’s family moved frequently, so she attended grade school in several towns, including Denton, Slidell, Ponder, and Corinth, Texas. When she was ten years old she was baptized into Christ at the Denton Church of Christ. Kathy had a deep, abiding faith and was actively involved at the Liberty Church of Christ before her heath began causing her problems.
While in Corinth, she and her brother became members of the 4-H Club where for their project they raised polled Hereford calves to show. Kathy’s calf placed third at the Ft Worth Fat Stock Show and her brother’s placed ninth.
She then attended Strickland Junior High in Denton and played clarinet in the marching band before the family moved to Clay Como, Missouri. After junior high the family moved again to Liberty, Missouri.
Kathy had an outstanding work ethic and whether it was making a hooked rug or cooking something good to eat, she gave 100% of herself to the task at hand. She loved everybody! She began her career at Cook’s Discount Store while enrolled in Winnetonka High School in Kansas City, Missouri. After her graduation in 1974, she began a 19 year stint of work at Commercial Bank of Liberty, Missouri as Head Teller and Assistant Chief of Operations.
Kathy was loyal to a fault where her friends and family were concerned and would always ask if there was anything she could do for them or if there was something they needed. Her brother said she always told him, “Curtis, you know I love you! Let me could the ways…” There was a special relationship between Kathy and her maternal grandparents. In their eyes, she was like a daughter then a granddaughter. While they still lived in Texas she would use her vacation days to go see them. If her “Granny Mama” admored something Kathy was wearing or expressed a desire for something, Kathy wouldn’t rest until she had bought or ordered it for her. Her love for and devotion to PaPaw & Granny Mama was a beautiful thing to behold. She also doted on her mother, who knew she could depend on Kathy to see a job through to the end.
After the death of her father in 1989, Kathy and her family moved to Oklahoma to be near her maternal grandparents. She then worked for 19 years at the Citizen’s Bank in Edmond, Oklahoma where she served in several administrative positions. Her mother had multiple health issues which made Kathy’s life difficult, but she never lost her quick with and wonderful smile. If asked how she was, Kathy would reply, “I’m just a work in progress”. Her mother died from diabetes complications in 1998 and her loss hit Kathy hard. She had built her life around taking care of her grandparents and her mom. Their loss left a giant hole in Kathy’s gifts as a caregiver.
While at Citizen’s Bank, Kathy became very close friends with a kindred spirit named Patricia, who left Citizen’s Bank shortly after Kathy. Patricia and her husband developed a special bond with Kathy that lasted until 2023 when Patricia died unexpectedly. Kathy suffered acute depression after Patricia’s death and the sunny, friendly, fun-loving Kathy became more withdrawn and reclusive. She had a number of health issues that made walking and other activities difficult.
After a fall in her apartment left her unconscious and in need of hospital care, it became necessary to mover her into a nursing home where she would not be alone and unable to care for herself. She still retained her sweet smile through all of the discomfort and pain. Hospice care was brief because Kathy was focused on being with her loved ones again. Her “work in progress” completed its “progress” on April 19 and she can now “God Rest High on that Mountain”.
