Kathryn Lois Rhodes

Kathryn Lois Rhodes, 91, of Uvalde, Texas, passed away on December 18, 2023 at 214 Martin Street in Uvalde, Texas.

She was born on September 20, 1932, to Alma Lee (Bostic) and Youngs O. Coleman in Uvalde, Texas.  As a child during the Great Depression and WWII she developed a keen sense of perseverance, money management and appreciation for the gifts that blessed her throughout her life.  Intelligent, precocious and inquisitive she was reported to have walked at the age of 9 months and loved to ask questions beyond what was expected.

As a teen she was an accomplished championship basketball player, loved to ride her horse in local parades, and played the clarinet.  She was involved in numerous clubs and social activities where she met two of her later to be husbands.  She also spent summers dancing at Garner State Park and enjoying the Frio River with friends.  Post high school she attended a beauty school where she learned to cut and style hair.  She loved to share this ability with her family for years to come.  In July 1951 she married Kenneth Garrett, joined the Church of Christ and soon began a life as wife and mother. Here she had her first child.  She moved from her hometown of Uvalde to San Marcos in 1955. After having two more children she later began a successful career with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company.  Due to her strong work ethic she was promoted to management. 

Along with her family she returned to Uvalde in 1969. Here she served as auxiliary volunteer at the Uvalde Memorial Hospital, taught bible class and song leading to young children, kept an immaculate home, and supported her children’s school activities.  She enjoyed many family trips to Lake Amistad, fishing, camping, and water skiing.  She also won many accolades on a Uvalde bowling league.

  In 1989 she and Kenneth moved to Campwood, Texas where she proudly managed the construction of her dream home near Lake Nueces.  She continued her devotion to serving within the Nueces Canyon Church of Christ and loved teaching Sunday school to young children, topping off her tenure of teaching at 40 years.   She traveled extensively with her husband on many vacations and business trips. She continued her studies in art, home design, and flower arrangement and became a talented landscape oil paint artist, exquisite interior home designer, superb rose gardener and had a keen eye for creating detailed beauty anywhere. One of her greatest pride and joys was having family holiday meal gatherings in her new home.  She had an active social life playing bridge regularly with friends, loved to go to dances and learned how to make fly fishing lures.  She used her artistic talents by painting a wall mural that blessed a Campwood restaurant for many years.  One of her most impressive accomplishments was to learn how to fly her husband Kenneth’s airplane.

Although the passing of her high school sweetheart and beloved husband Kenneth in 2010 was devasting, her resilient spirit carried her to the next chapter of giving and receiving love. While organizing a high school reunion she reacquainted with Roger Rhodes, high school friend and best friends with her husband Kenneth Garrett. 

On May 19, 2017 she moved to Lynn Haven, Florida and married Roger Rhodes.  She adored him and loved the excitement of a new community.  Here she used her many artistic skills to create yet another beautiful warm and loving home and life.  She was showered with kindness and generosity by her new husband.   Her innate resiliency and strength were handy tools that supported her through the destruction of her home by Hurricane Micheal and the complicated challenges of life with a blended family.  

She returned to Uvalde in September 2022 to live at 214 Martin Street.  She spent her remaining year reconnecting with family, survived radiation treatment for skin cancer, and made new friends.   Sadly, she lost her loving husband Roger in August 2023.  Gratefully she found love again with a wonderfully sweet man she referred to as “my boyfriend”, who lovingly supported her throughout her passing.  She kept staff at 214 Martin Street on their toes with her many antics as well as kindnesses.

A devoted wife, mother and Christian, despite all the adversities that she encountered, she always looked to the future with strength and determination. Her self-presentation always reflected meticulous forethought to style, color, and turn out.  The greatest loves of her life were her parents, husbands, children, church, art, learning new skills, coffee, Dr. Pepper, Hobby Lobby, Walmart, perusing flea markets, and her sacred iconic purse.  Her legacy of gentle affection, generosity of love, devotion to faith, and commitment and loyalty to family will be dearly missed.

She is survived by two daughters, Sherry L Garrett and husband David W Monroe of Reagan Wells and Phyllis Rhea Tawater and husband Kevin Tawater of Saginaw, Texas; son, Kenneth L. Garrett Jr. of Campwood; brother, Robert O Coleman and wife Betty of Sabinal; five grandchildren Tara Tawater, Brittany K Tawater, Kevin O. Tawater, Ashley Ray Ward and Brandon Garrett; two greatgrandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

She is preceded in death by first husband Kenneth Garrett Sr., second husband Roger Rhodes Sr., parents YO and Alma Coleman, sister Maxine Dubose and brother, James Coleman.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 23, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary. Interment to follow at Hillcrest Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family requests a donation in her memory to Nueces Canyon Church of Christ or a charity of your choice.

Pallbearers will be Brittany Tawater, Will Merritt, George Horner, and Richard Roosa