KATHLEEN O. BLACK
11/01/1934 - 11/24/2022
Kathleen O’Connor Black passed away peacefully on November 24, 2022 at age
88. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lee Winn Black; their son, Walter Allen Black; and her sisters Mary Elizabeth O’Connor, Margaret Moore & Frances Brink. She is survived by daughters Cameron Selinidis (Yianis) and Dianne Rohm (Mike); grandchildren Jared, Logan, Kate, and Sophia; and a large extended family.
Kathy was born in Tennessee to Anna Katherine Meiers O’Connor and Louis Peter O’Connor. She lived on a farm until age 9, then in towns including Loretto and Lawrenceburg in middle Tennessee.
The young Kathy started her adventurous career in Nashville & Atlanta. She settled in Houston after meeting Lee, her companion and travel partner for life and began their 59-year marriage in May 1962. By December 1966, one son and two daughters completed the family that was their pride and joy.
Kathy was consistently involved in school, church, women’s & neighborhood organizations, often contributing in the areas of creativity or gastronomy. Her home was a warm, chaotic place and a safe haven for family, friends, neighbors, exchange students, and various travelers. She concluded her professional life after 29 years as a residential realtor in northwest Houston.
Kathy was a lover of the fun side of life – always appreciating a twinkle in the eye of anyone willing to play a game, pull a prank, or join in her off-the-beaten-path travels spanning 45 countries and six continents. She played years of tennis, discussed hundreds of books & Bible lessons, mentored dozens of young people, sewed scores of garments and costumes, got rich at nickel bridge, hiked every mountain & identified every bird she could find, wore out two station wagons, and vetted her kids’ dates while beating almost all of them at ping pong.
Kathy’s grandchildren knew her as “Mamu” and loved her as a source of great hugs, heartfelt cheers from the sidelines, accidental text messages and, of course, cookies.
She was known by friends as a green thumb, a fantastic cook, an idea person, a hip-pocket poet, a curator of Southern idioms, and a onewoman welcome wagon. She will be especially remembered for the stories she collected & recounted of her (mis) adventures.
She cherished many loyal friends from every stage of life – childhood, the Norchester days, 60+ years with Timely Topics dinner group, realty colleagues, bridge clubs, her Campers and new friends at Village of Gleannloch Farms. Kathy would remember especially her caregiver/recent ‘best friend’, Adela Abarca.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 17th at 1pm, during which her ashes will be installed next to those of her husband and her son at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Kathy Black’s honor may be made to (https://saintdunstans.org/ give/)