Mary Kathryn Dillow
- Mary Kathryn Goans Dillow, 90, of Clinton, Tennessee, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, March 11, 2024, in Frisco,
Texas. In her early years, she was known as Mary Kathryn Goans or Mary Kay. Later, she decided to go by Kathryn. Kathryn grew up in Clinton, Tennessee, where she was the youngest of six and nicknamed “Babe.” Her grandchildren also called her “Gran’babe.” She was a member of First Baptist Church in Clinton, attended Girl’s State, and was the Salutatorian of her class at Clinton High School. Kathryn went on to attend Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee, working her way through school at Hoskins Drug in Clinton and graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English. Kathryn met her husband in Oak Ridge, and she and Weldon were married in 1956 at Clinton First Baptist. The couple then moved several times for Weldon’s career as a nuclear health physicist and lived in various states during the 55 years that they were married. The Dillows lived in New Jersey, Georgia, Illinois, Alabama, and South Carolina before returning to Clinton to re-tire.
Kathryn worked as a secretary in Oak Ridge, at Lockheed Martin, Argonne National Laboratories in Chicago, Glen Ellyn Bible Church (also the choir director), Highland Baptist Church, and as a legal secretary for Georgia State Senator, Mr. William Lester in Augusta, Georgia. Her lightning-quick typing, rapid shorthand, and masterful vocabulary established her as a top candidate for these jobs.
Kathryn loved music and played the piano all her life, often in church. She also sang in chorales, trios, and church groups such as the XYZs at Clinton First Baptist. An avid reader, she devoured every book in the Clinton Library when she was a girl. She loved playing cards and board games, working jigsaw puzzles, and watching old movies. She loved discussing current events and politics in her younger days, and her family agrees she was one of the smartest people that they have ever known. Her legacy of intelligence, generosity, compassion, and fiery spirit will never be forgotten by her family and all who knew her well.
Kathryn was preceded in death by her parents, Sam A. Goans and Stella Duncan Goans; her husband: Weldon Derald Dillow; her siblings: Margie Harding Goans, Samuel Kenneth Goans, Howard Goans, James Goans, Sarah Goans Cantrell; and her nephew: Kenneth Goans. She is survived by her daughters: Lynette Suzanne Dillow Middleton and husband, Scott; Tracy Beth Dillow Meddaugh and husband, Dan; grandchildren: David Weldon Meddaugh, Paul Leland Meddaugh, Mary Kathryn Meddaugh Wilson and her husband, Josh; sister-in-law: Betty Joyce Earhart; nieces and nephews: Holly Parod and husband, Dan; Heidi Nelson; Tere Watkins and husband, Wade; Ron Harding; Carol Goans; Dail Cantrell; and Ann Cable and husband, Tim.
There are many other grand nieces and nephews, cousins and other relatives as well. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Kathryn’s honor to First Baptist Church where she and Weldon were married in 1956, and she remained a member until her death. Visitation for friends and family will be held on March 21, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Holley-Gamble funeral home in Clinton, TN. The funeral service will be on Friday, March 22 at 11:00a.m. at Holley-Gamble, with a graveside service to follow at Grandview Memorial Gardens in Clinton.