Katherine Ann Stooksbury

Katherine Ann Stooksbury, 95, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 1st after an extended illness. She was the only child of parents Isaac Gibson and Cora Stephens Stooksbury of Knoxville, Tennessee. Katherine grew up in a family that strongly valued education. Her parents were college educated and they enrolled daughter Katherine in the University of Tennessee Laboratory School at the tender age of three. After graduating from high school, Katherine went on to earn college and advanced degrees in home economics and child psychology. Music was particularly encouraged, and as a young girl Katherine excelled in playing the flute, French horn and piano. Katherine continued playing the piano and keyboard for herself and friends as long as her health allowed. Katherine began her college studies at Ward Belmont College in Nashville and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics and teaching from the University of Tennessee. Katherine went on to earn a Master’s in Child Psychology from UT, and had forty hours towards earning a doctorate in child psychology. She was a member of Phi Delta Kappa, Beta Kappa Omicron Phi, and Gamma Signa Delta honor societies. Katherine worked as a professor of child psychology at Penn State University from 1958-78. During her tenure at Penn State, she served on a committee that worked directly with President Lyndon Johnson to successfully bring the Head Start Program to Pennsylvania. In 1979 she moved to Mississippi to work as a professor of child psychology at Mississippi State University, until her retirement in the late 90’s. During her teaching career Katherine developed meaningful relationships with her colleagues and students at the schools where she taught, many of whom kept in touch with her in the years that followed. Katherine moved to Greeneville in 1998 at the invitation of her childhood friend Leon Coker. She quickly became a part of the community, joining a number of civic organizations including the Greeneville/Greene County Humane Society and the Andrew Johnson Club, where she was president from 2000-02. She was a member of St. James Episcopal Church. In addition to her civic interests, Katherine was an excellent bridge player and was a longtime member of The Eggheads, a bridge group that gathers twice a month at members’ homes. Katherine had a genuine interest in people and quickly charmed anyone with whom she came in contact. Her friends knew her to be fiercely independent with a strong sense of what was right, and someone who was never afraid to vocalize to her beliefs. She was a cheerleader for her friends, and they knew they could always count on her for loving moral support. Katherine will be particularly remembered for her wonderful sense of humor, her appreciation of a good joke, and entertaining those around her with anecdotes about the antics of her beloved cat Sandy. Katherine was preceded in death by her parents. Although Katherine has no surviving relatives, she leaves behind a host of devoted friends, neighbors and caregivers who will miss her greatly. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Eggheads, and many devoted friends. There will no formal funeral or visitation. A private graveside service will be held on Friday, November 4th at 1:00 pm at Greenwood Cemetery in Knoxville, TN. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to your favorite animal charity or St. James Episcopal Church, Greeneville, Tennessee. Doughty-Stevens Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.Read Obituary