Obituary of Kathern Gearheart Howard

Kathern Beatrice Gearheart Howard, 86, passed away February 25, 2019, at home.

She was born July 7, 1932, on the family farm in Hueysville, Kentucky, to Willie and Ada Shipman Gearheart. “Kat,” as she was called by family and friends, graduated in 1950 from Garrett High School, where she met her husband, Billy Howard. She graduated from Caney College in 1952 and worked as a teacher and homemaker; the family eventually settled in Frankfort, where she lived for nearly 50 years.

Kat had many hobbies and interests, including refinishing antique furniture, junkin’, sewing, making quilts, watching UK basketball, cooking and reading, especially Kentucky history. She loved spending time with family, friends and neighbors, and visiting the mountains of her sister’s home back in Floyd County.

Kat was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, and brothers Ed, Claude, Roy and Norman.

She is survived by her daughter, Teresa Wasson (Ed); son, John Howard (Whitney, and her son, Jackson); granddaughters Katheran Wasson (Lee Burkett, and his son, Carter), and Anne Wasson; great-grandson, Henry Burkett-Wasson; sister, Sue Reffett; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at Rogers Funeral Home Friday, March 1, 2019, at 11 a.m. Services will be held at noon at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Jackson Borders, Lee Burkett, Michael Reffett, David Reffett, Gary Gearheart and Todd Gearheart. Burial will follow at Frankfort Cemetery.

Donations in Kat’s honor may be made to Bluegrass Hospice Care at https://give.bgcarenav.org/ or 2312 Alexandria Drive Lexington, KY 40504, or to your local humane society.