Katheen (Kathy) Booker Wise's Obituary
Katheen (Kathy) Booker Wise, age 93, died December 27, 2018 in Bartlett, Tennessee. She was born May 4, 1925 in Sledge, Mississippi to the late Benjamin F. and Ethel Moore Booker. Kathy was a member of Sycamore View Church of Christ.In her youth, Kathy attended school at Camp Ground and Water Valley (Mississippi). She graduated from Freed-Hardeman College in Henderson, Tennessee after which she had a thirty-year career in government.From her childhood, Kathy had an enduring and all-encompassing passion for many forms of art. Her first doll was fashioned from the colorful clay of the Mississippi hills. Her art education was acquired at night as she continued her career in government. She received art instruction from Florence McIntyre (a student of William Merritt Chase), Memphis College of Art and Memphis State University.After retirement she began teaching art — once on an NEA grant for art education in the Gainesville, Florida public schools and surrounding towns. She became artist in residence for the Gainesville Public School System and also taught stone carving at Santa Fe Community College. Kathy’s involvement in galleries and competitions also increased after her retirement.Kathy’s paintings and sculptures were accepted in many prestigious galleries and competitions, including the American Artists Professional League’s Grand National Exhibitions. She had sculptures accepted for the League’s 2012, 2013 and 2015 National Exhibitions. She had a sculpture accepted again for the League’s 90th Grand National Exhibition in November 2018. The sculpture which was accepted for the 2018 exhibition was shipped just days before the stroke that led to her death few weeks later.Kathy is listed in the prestigious Who’s Who of Women and American Artists of Renown, and her work hangs in numerous public and private collections, including the archives of President Jimmy Carter. She maintained affiliations with Allied Artists of America and the National Sculpture Society. Her work was widely exhibited in solo shows, galleries and museums, including the Salmagundi Club, Pen and Brush Club, National Arts Club and National Sculpture Society.With numerous awards to her credit, Kathy has appeared on television, been nominated by the U.S. Postal Service for “Outstanding Women Who Work” in the arts category, been honored by Senator Howard Baker for administrative work with the National Pen Women and been featured in their publication, The Pen Woman. Kathy thoroughly enjoyed spending time with family and friends, and just the mention of an outing or a trip instantly piqued her interest. Fortunately, she remained healthy enough, even into her 93rd year to enjoy these outings, including travel to attend special functions and visit with friends in Florida.Not even close family members have ever seen Kathy in “casual” attire. Every day she dressed as though she was going to church or was preparing to welcome guests to a formal tea.Kathy is survived by a daughter, Deborah Fulmer Rauchle; grandchildren, William Stacks, Trey Smith (Jenni), Aaron Smith (Haley), Tess Cogdell (Steve), Brandon Spivey and Sara James; great grandchildren, Madison Smith, Corbin Smith, Camryn Smith, Aiden Smith, Gracie Geabhart, Emerson Geabhart, Jarred Stacks, Payton Stacks, Rhett Cogdell and Wyatt Cogdell; great-great grandchildren Audrey Rose Stacks and Madeleine Stacks; a brother, Gaylon Booker (Elsie); nephews, Greg Grinder and Ronnie Booker; nieces, Lesa White and Jan Stark.Kathy is also survived by a very special friend, Frances “Frankie” Floyd, who has been there to encourage in times of sadness and to celebrate in times of gladness. She has been a travel companion for trips and a chauffeur to luncheons, art museums and trips to the doctor. Frankie Floyd has been the personification of loving friendship.In addition to her parents, Kathy was preceded in death by husbands Kenneth Fulmer and Byron Wise; a daughter, Kimbyl Stacks Spivey, and a sister, Cereice Grinder.Visitation will be Tuesday, January 1 from 1:00 to 2:00 PM at Memorial Park Funeral Home, 5668 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN with memorial services to follow at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas PL, Memphis, TN 38105.
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