Katie was born in Oklahoma on December 30, 1934 and departed this life on June 18, 2021 after a courageous battle with dementia with her family by her side. She was raised in Denison, TX and relocated to the HEB area in the 60's. She worked for the HEB ISD as an administrative assistant from 1967 and retired in 1997. She then relocated to McKinney TX and worked at the Collin County Senior Center and directed meal delivery until retiring completely in 2014. Katie was a beautiful person inside and out and loved shopping, home decorating and watching the Dallas Cowboys every Sunday with her son Jeffery. She always had a canine friend in her life. Katie is preceded in death by her husband Ted Kennedy. Katie is survived by her brother Dwayne Hembree, sister Teresa Kelly, her four children Leah and Randall West, Bob and Vilma Linsteadt, Laurie and Asa Mangham, Jeffery and Karen Linsteadt, 9 grandchildren, many great grandchildren and Lily her loving canine companion. A celebration of life with be held June 22nd at Charles W Smith and Sons funeral home 601 S Tennessee St McKinney, TX with a 10:30 am viewing and the service immediately following at 11:00 am