Kathleen “Kathy” Norris Conrad, 90, of Franklin, Tenn., died Aug. 4, 2024. Mrs. Conrad grew up in Pratt, Kan. She attended Pratt High School and Pratt Community College before earning her bachelor of education degree at Emporia State University. It was there that she met her husband, Paul. She was an elementary school teacher in Liberal and Fowler, Kan., before she and Paul were married May 31, 1959, at the First Christian Church in Pratt. She and her family lived in Wichita, Kan., moved to Seattle, Wash., for a time and ultimately settled in Eureka. After her husband’s passing in 1975, She continued raising her children and later went back to school at the University of Missouri–St. Louis and Harris Stowe College to earn certifications to teach students with learning disabilities and behavior disorders. She then taught at Ellisville Elementary in Ellisville, Bourbon Elementary School in Bourbon and finally retired from Kingston K-14 in Cadet. She moved with her daughter to Franklin, Tenn., in 2011. Mrs. Conrad was an avid traveler having visited all 50 states and almost 30 countries. She loved being outdoors, tending to her flowers and tomatoes, walking her dog and hiking in the woods. She was faithful in worship at Franklin First United Methodist Church in Tennessee. Her home church for many years was Eureka United Methodist Church. She volunteered in many ways including organizing the church library, being a communion steward, greeter and serving in the food pantry. She will be remembered for never meeting a stranger and having a friendly “hello.” Born July 26, 1934, in Pratt, Kan., she was the daughter of the late Kathryn Lee (Wittner) and George Baird Norris.
She was preceded in death by her husband: Paul Dean Conrad.
She is survived by a son: Paul Dean (Vanitta) Conrad II of Blue Springs; a daughter: Colleen Kay Conrad (Ken) Clark of Franklin, Tenn.; three grandchildren: Christina Conrad (Preston) Trotter of Lee’s Summit; Paul Dean (Jill) Conrad III of Lakewood, Colo., and Erik (Haley) Conrad of St. Louis; four great-grandchildren: Paul Dean Conrad IV, Laura June Trotter, Rosalie Dorothea Conrad and Sylvie Colleen Trotter; and many other family members and friends.
She also was preceded in death by a sister: Georgia Lee (Norris) Bennett.
The family would like to thank the staff at Morning Pointe Assisted Living of Franklin for their care.
Visitation is scheduled from 10 a.m. until a memorial service at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, at Franklin First United Methodist Church- Historic Sanctuary, 148 Fifth Avenue South, in Franklin, Tenn., 37064. Burial is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at Riverview Cemetery, 19249 Riverview Road, in Kiowa, Kans. Memorials may be made to GraceWorks Ministries at graceworkstn.org or Williamson County Animal Center at friendsofwcac.kindful.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Williamson Memorial Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Franklin, Tenn.