Kathleen Marie Dismuke, 76, of Fenton died July 16, 2026. Mrs. Dismuke grew up in South St. Louis City. As a child, she spent many summers on her grandparents’ farm in Pocahontas, Ark. As a teenager, she loved Motown music and 60s pop. She learned to sew and made many of her own clothes, later making clothes and costumes for her family. In 1968, she graduated from Roosevelt High School in St. Louis City and briefly worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation doing secretarial work. At age 20, she married her husband on Oct. 17, 1970, in St. Louis City. Together they designed and built their home of 55 years in Fenton, where they raised their daughters and her youngest brother, Robert, from the age of 7. As a homemaker, she dedicated herself to caring for her immediate family as well as many elderly and disabled family members.
She volunteered as a room mother for her elementary school-aged children. For two decades, she was an active member of the Girl Scouts of Greater St. Louis, acting as a troop leader for her daughters, dedicating time to teaching crafts, camping and songs. She took her daughters to swimming and dancing lessons. She also took dance lessons as an adult to learn tap and jazz. She enjoyed vacations at the lake and bowling, participating in leagues with her husband, children and friends.
Most of all, she loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren, taking them on outings in St. Louis, reading to them and teaching them how to read. She dedicated many years to homeschooling and joined the local homeschooling community. She was passionate about politics and often volunteered at her local polls. She took on responsibilities as treasurer and was a founding member of her neighborhood association. She was a lifetime patron of the St. Louis County and Jefferson County Libraries. She enjoyed researching her genealogy and was proud of her Sisson Revolutionary War soldier ancestry and Scottish heritage as a member of the Bain and McKenzie clans. She was known for her baking and cooking, making many meals and birthday cakes for her family and teaching them how to cook. She loved bargain shopping, jewelry making and watching British crime dramas. She was knowledgeable about nature, botany, homeopathic medicine, law, the St. Louis road network and more.
Her longest and most dedicated hobbies were knitting and crochet, as she was a decades-long member of the Greater St. Louis Knitters Guild, forming many friendships and frequently volunteering at events. She also enjoyed attending knitting and fiber arts conventions to continue to learn. She was a lifelong Christian and attended First Baptist Church of Arnold. She will be remembered for her kindness, caring and compassionate nature. Born May 2, 1950, she was the daughter of the late Howard Leon Sisson and Dorothy Emily (Meyer) Sisson.
She is survived by her husband of 55 years: Tommy V. Dismuke; four daughters: Susan Christine (Joseph) Marti, Frances Ann Dismuke, Audrey Marie (Mark) Bond and Jessica Lynn Dismuke; grandchildren: Brandon (Olivia) Marti, Abigail Dismuke and David Zirkle, Thomas and Joseph Bond; and great-grandchildren: Layla Scott and Sage Marti; four brothers and five sisters: Linda Vogler, Thomas Sisson, Pamela Cotter, Sheila Richards, Hollis Sisson, Bradley Sisson, Cynthia Todd, Julie Lowery and Robert Sisson; and many friends.
She was preceded by a brother: Joseph Sisson; and a sister: Dorothy Jean Waddell.
Memorial services will be held in the fall. Arrangements are under the direction of Jay B. Smith Funeral Home.