KATHRYN "KATHY" PAULEY SHIPLETT

PERRY – Kathryn "Kathy" Pauley Shiplett, also lovingly referred to as "Granny K," went home to be with the Lord on Monday, October 2, 2023. She was 75. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at Watson-Hunt Funeral Home. Visitation will begin at 12 Noon, and the Funeral will begin at 1:00 p.m. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial contributions to Meals on Wheels, P. O. Box 118, Warner Robins, GA 31099. Kathy was born on September 7, 1948, in Charleston, West Virginia, to the late Cleston and Carrie McCallister Pauley. After graduating from high school, she went on to further her education and earned her degree in nursing from Broward Junior College in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Kathy had a servant's heart and always cared for others before herself. Her first job was as a cardiac nurse at Holy Cross in Fort Lauderdale. As the spouse of an Air Force serviceman, she moved across the United States and soon found her love of school nursing at the North Star Borough School System in Fairbanks, Alaska. She moved to the Perry area in 1984, working as a pediatric nurse at Houston Healthcare, where she would remain the weekend Nursing Supervisor for the next thirty years. After leaving her full-time position, she became the first nurse for the Houston County School District. A natural leader, Kathy was instrumental in developing the nursing program within the school system and hiring nurses and med techs for every school in the county. She had a love for children, particularly the special needs population, and touched many, many lives within HCBOE, including students, teachers, administrators, and support staff. She also retired from HCBOE after twenty-seven years of service. Sundays were special to Kathy, as she was a long-time, active member of Henderson Baptist Church. Through the years, she taught Sunday School to every age group, from three-year-olds through fifth grade. She loved the Lord and delighted in teaching the gospel to even the youngest of God's children. Kathy loved traveling with her best friend, Beth, also known as "Auntie Beth," and sharing pictures and memories of their travels with everyone. Kathy was blessed to have a large family, and moments spent with them were treasured, especially when all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were there. Kathy was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Charles Pauley; three infant grandchildren; three great-grandchildren, Carson-Riley, Raelynn Kathrynn, and Hayden Neil; and her best friend, Beth McKinney. Left to cherish the memories they made with "Granny K" are her loving and devoted daughters, Kandia Murray (Jim) of Wheatland, Wyoming, Carrie Shiplett of Perry, Karen Putman (Tim), of Perry, and Kimberly Curry (Patrick) of Delbarton, West Virginia; the girls’ father, Dave Shiplett (Jenny), and their younger brother, David Shiplett; her sister, Karen Cole of Kathleen; her grandchildren, Cleston Lee Murray (Kara), Sydney Murray (Clay), Hayley Viles (Quinton Hutchinson), Cara-Lee Viles (Aaron Banks), Walker Viles (Gracie), Grace Putman (Arthur Thompson), Annabelle Putman (Tucker Jarrett), McKayla Baker (Justin), Steven Riley Carter, Emilee-Faith Palfy (Dave), Dennis Williams, and Brooklynn Curry; her great-grandchildren, Jain Baker, Raegan-Grace Palfy, Georgia-Grace Bohannon, Gatlin Viles, and Arlo Flynn and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews. Condolences for the family may be left in the online guestbook at www.watsonhunt.com. Watson-Hunt Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Tributes

KATHRYN "KATHY" PAULEY SHIPLETT

September 7, 1948 - October 2, 2023