Katharine Wurster

Katharine Kirby (Kathy) Wurster was born December 20, 1950 to James W. and Betty S. Kirby in El Paso, Texas. Kathy attended school in El Paso, graduating from Ysleta High School. She furthered her education at the University of Texas at El Paso and received a bachelor's degree in education. She taught speech and debate in El Paso junior high schools, enjoying the junior high students in debate competitions. Retailing then caught her interest and she moved to Houston and worked at Foley's Department Store at the corporate executive level. With her retailing experience, she was recruited by an office furniture store in Midland in later 1979. Kathy, her sister, Becky, and two other Midland women decided to open an educational toy store in Midland, which was later acquired wholly by Kathy and became "Kids Only Toy Store". She managed Kids Only until her retirement in late 2003. She is remembered by many parents, new grandparents and children today as the "Toy Store Lady". On December 5, 1981 she married Tom and they both know that their marriage was made in heaven. As they became closer together in marriage, God became the central focus of their marriage. Kathy, a "cradle Episcopalian", was active and served in many capacities in the Episcopal Church of the Holy Trinity and The Episcopal Diocese of northwest Texas. She was elected twice to attend the National Triennial conference of Episcopal Church Women. She loved singing in the choir and she loved her church family. Kathy was a sustaining member of the Junior League of Midland, the Chi Omega alumni and a member of the Midland Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. She was preceded in death by her mother, Betty, in 1985; her brother, James Kirby; her niece, Jennifer Pearce and her sister, Rebecca Kirby Pearce. She is survived by her husband, Tom; father, James W. Kirby; stepmother, Jean Kirby; stepbrother, Mike Putney of Austin; stepbrother, Christopher Putney of Georgetown; and niece, Paige Pearce Moates of Cleveland, Oklahoma. The family will receive friends from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Monday, January 10, 2011 at the funeral home. Memorial services will be held on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at 10:00 am at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Trinity, with a luncheon reception following. In lieu of flowers, the family directs memorials to Lone Star Sanctuary for Animals, PO Box 50426, Midland, TX 79710, Episcopal Church of the Holy Trinity, 1412 W Illinois, Midland, TX 79701 or Midland Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. Endowment Fund, c/o Permian Basin Area Foundation, PO Box 10424, Midland, TX 79702. Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com