Kate Ripley Lalor

Kate Ripley Lalor (1955-2024)

Kate Ripley Lalor, a shining example of kindness and generosity for all who crossed paths with her, passed away at her beloved Haw Creek, NC home with her family nearby, a well-known family bedtime story in her ears, and her son's hand in hers on Wednesday, January 10th, 2024, after a 6-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

Kate was born in Norfolk, VA on September 22nd, 1955 to a dashing young naval officer, Foster Mitchell Lalor, Jr., and his beautiful, sassy southern-belle bride, Ruth Wayne Ripley. She and her brothers Kirk, Keith and Allen lived a life of adventure, with naval postings in Virginia, Rhode Island, California, Hawaii and Thailand, and amassed a colorful catalog of family stories that her friends, children and grandchildren have always reveled in hearing and retelling.

She met and fell in love with her late husband Charles Preston Lozier at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC, and they were married at Pretty Place, SC in 1976. She and Charlie so loved the NC mountains that after a few years living in Georgia - where they welcomed their first child, a son named Matthew Allen in 1979 - Florida, and Illinois, they returned to Brevard, NC in 1982, where her parents lived and she had finished high school. There, they welcomed a daughter, Margaret Ida, in 1983, and built a beautiful life of close family ties and strong friendships. Her family and friends filled her life with great joy and richness, and she particularly cherished her children, who are as proud to be her babies as she was to be their mama.

Kate began her career with the Transylvania County school district as a teacher at Rosman High School (NC), and after earning her master's degree in education in 1989, she became an administrator, and spent the rest of her career helping lead schools throughout the county. She quickly built a reputation as a fair-minded, kind-hearted, strong willed and supremely capable woman. She truly loved helping others, especially young people, and left an indelible mark on those who were lucky enough to feel her kindness.

Charlie passed away in 1998, and several years later, Kate left Brevard for Asheville, NC, where she and her beloved partner Ruth Bone built a home on a magical piece of land in Haw Creek and enjoyed the beauty of that place and their time with a devoted network of friends. The golden retrievers shared with Kate's lifelong sidekick and brother Allen romped in the yard and flung themselves into the pond, while Kate cultivated massive and gloriously diverse gardens of wildflowers, banana trees and vegetables, with a love for growing things passed down from her mother. Kate became active in Womansong, a women's chorus based in Asheville, and found great joy and comradery practicing and performing with her sisters in song. Kate also found purpose and comfort in Life is a Verb camp and her related group of friends.

Perhaps nothing brought Kate more satisfaction and happiness than spending time with her children and grandchildren. Matt and former wife Amy Martin graced her with Oliver Lozier (born 2008) and Georgia Lozier (born 2010), and Maggie and her most cherished son-in-law Luxo added Lux Vital (born 2016) soon after. These children lit up her life and brought out her wonderous creativity and sweetness. They built Slip n' Slides in the yard, fished in the pond, crafted and cooked in the house, and wore matching pajamas each Christmas. They laughed, played, and snuggled together on their annual trips to Isle of Palms, SC. They showed as deep a mutual love for one another as has ever been seen, and Oliver, Georgia and Lux will forever remember their Gran's warmth and example.

Kate was preceded in death by her parents, Foster Mitchell Lalor, Jr., and Ruth Wayne Lalor (nee Ripley), her husband Charles Preston Lozier, and her brother Keith Allen Lalor. She is survived by her partner Ruth Bone, her brothers Kirk Mitchell Lalor, PhD (Susan) and Allen Lalor, MD (Julie Mayfield), her children Matthew Allen Lozier and Margaret Ida Vital-Lozier (Luxo), grandchildren Oliver Lozier, Georgia Lozier, and Lux Vital, nephews Holt Lalor, Justin Lalor, Ross Lalor, and Hayden Lalor, nieces Molly Olsen, Bonnie Talton, Emma Lalor and Delanie Lalor, dear friend Barbara Wimberly, and beloved golden retrievers Esther Williams and Freddie Mercury.

A celebration of Kate's life will be held at St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Brevard, NC on Saturday, January 20th, 2024 at 2:00 PM, to be followed by a reception immediately afterward at Miller Hall next door. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Womansong New Start Fund (https://womansong.org/new-start-fund) and Consider Haiti (https://www.considerhaiti.org).