Dorothy Carole Horne Kanatzar

Dorothy Carole Kanatzar, 91, of Nicholasville, Kentucky, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at Baptist Health Lexington, with her loving family by her side.

A natural redhead with the spirit to match, Dorothy was stubborn, ornery, and fiercely proud of it. But more than anything, she was proud of being a mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother. If you spent five minutes with Dorothy, you’d hear all about her family—their accomplishments, their milestones, the things that made her heart swell. She was their biggest cheerleader and their most loyal protector, always ready to stand up for the people she loved.

Dorothy and her first husband, Ted Ward, raised their three children—Steve Ward (PJ), Kimberly Beck (Ralph), and Cyndy Baird (Tim)—traveling the country as Ted worked for General Electric before ultimately settling in Owensboro, Kentucky. After Ted’s passing, Dorothy moved to Lexington, where she met her best friend and eventual husband, Bobby Kanatzar. Together, Dorothy and Bobby loved spending winters at the beach, summers in the Bluegrass, and weekends cheering on the Kentucky Wildcats.

When she wasn’t bragging about her family, you could find Dorothy with a crochet hook or needlepoint in hand, or curled up with a good book. She had her opinions and wasn’t shy about them—especially when Fox News was on.

Dorothy is survived by her husband, Bobby; her children, Steve, Kimberly, and Cyndy; and her true legacy—her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including Kori Beck Bumgarner (Kyle), Courtney Baird, Tyler Baird (Liz), Cody Baird, Kelsey Baird, Bronson Bumgarner, and Walker Bumgarner.

In lieu of flowers, Dorothy would have appreciated donations to St. Joseph Catholic School in Bowling Green, Kentucky, or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in her memory