Kathleen Ann Keating Woolley

1942 - 2014

Kathleen Ann Keating Woolley

There was always a knowing twinkle in the eye of Kathleen Ann Keating Woolley going back to October of 1942 in Washington D.C. It was kind of like her trade mark. The twinkle could say "I love you" across a crowded room or across the dinner table. It was the same twinkle that could work it self into the feared "Mom look," a look that could wither her two daughters (or in some cases a husband) into complete submission, stopping errant or untoward behavior in its tracks.

That twinkle also made her an effective guidance counselor at Marianna High, Dozier School and Cottondale High all in Jackson County. Moving to Leon County in 1977 she settled on middle school guidance as her true calling; first at Bellevue Middle and later, Deerlake Middle. At first she confided that she didn't think the kids and parents would need her at Deerlake like they did at Bellevue. She was wrong, as 20 years and hundreds and hundreds of parents, students and faculty can attest.

She had the capacity of making students, parents and faculty feel they were the most important people in the world. And in truth, to her, they were. All problems, big or small, were treated with respect, courtesy, kindness and understanding. It was the only way she knew to work. Actually that was the way she treated "old" friends and soon to be "new" friends as well. If you were her friend, you were her friend for life.

One principal described her as a professional's professional. Indeed.

Kay was an intensively private person. She really didn't want to list her accomplishments in this article. "Really, who cares?" The family said "we do." To which she replied, "whose obit is it anyway?" Ergo, a compromise.

In 1960 she was the Betty Crocker Homemaker of the Year for Pinellas County. Later, when she discovered her husband could cook, she wisely stopped. Academically she attended Clearwater High, St. Pete JC, USF and FSU always making excellent grades and receiving many awards and much recognition along the way. Over the years she earned a BS, MS and an EDU. Matter of fact she went from her MS in Tallahassee to her "Mrs" in Dunedin in less than 24 hours.

She was extremely active in Marriage Encounter, assisting with the hosting of "Circles" once a month for nearly 30 years. She was a member of Springtime Tallahassee's 20th Century Krewe and Rachael's Staff of Andrew Jackson. She was an original member (30 years) of the SuperWomen. She enjoyed the Red Hat Society/Scarlet Chapeau Chapter. She was active in the St. Louis Catholic Church's Renew Group and the Bible Study Class. She had a sharp eye for shopping, elevating it to a fine art. She greatly enjoyed RVing with the "Peepers", any kind of travel, water color painting, quilting, needlepoint, reading and of course her three grand kids, Liam 6, Zack 5, and Kaylee 4.

She was preceded in death by both her father, James Marshall Keating and her mother, Anna Margaret Keating. Kay is survived by her husband of nearly 48 years, William (Bill) Woolley; her two daughters, Mary Margaret (Patrick) Enfinger, and Anna Katherine (Damon) Hutchison, all of Tallahassee; two brothers, James Marshall Keating Jr. of Palm City Florida and Thomas Powers Keating (Michele) of Half Moon Bay California; and the afore mentioned three grand children, Liam Hutchison, Kaylee Hutchison and Zachary Enfinger all of Tallahassee.

We invite Kay's friends to a Memorial Mass/celebration of life, officiated by Fr. Matthew Busch, Saturday, July 26 at St. Louis Catholic Church at noon. Kay, being 100% Irish planned an old fashioned Irish Wake after the service from 1:30 - 4pm, next door in the parish hall. In her own words: "I can understand some folks missing my Mass, but I can't understand anyone missing my party."

Party on Kathleen Ann Keating Woolley! Party on! You will be sorely missed by your family and the scores of people who knew and loved you.

Family and friends will say a rosary on Friday, July 25 at Bevis Funeral Home at 5:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers a small donation to the St. Vincent DePaul Society in care of St. Louis Catholic Church, 3640 Fred George Rd, Tallahassee 32303, would be appreciated. Susie Mozolic of Bevis Funeral Home is assisting the family with their arrangements. (www.bevisfh.com 850-385-2193)