Kathryn Rhodes, 96, of Carthage, TX, passed away on Thursday afternoon, Nov. 11, 2021, in Henderson, TX, two weeks after suffering a stroke.

Mary Kathryn Trussell was born on March 17, 1925, in Star City, AR to the late Walter Andrew and Nettie Stuart Trussell. In 1941, she graduated from high school in Star City where she was valedictorian and named All County Guard for her basketball skills. She attended the University of Arkansas where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in English. Much later, while teaching full-time in Carthage, she attended night classes at Stephen F. Austin State University to earn a Master's Degree in Education.

She met Henry James Rhodes Jr., known as "Jim," when they worked together at Texarkana Regional Airport. They married on Oct. 18, 1947, at First Methodist Church of Texarkana. Jim went on to become a Methodist minister; Kathryn became a school teacher. They celebrated 64 years of marriage before Jim died on April 24, 2012.

When Jim retired from the ministry in 1982, they chose to return to Carthage, where Kathryn continued her teaching career and they were both devoted members of First United Methodist Church. Kathryn was a member of the Gleaners Sunday School Class, sang in the church choir, and contributed countless chocolate cream pies to potluck dinners. A stickler for doing things the way her own mother taught her, she baked everything from scratch, set her dining table with proper linens and fine china, and wrote letters and thank-you notes by hand.

Before suffering the stroke, she had survived a broken hip, two broken legs, and COVID-19.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; her son and daughter-in-law, Hank and Patrice Rhodes; granddaughter, Christy Rhodes; and brothers, Benjamin, Leroy, and Garland Trussell.

She is survived by her daughter, Dusty Rhodes; grandchildren, Henry James "Jamie" Rhodes, IV and Milos and Evan Skalicky; two nieces and a nephew, Marta Stiver, Deb Trussell, and Gil Trussell.

Pallbearers are Henry James Rhodes, IV, Milos Skalicky, Evan Skalicky, Raymond Cowart, David Black, Brad Peloquin, Garland "Gill" Trussell, Jr., William Rittenberry, and Jason Funderburk. Honorary pallbearers are Ken Carter and the Loyal Sons Sunday School Class.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, at the First United Methodist Church in Carthage with Reverends John Barfield, John Bingham and Kevin Otto officiating under the direction of Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home. Interment will follow at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Fairlawn Cemetery in Oklahoma City with Rev. Keith King officiating. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 2-4 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 201 S. Shelby, Carthage, TX 75633 or Providence Place, 6487 Whitby Road, San Antonio, TX 78240 .

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.