Wood, Kathryn Mary

Kathryn Mary Wood, known as Kathy to most, passed away at her home on September 5th, 2021. She was born on December 27th, 1955, in Liberty, MO, to Vincel and Annabelle Wood. The middle child and oldest girl, she grew up learning how to simultaneously entertain everyone around her, while still being an understanding and gentle ear to listen and shoulder to lean on.

Kathy entered grade school at Holy Infant in Ballwin, MO, was graduated from Lafayette High School in Ellisville, MO, obtained a bachelor’s degree in journalism from University of Missouri – Columbia in 1979 and went on to found her own company, Apartment Search, in St. Louis, in 1986. Kathy was a talented entrepreneur and businesswoman, and grew Apartment Search into a successful company. Along the way, she mentored many other young entrepreneurs and helped them find their passion and path in business.

In 1987, Kathy welcomed what she considered to be her greatest joy and accomplishment: her daughter Lacy. In the years that followed Lacy’s birth, Kathy ran Apartment Search, enjoyed rearing her daughter and also spent as much time as she could with friends and family. For many years Kathy owned a cabin on Indian Hills Lake in Cuba, MO, and many joyous days were spent there enjoying the lake, good food, good music, and good company.

In 1995, Kathy began suffering from severe rheumatoid arthritis, which gradually and painfully progressed over the years and led to her early retirement in 2004. In her retirement, Kathy enjoyed having monthly “cards night” with her closest group of friends, learning about buying and selling stocks, collecting rare coins, swimming every week with her next-door neighbor and good friend Lois, and spending quality time with family and friends. In September of 2020, Kathy was exuberantly overjoyed when Lacy and her husband Rod Audry welcomed a daughter into the world. Last month, Kathy flew to Paris, where Lacy, Rod, and their daughter June live, to meet her granddaughter and spend some much-desired time with her daughter and son-in-law. Upon her return, Kathy said that it was simply the best trip she has ever taken.

Kathy is preceded in death by her mother and father, brother James (Jim) Wood, and brother John Wood. She is survived by her daughter Lacy, son-in-law Rod, granddaughter June, her dear friend of 29 years, Denise Brannon, her sisters Sally Engle and Sue Burnley (Jim Burnley), brothers Jeffrey Wood (Debbie Wood) and Joseph Wood, plus many nieces, nephews, loved ones and friends.

Services scheduled for Thursday, September 9 with visitation at 5 p.m. and funeral at 7 p.m. at Kutis Funeral Home, 10151 Gravois, St. Louis. Burial in Holy Cross Cemetery in Cuba, MO at a later date.

It is hard to put into words how much those who love Kathy will miss her. We will miss her jokes, her comforting voice, her way with words, her willingness to cry with others and laugh with others, and her endlessly giving heart. Her cheerfulness in the face of excruciating pain led us to admire her even more. She was a one-in-a-million kind of person and everyone who knew her is better because she was in their life.

Ciao for now, Kath. We love you so much.

Memorial Visitation Thursday, September 9, 5:00 p.m. until Memorial Service 7:00 p.m. at KUTIS AFFTON CHAPEL, 10151 Gravois Rd. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation, 8815 Conroy Windermere Rd., Suite 309, Orlando, FL 32835.