Kathryn Smith Nations

Kathryn Leola Nations, age 80, of Jackson passed away Sunday, January 28, 2018 at her home.

She was born July 31, 1937, in East Prairie, Missouri, daughter of Otto J. "Guy" and Birdie Woods Sterling. She and Melvin L. Smith were married January 14, 1959 in Jackson. Melvin passed away June 7, 1983. She and Kermit Nations, Sr. were married July 1, 1989. He passed away November 21, 1998.

Kathy's working career spanned many decades and many genres. She worked in a café, a shoe polish manufacturing company, a shoe factory, as a caregiver and a hostess. Later in life, she earned her GED and then a business degree from Metro Business College in Cape Girardeau.

Kathy was a selfless person, a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and caregiver, taking care of her two eldest daughters until her health failed. She loved the Lord and spoke of him often in the last days of her life. She will be greatly missed.

Loving survivors include daughters, Vickie (Steve) Bollinger, Rhonda (Wayne) Johnson, Cheryl Smith and Christina Clasby all of Jackson; two stepsons, Thomas Nations of Jackson and Kermit Nations Jr. of Columbia, Missouri; a stepdaughter, Cheryl Reinagel of Jackson; a brother, Claude Sterling of Cape Girardeau; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by two husbands; a daughter, Teresa Arnold; a grandson, Benjamin Joe Bollinger; two brothers and three sisters.

A graveside committal service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 3, 2018 at the Dogwood Cemetery near East Prairie.

Cremation was accorded by McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson

The family suggests that contributions be made to Southeast Hospice.