Kathleen (Kathy) L. Shiets passed away early on Thanksgiving morning, November 28, 2024, in Katy, TX.  Kathy was a warrior and fought a strong four-year battle against cancer.

Kathy was born on April 15, 1954, in Bowling Green, Ohio, to Marilyn (Ruswinkle) Gremling and Leo Shiets. She is survived by her sister Linda (Jerry) Contreras; brother Michael (Alison) Shiets; sister Dianne (Ed) Grant; sister  Suzanne Sherman;  niece Sheri (Jake) Currington; great-nephew Carson; great-niece Autumn; niece Allison (Kevin) Watters; nephew Andrew Murray; nephew Matt Bockert; niece Trena Wiseman-Esparza; great-nieces Trena, Carrina, Eva, Amelia, and Gemma and Rosie; great-nephews Alex, Ashton, and Andy; special "sister" and best friend Christina Shiets; and special friend Joey Clemmons. She was preceded in death by her parents, Marilyn and Richard Gremling, and Leo and Nola Shiets, and her brother Mark Gremling.

Kathy attended Michigan State University and moved to Houston, TX, in the early 1980's. Later in life, she started working as a school bus aide for the Cy-Fair ISD Transportation, then became head of an in-school daycare facility for the Cy-Fair ISD.  She then went back to school and became a Special Education Teacher at Avondale House. She loved working with her students and found she had a natural aptitude for teaching. She retired several years ago.  Kathy loved and was especially proud of her great niece and nephew, Carson and Autumn, who lived close to her in Texas.

Kathy loved music and played the piano and the mandolin.  She loved attending the Kerrville Folk Festival for many years and truly enjoyed the musical culture she found there.

Kathy loved dogs and cats and became mom to many over the years; Her special fur babies that survive her include her cats Starr, Ms. Cliffie, and Momma Kitty whom she rescued when they were trapped in a wall in her garage. Four years ago, she brought a special companion dog, Frankie, into her life and he gave her great pride, joy, and comfort.

Kathy's friends and family remember her as a kind, beautiful soul who had an inquisitive nature and always looked for answers to life's questions in the stars and worlds beyond our own. She had a scientific approach to her questions and loved to share what she learned and believed with others. She was always gracious, kind, and helpful to those who knew her.  She also was a strong and determined woman who knew what she liked and didn't like and was intelligent in her opinions and beliefs.  She loved her family more than anything in this world.  She was a one of a kind, much loved, special woman and her family and friends will miss her terribly.

Friends are invited to join the family as they celebrate Kathy's life at 2 p.m. Sunday, December 15, at Klein Funeral Home - CyFair Northwest, 9719 Wortham Boulevard, Houston, TX 77065, where a visitation will begin at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a charity of your choice in memory of Kathy.