Kay Black

Katie Belle (Kay) Kirby Black, 97, peacefully went home to be with her Lord surrounded by her family singing her favorite hymns on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at Hico Nursing & Rehabilitation.

A family service was held Monday, Jan. 11, at Harvest Hills Funeral Home in Hico with burial following in the Black Family Cemetery. Katie was born June 24,

Katie was born June 24, 1923, in Comanche County to Katie Emeline O’Bannon Kirby and Charles Frederick Kirby. Her family moved to Rendon when she was nine years old to a farm across the street from the Rendon grocery store. At the age of 13, her mother passed away, and she and her younger siblings went to live at The Lena Pope Home in Fort Worth. She often talked fondly of her four years at the home.

At the age of 17, she moved back to Rendon to live with Olin and Francis Norwood who owned the Rendon grocery store. There she met the love of her life, Edwin A. Black, and they married on Feb. 21, 1942, in Dallas. They lived in Cleburne until 1949 when they moved to Hico and started a dairy farm.

Katie will be greatly remembered for her beautiful hand-sewn baby blankets. They were given over the years to many families in the surrounding counties. She loved working at the Walls Outlet in Hamilton for 25 years and talking about her travels. She visited and drove in all 50 states and many countries.

She is preceded in death by husband Edwin A Black, daughter Edwina Kay Rackley, son Edwin Ray Black, seven brothers and one sister.

Katie is survived by her sister, Zadie Sanders and husband Blake of Hico; two daughters, Elizabeth Bryan and husband Rickey of Hamilton and Eldena Stearns of Santa Anna; two sons, Eldon Black and wife Verna of Hamilton and Kenneth Black and wife Melanie of Hico; 17 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.