Katherine Swayney Wolfe – Obituary

by Jun 11, 2010OBITUARIES0 comments

Katherine Swayney Wolfe, 52, of Cherokee died unesxpectedly on Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Kathy was the daughter of the late Dave and Katie Calhoun Swayney. She was married to Jasper Wolfe and the lived in the Big Cove Community. The have one son, Chase.

Kathy attended Cherokee Elementary School and graduated from Cherokee High School in 1975. Her class was the first graduating class to attend the High School that was then considered the new school.

She began working for the Cherokee Boys Club in 1975 in the office of the General Manager. She worked almost 34 years in the position, retiring in December of 2008. Kathy also served one term on the Boys Club Board of Directors from 1982-1984.

She served on the Tribal Higher Education Committee for 11 years and administered the Club’s Scholarship fund for many years, helping many students to achieve a higher level of education. Kathy served 23 years as a School Board member for Cherokee Central Schools, serving since 1987. She served 21 years as Chairman of the School Board.

Kathy was a former member of the Mountain Mediation Advisory Board where she served for three years. She was currently a member of the Cherokee Youth Center Board of Directors.

Kathy was awarded the Frell Owl Award in 2008. This award recognizes those who best exemplify the character and accomplishments of the late Frell Owl, Cherokee educator and civic leader and to those who have significantly contributed to the welfare of Cherokee children and families. She was very deserving of this award.

Kathy was a member of Straight Fork Baptist Church where she served as Youth Leader for 12 years. She had been Director of Vacation Bible School and she also taught.

Without the personal involvement and persistence of Kathy Wolfe, the new school would still be a dream. She was directly involved in the planning and building of this great structure and was very instrumental in seeing this project come to fruition. Kathy was always available to answer questions, provide guidance and sometimes to just listen when other needed her time.

She is survived by son, Justin Chase Wolfe and daughter-in-law, Victoria Thompson Wolfe; brothers, David William Swayney Jr., and Otis Dale Swayney; sisters, Clara Swayney Driver, Brenda Swayney Sluder and Shirley Swayney Cloer.

The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 12, 2010, at the Aquoni Baptist Church in Cherokee. Charles Ray Ball, Millard Grant , Ray Kinsland and J.T. Lambert will officiate.

Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. Friday evening till the hour of service at the church.

Long House Funeral Homes is assisting with the arrangements.