ASHEVILLE – Kathleen Moore Byrd (“Kitty”), 88, of Asheville, NC died peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017.
She was born June 15, 1929 in Webster, WV the daughter of the late Dane Wood Moore, Sr. and the late Linnie Brown Patrick.
She was a Registered Nurse graduate of Elizabeth Buxton Hospital School of Nursing in Newport News, VA in 1949 and later went on become a Nurse Practitioner. She retired from the Cherokee Indian Hospital in Cherokee after serving the Cherokee people for 30 years. She was made an honorary member of the Cherokee Tribe.
She was preceded in death by her husband Samuel Lakes Byrd of Bryson City, NC; brother Dane Wood Moore, Jr. of Morgantown, WV; and brother, Marion Edward Moore of Shepherdstown, WV. She is survived by her daughter Judy B. Russell and son-in-law Charles B. Russell of Asheville, NC and stepson Richard E. Byrd and wife Kathy H. Byrd of Whittier, NC; two grandsons, their children and several nieces and nephews.
After retiring, Kitty knew the Lord was calling her to serve Him with her nursing skills in the Mission field. Her missions included two years in Ethiopia and two years in Kazakhstan. She also served Him in many short-term mission assignments including South Africa, Moldova, Ukraine, Belize, Rio de Janeiro, Alaska and New York, as well as being part of a clown ministry.
There will be a memorial celebration on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 1:30pm at Merrimon Avenue Baptist Church, 283 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville, where she was a long time member. Pastor Larry Basinger will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the John F. Keever, Jr. Solace Center online at https://4046.thankyou4caring.org/carepartnersfoundation.org/support-us_give or mailed to CarePartners Foundation, 20 Rotary Drive, Asheville, NC 28803.