Kathy Kalish was born in Smithville, Texas on August 29, 1948, to Nellie and Harding Fiebig. She lived a full and amazing life until passing on August 11, 2022, after a brief, unexpected illness.

She was raised in Katy, Texas on a dairy farm and graduated from Katy High School. Her love of musicand dancing brought her to Austin, where she enjoyed dancing the night away to country & western swing music.

Kathy was a vivacious and fun-loving person whose sweet nature & daring sense of humor was always appreciated. She was a wonderful wife, a dedicated mother and grandmother, and a fine friend who made sure that everyone was laughing and well-fed. She was a constant source of inspiration and encouragement to her husband in his musical endeavors. Kathy was an incredible cook and baker, often surprising her family, friends, and co-workers with delightful confections. She also enjoyed traveling and dining out on the town.

Kathy was passionate about music her whole life. As a child, she and her sisters sang in church, making beautiful harmonies on the old hymns. She later took fiddle lessons & learned to play the guitar on her favorite country songs. Her beautiful singing voice will be a lasting memory for anyone fortunate enough to have heard it. She wrote a beautiful song that now captures the way her family feels about her - "I Can't Stand My World Without You."

Kathy was a proud member of the Teamsters' Union and worked nearly 3 decades before retiring in 2008. As a dispatcher and bookkeeper for national freight lines, she always brought her charm, kindness, and sense of humor to her work.

Kathy is survived by her husband of 40 years Howard, daughters Stacey and Corrina, granddaughter Meka and great-granddaughter Delilah, sisters Bree Benson and Judy Burleson, their spouses Jerry Bies and Randy Burleson, their families, many cousins and their families, and her dear friends Sandra Lester and Janie Quisenberry. She was preceded in death by her parents, younger sister Nan Morton, niece

Leslie Anderson, and grandniece Claire Wineland.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Harrell Funeral Home in South Austin on Thursday, August 25, 2022, from 5 to 7.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Kathy's memory to the Health Alliance for Austin

Musicians (HAAM).