Dorothy "Kati" Phelps

February 18, 1947 ~ December 9, 2017
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Dorothy "Kati" Phelps, 70, of Asheville North Carolina. Lost her battle with cancer on Saturday December 09, 2017, while in the care of hospice surrounded by her family.
Kati was born on 2.18.1947 in Pensacola Fl to Martha Pate Pittman and Cecil Pittman and had lived in Asheville for 45 years. Tom Phelps and Kati were married on March 20th 1981. Kati loved working for AB emblem for 42 years before retiring. She enjoyed working at Fashion Bug & being a part of the fun fashion shows with Christopher & Banks for many years.
She was a member of Francis Asbury United Methodist Church. Kati enjoyed being the Queen of the "Red Hot Readers of Weaverville", being in the Weaverville book club, Secretary of the Asheville Chapter, NHRS & RHA and you name it, anything to do with trains. Kati & Tom volunteered together for over 8 years being Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus for thousands of excited children. They began this almost decade long activity with the Greenville & Western Railroad on “The Santa Express” then to the Craggy Mountain Line “Jingle Bell Trolley Ride” and included going to Kati’s brother’s restaurant The Chicken Basket on Sundays in December. Their love of trains allowed them to volunteer as car host for many excursions.
Kati was preceded to the Gates of Heaven by her mother, father, brother, Wayne, and sister, Cecilia. She leaves behind her loving husband, Tom; sister, Linda; brother, Jeff; two daughters, Angie and Pennie; four grandchildren, Cindi Foster, Ben VanDike, Logan Foster and Alicia Bradford; and six great-grandchildren with one on the way.
A memorial service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, December 16 in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral home with the Rev. Dr. Michael Kurtz officiating. Mrs. Claus (Queen Kati) has requested the ladies wear red and whispers of carnations of any color being her favorite flower have been heard.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service and again at 8:00 p.m. following the service.
My heartfelt condolences to Kati’s family and friends.
Heaven is full of joy just for you Kati
Thanks for being Pennies Mom. She
will always hold you close in her heart.
The peace and love of Jesus will surround
each of you during this time of loss.
I am so sorry for your loss. I worked for the National Registry of EMTs and did the purchasing of emblems from AB. I talked on the phone to Kati many times over the years. I was fortunate to be able to take a few days off and visit AB. Kati and Jackie took me to the Biltmore and we had such a wonderful visit. I was blessed to know Kati and so much appreciate you keeping me informed via her FB page. May the wonderful memories you hold in your heart make you smile.
God’s peace be with you.
I am so sorry for your loss. Kati was a wonderful person who I had the pleasure of conversing with while members of the Hallmark Community. Our friendship continued after the Hallmark site closed their doors thanks to Facebook. Sending hugs, love and prayers to your entire family. RIP Kati!
The angels are rejoicing that one of theirs has come home! Sitting at the feet of our King Jesus, celebrating his birthday, Kati will have the best seat in the house! My prayers are that God will gather you all in his arms and give you comfort and peace beyond understanding that only he can. She’s left such a wonderful legacy in her children and grandchildren, so you see, she will never really be gone. This isn’t goodbye, she has just changed addresses. Much love to you all.
Kati was a dear sweet soul and she will be missed by many. My thoughts, prayers, and love are with the whole family.
I was stunned to hear of Kati’s passing. I am glad she was surrounded by her family. I know she has put up a courageous fight. I am sincerely sorry for missing her last Red Hat meeting. I know she was an active, generous, and loving woman. She will be missed.
Tom, I’m sorry to hear this news. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the family.
I am so sorry to hear this news Tom. Be assured that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Kati had that rare combination of great personality and style. So many great memories of her and the train events. Bless her memory.
I knew her briefly while part of the silver sneakers class and Bonnie’s Zumba class. She angelic in life as well, she gave much back to the community she loved so well. We will all miss her. My condolences to her family and husband. They were the genuine Santa ans Mrs. Clause for the Smoky Mountain Railroad at Christmas time.
My children loved meeting this sweet lady as Mrs. Claus a few years back. What a sweet spirit!
Susanne and Bill McCaskill send prayers to all of the family especially Tom . She will surely be missed by all .
I knew Kati through the Hallmark Community, and have kept her in my prayers. I am sorry for your loss.
I am honored to have known Kati, and so thankful that our life paths crossed, even though it was but a brief period of time. After getting to know Kati, though, it did not take long at all for me to see what a special lady Kati was. Kati has left a legacy of kindness and grace in the wake of her too short life, and I will endeavor to be more like her in my life – kind, compassionate, giving, gracious, poised, dignified, happily giving of herself to joy of others.
I am mostly speechless and sad, yet, also, for Kati, pleased and happy. She fought the good fight. She made her time here on Earth count. Although she is apart from her loved ones and friends here, she is now in the presence of the Lord… in peace. No more pain. No more trials of this world.
It’s the opposite of the first Christmas. On the day Christ was born, mankind rejoiced – for finally the Savior had come. But – all of Heaven grieved over the loss of the One who had been there since before time began.
For us, today, here on this Earth, we are saddened and grieved over our loss of Kati, but all of Heaven rejoices and sings because another Beloved Soul has come Home. And I expect she has already heard ‘Well done, My good and faithful servant.’
I am praying for the comfort and strength of Family and Friends at this time, and will continue to pray in the future as the enormity of the loss of Kati in our everyday lives becomes more and more real.
Kathleen Trickle
Mars Hill, NC
Member-Weaverville Red Hat Flashes
drkats2004@yahoo.com
I will deeply miss this precious lady. She was a patient at our office at Western Carolina Women’s Specialty Center. Even though there were days that she felt bad, she always had a smile on her face and a special glow about her. To the family, my heart goes out to you. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Mrs. Kati will always be in my heart forever!
I first met Kati through the Hallmark Community and have stayed in touch since. We got to meet face to face a few years ago and have continued our friendship through facebook. My deepest sympathy to all her family and know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers.
So very sorry for your loss. Kati will be missed and always
remembered. Prayers for strength and loving comfort.
I knew Kati through the Hallmark community. Kati was such a bright light. When I picture Mrs. Claus, only Kati’s face comes to mind. She was always a positive force. She will be missed by all of us. Prayers for peace and comfort for your family.
Tom,
I enjoyed keeping in touch with Kati after switching to the new Gold’s gym. As a cancer sister I regret loosing her to the next phase of her life. She leave behind a true example of warmth, friendliness, and selfless giving. An example to us all.
God’s blessings & comfort to you and your family.
Sharon & Jim Pitts
Kati was a wonderful woman who I will truly miss. I worked with her at AB Emblem for two years, but we remained friends after I left. She was always such a sweet, smart lady. I will miss our running into each other all over Candler. I am happy to know I will see her again one day.
I was one of Kati’s customers when she worked at A-B Emblem. Although I never met Kati in person, I felt like I knew her from the many conversations we had over the phone discussing patches. She showed me the ropes on everything there needed to be known about embroidery and I could tell she had a passion for it. I always enjoyed every conversation we had and the stories she shared with me of riding the train rails with her husband as Mr. and Mrs. Claus. She was truly missed by us after she retired. I was saddened to hear of her passing. I want to pass on my condolences to her family in this tough time of grieving.