FT. MYERS BEACH, Fla.-Kathi A. Lawton, passed away on Friday (Feb. 23, 2018) surrounded by her family and friends in Ft. Myers Beach, Fla. per her wishes, in the comfort of her home.
Kathi was a survivor and strong-willed person who overcame many obstacles in life. A person of wit and never the lack of a come back when challenged. A caring daughter, sister, aunt and friend to all.
She was born in Hornell on Feb. 29, 1960 to Keith L. and Mary E. (Didas) Lawton. Kathi attended St. Ann’s School in her younger years before attending Arkport Central School, graduating in 1978. She enjoyed school and many sports and activities, especially soccer and basketball. After graduating she was active in the Arkport Fire Department along with serving on the Ambulance Corps.
She was a past employee of the former Bethesda Community Hospital in North Hornell, also the International Operating Engineers, Local 832 of Rochester and began employment with the New York State Department of Corrections in 1985 at Bedford Hills, retiring in 2002 from Groveland, due to poor health.
Kathi continued enjoying life, camping, boating and playing poker. She, for a time, followed the Women’s LPGA Tournament and attended the LPGA Rochester Open with her nephew and friends. Kathi was a well known social member of the Arkport American Legion Post No. 1248 and past member of the Hornell Moose Lodge No. 210.
As her health deteriorated, Kathi sought refuge from the cold New York winters and found herself a “tuna can,” as she called it, in Ft. Myers Beach, Fla. There she enjoyed her “snow bird” friends routing for the Buffalo Bills and spent many hours at the Naples-Ft. Myers Greyhound track. She also enjoyed her many stops at the Sunflower Café and VFW Post in Ft. Myers.
Kathi was preceded in death by her father, Keith Lawton; her grandparents, Louis and Winona Lawton and Arthur and Mary Didas; along with several uncles and cousins.
She is survived by her mother, Mary Elizabeth Lawton of Hornell; her two brothers, Steven (Marie) Lawton of Montour Falls and Thomas (Joanne) Lawton of Caddo Mills, Tex.; her two nephews, Adam (Michele) Lawton of Montour Falls and Jonathan (Devin) Lawton of Rochester; her great-nephew, Ian Lawton of Montour Falls; along with many aunts, uncles and cousins; also her special friends, Sandy Miller, Mariann Karr and Cindy Harrison; as well as her care givers, Vickie Rodgers and Tiffany Graves.
The Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc. in Hornell is honored to serve the family of Kathi A. Lawton.
Calling hours are 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday (May 19, 2018) at the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St., Hornell, where a funeral service will be held in her memory at 1 p.m. Saturday, with Deacon Robert McCormick officiating.
The family would appreciate the courtesy of no flowers and suggest memorial contributions be made in her memory to either the Multiple Sclerosis Society, 1000 Elmwood Ave., Suite 900, Rochester, N.Y. 14620 or to the American Cancer Society, 13 Beech St., Johnson City, N.Y. 13790. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the funeral home.
Online condolences or remembrances of Kathi are welcomed at www.bishopandjohnsonfuneralhome.com.
