Katherine Y. Armitage

        Katherine Armitage died on November 19, 2018 at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community. She was born in Bakersville, NC, in 1936, the daughter of Charles and Carrie Willis Young. She graduated from Bowman High School, and then attended Berry College in Rome GA, Morris Harvey College in Charleston, WV, Pennsylvania State University, and the University of Denver.

        She lived and worked as a university librarian in Colorado, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Ontario, Canada. She later moved to public library work and served for 20 years as Director of the Haywood County Public Library in Waynesville. She retired in 1998 and moved to Asheville with her then husband Jack Jones.

        She is survived by sisters Ruby Maloney of Waynesville, Anna Carolyn Gurley (Eugene) of Bakersville, and brother Rodney Alvin (Sandra) Young of Spruce Pine. She is also survived by numerous nephews, nieces, and dear friends that span the US and Europe who will miss her greatly.

        Katherine had an unwavering passion for animals, and founded the Haywood County Spay/Neuter program. Her dedication to education led her to an active involvement in the local Adult Literacy Program that functioned through the county library system. She was also a leader in both the local and the state Arts Councils, and had a strong impact on the growth of all the arts in this region.

        Katherine’s passion for literature, history, and the arts was matched only by her fascination for the stories of those who entered her life. Her own enchanting story-telling skills, her great good humor and contagious laughter, and her complete generosity of spirit attracted countless people whose lives were enriched by her. She loved her life and the places it took her, but mostly she loved the Blue Ridge Mountains, her first and final home.

        The family wishes to express its deepest gratitude to the many friends at Deerfield and especially to the wonderful staff and Care Partners Hospice for their amazing compassion and care for Katherine during her residency there.

        There will be no formal memorial service per Katherine’s wishes.

        The family would like to suggest that donations be made to:

Haywood County Library

678 South Haywood Street

Waynesville, NC 28786

Haywood Spay/Neuter

PO Box 992

182 Richland Street, Unit #1

Waynesville, NC 28786

The Danny Boone Employee Scholarship Fund at:

 Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community

 1617 Hendersonville Road

 Asheville, NC 28803

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