Kathryn ‘Kate’ Goins Sickling

Kathryn “Kate” Goins Sickling, 89, of rural Dongola, died peacefully on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, at 6:44 p.m. at the home of her daughter, Julie Bailey.

She was born on July 1, 1933, in Grand Chain, the daughter of Andy “Cot” Goins and Susie Thrasher Goins.

On Aug. 5, 1966, she was united in marriage to Loren J. Sickling at the Karnak United Methodist Church.  Loren preceded her in death on May 1, 2017.

Survivors include her daughter, Julie Bailey of Dongola; two grandchildren, Katelyn (her husband, Mike) Gribble of Grantsburg and Nathan Bailey of Carbondale; two step great-grandchildren, Brittany and Mace; a brother, Manul (his wife, Shirley) Goins of Goreville; a bonus daughter, Jeani Ethridge of Dongola; two brothers-in-law, Oral Sickling of Calvert City, Ky., and Rockne Ragsdale of Ullin; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a sister, Letha Sickling; a brother, Wally Goins; and two sisters-in-law, Melba Ragsdale and Lucile Davis.

She was valedictorian of the graduating class of 1950 from Karnak High School.  

She had been employed at the Pulaski County Courthouse.  She later worked as a medical secretary in the office of Dr. Charles Ladenheim in Anna.  

She and her husband were well known throughout the area for the apples and peaches that they raised in their orchard. They also worked together painting homes.  

She was a devoted Christian. In her youth, she was a member of the Karnak United Methodist Church, where she had served as a church secretary.  

Following her marriage, she affiliated with the Maple Grove Baptist Church at Perks, where she remained a faithful member until declining health prevented her from attending regularly.  

At Maple Grove, she had served as a Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School volunteer, member of the Women’s Missionary Union, WMU, and song leader for many years. She had a love of music and enjoyed singing in the Maple Grove Trio.

She was a homemaker.  She enjoyed vegetable gardening and raising flowers. She truly had a “green thumb.” 

Kate and Loren shared from the abundance of their garden and also canned and preserved produce for their own use.  

She  was a wonderful cook and is fondly remembered for her wonderful homemade pies, Christmas candies and cookies, and her famous fried fish dinners.  

In her spare time, she was an avid and voracious reader. She also enjoyed working jigsaw puzzles and would invite visitors to her home to help her “put a few pieces of the puzzle together.” 

The family recognized and thanked the many friends, neighbors and members of Kate’s church family who have so faithfully provided assistance and loving care to her during the past few years and especially during the last several months.  Your kindness toward Kate and her family will never be forgotten.

A service honoring the life of Kathryn “Kate” Sickling will be conducted Thursday afternoon, at 3 p.m. at Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna. Pastor Pete Vinson will officiate.

Burial will be in Cache Chapel Cemetery, near Ullin.

Visitation will be conducted Thursday from noon until 3 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorials can be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, 111 Dollywood Ln., Pigeon Forge, Tenn. 32863 or online at www.imaginationlibrary.com.

To share a memory or to leave an online message of condolence for her family, visit www.baileyfh.com.

Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna is in charge of arrangements.