Kathryn Vestine Henderson

Kathryn Vestine Henderson went to be with her Lord and Savior on March 26, 2026, at her home in Nacogdoches, Texas, at the age of 91. She was surrounded by loved ones.

Kathryn was born on October 13, 1934 in Houston, Texas. She was the daughter of Minnie Chaney Beck and Fred Beck and the youngest of her five siblings.

She married Burton Floyd Henderson in 1953, and they remained married for more than 53 years until his death in 2006.

She was a stay-at-home mom and took good care of us all our lives. She was always there for us.

Kathryn found great joy in gardening, where she tended her flowers and plants with patience and pride. She also enjoyed arts and crafts, which allowed her to create beautiful things and express her creativity. She was an avid reader, and started each morning with an hour of Bible study and ended the day usually doing crossword puzzles.

She loved to talk and laugh with others, whether it was family or someone she had just met. She brought warmth and joy to every gathering.

Above all, Kathryn was known for her willingness to help her family whenever they needed her. She was always ready with a listening ear, a place to stay, or quiet support, embodying a quiet strength and deep devotion to those she loved.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Burton Floyd Henderson (2006), her son, James Darren Henderson (1978), and all of her siblings: Frederick Jansen Beck, George Tom Beck, Barbara Elizabeth Heidemann, Edith Anna (Edie) Beck Elliott, and Minnie Marjorie Lou Beck Drew. She was also preceded in death by her brothers-in-law and sister-in-law: Bill Drew, Renee Beck, and Harold Heidemann.

Kathryn is survived by her children — Rhonda, Rebecca, Deborah, Burt, and John — along with 14 grandchildren: Jillian, Casey, Reyna, Dori, Karl, Melissa, Michael, Kerri, Megan, Buford, Jason, Mary, Jessica, Gina, and Justin, many great-grandchildren, all who brought her immense pride and joy. As well as her nephew Doug Heidemann, who was always there for her.  A special thanks is made to Justin Russell, her grandson-n-love, for making her a cross for her temporary marker at the cemetery.

A note she kept on her desk read:

“How different would today be if you knew it would be your last one on earth before meeting God face to face? We should strive to live every day as if it were our last, for one day it will be.”

Kathryn’s legacy lives on through the family she cherished and the many lives she touched with her kindness, creativity, and unwavering support.

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