Kathleen Nettles Garren died Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015, with her son holding her hand and telling her how much he loved her.  She was born at home in a log cabin on Route 3, Bogue Chitto on May 11, 1935, to Walter Edward Nettles and Ettis Pearl Hutchinson Nettles.  

She was a business-woman whose employment included Southern Airways, Delta Airlines and owner of her own beauty shop in Jackson, Tennessee.  She was married to James A. Garren of Greenville, South Carolina in 1956.  Mr. Garren served in the U.S. Air Force and spent his career in the airline business.  He and Kathleen retired to the Gulf Coast of Alabama in 1989 where she remained until falling ill in 2014.  They had one son, Walt, who spent his career in the military as a U. S. Army Ranger and Green Beret.  In her last months on this earth with ALS, Mrs. Garren lived with her son and daughter-in-law, Neo, in the mountains of East Tennessee where she loved riding in the side-car of her son’s motorcycle and watching the birds and sunrise from her porch. She was a strong Christian woman who loved her family and her many friends.  She also loved the great state of Mississippi and was fond of singing the song taught to her and so many others of how to spell the state’s name, “M-I-crooked letter-crooked-letter -I-crooked-letter-crooked-letter-I–hump back-hump-back-I.– “ She had a great sense of humor, strong opinions on politics just like her Daddy and a kind, loving heart. She was a simple, humble woman who enjoyed things like working in her garden and yard, riding her bicycle, taking walks in the neighborhood and talking with her friends. She made this earth and all who had the privilege of knowing her better for it. She is remembered by her family and friends for her loving and optimistic attitude that was an encourager of others all her life.

Preceding her in death were her mother and father; her step-mother, Elizabeth Nettles; sister, Joyce Nettles Butler of Longview, Texas;  brothers, James E. Nettles of Anahuac, Texas and Jeff Nettles of Brookhaven.

She is survived by her husband, Jim Garren of Foley, Alabama, her son Walt Garren and wife, Neo, of Tellico Plains, Tennessee; sisters, Peggy Ritchie of Natchez and Becky Vaughn-Furlow of Brookhaven; and many nieces and nephews.

The family requests that for anyone desiring to remember Kathleen do so by making contributions to the ALS Association, LA – MS Chapter, P. O. Box 66825, Baton Rouge, LA 70896-6825.