Merrie Kathleen "Kathy" Kendrick, 75, passed away on October 16, 2026. Born in Edmond, Oklahoma, she spent most of her life in Gulfport, Mississippi, where she built her home, raised her family, and devoted her adult life to education.

Kathy dedicated her career to teaching, serving students through the St. John Catholic Diocese and Harrison County Schools. Education was a significant part of her life, and through her years in the classroom, she influenced generations of students.

Kathy was a woman who knew her own mind and held herself and other to exceptionally high standards. She was strong-willed, demanding, and never one to shy away from expressing her opinions. She could be stubborn as the day was long and was known to speak her mind and judge things by her own high expectations. She was not always an easy person, but she was unmistakably herself. Those who knew her understood that there was no mistaking Kathy for anyone else.

In her quieter moments, Kathy enjoyed painting, working puzzles, and spending time with her beloved fur babies. These were the things that brought her enjoyment and gave her time to pursue the interests she loved.

Kathy is survived by her devoted husband of 37 years, Ronald Kendrick; her two daughters, Tracy M. Dobbs and Shana L. Boggs; and her four grandchildren, Andee A. Overby, Sydney L. Dobbs, Madison K. Bourgeois, and Bailey M. Dobbs.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Eugene Greene Lawley II, and her sister, Linda Lawley Pelfrey.

As her family says goodbye, may they find peace in the memories worth holding close, comfort in the love that remains, and strength in God's grace. May Kathy rest in eternal peace, and may those who loved her find their own way to remember and honor her life.

Riemann Family Funeral Homes, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport, is honored to serve the Kendrick family.