Kathryn May Jenkins, a homemaker and retired Louisiana Tech Assistant Professor of English died in the presence of loving family members on October 16 in the home she and her husband built in Ruston in 1950. She was 102.75 years old.Kat was born January 8, 1916 in Camden, Arkansas, and in grade school she moved with her family to Monroe, LA, where she attended Georgia Tucker Elementary School, the old Monroe City High School, and was in the first class to graduate from the brand new Neville High School. She then attended Louisiana Tech, majoring in Elementary Education. While there, she lived with a family on Bonner Street, and despite the warning of her landlady, she accepted an offer of a ride to campus from a handsome student. That started a dating relationship which lasted through her graduation from La. Tech and a job teaching 2ndgrade at Barkdull Faulk Elementary School in Monroe. The handsome student grew tired on the frequent drives to Monroe and asked her to marry him. She accepted, and they were married in the home of her older sister, Frances May Guthrie, in Monroe, on December 21, 1937. After a honeymoon in New Orleans, the couple settled in Ruston where the handsome student was now working in the Comptroller Office at La. Tech. The couple spent the rest of their lives in Ruston associated with La. Tech. William Douglas Jenkins, the now handsome older person, retired as the Comptroller of La. Tech in 1973.Their first child, Sara Kathryn was born in 1941; a son, William Douglas, followed in 1944; and another daughter, Jane Carolyn, in 1949. All three children are graduates of La. Tech.In 1960,the Chairman of the English Department asked her to help solve a temporary teacher shortage by teaching a couple of freshmen English classes. As more or less a favor she agreed to do this, and it turned out to be a great experience for both her and La. Tech. After teaching for a few years, she returned to the classroom at La. Tech as a student and earned her Masters Degree in English while in her early 50. She then continued to teach until 1973 when she retired. She was beloved by her students and was able to instill in many of them a love of literature and language.Kat was a member and officer of several organizations, including the PEO, the Garden Study Club, La. Tech Faculty Wives Club, and the Lincoln General Hospital Auxiliary. She was a long time member of the Presbyterian Church of Ruston, where she taught Sunday school, served on numerous committees, and at the age of 85 began tutoring reading through their STAIR program for disadvantaged youth.She is survived by her daughter, Kathryn Caldwell and husband Tom of Baltimore, MD; son Doug Jenkins and wife Sharon of Houston, TX; and daughter Carolyn Allman and husband Mance of Ruston, LA. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren, all of whom attended her 100th birthday party two years ago. She loved and treasured them all, and they in turn loved her greatly. Her greatest joy was in witnessing the lives of her family.In addition, she is survived by her sister, Stella May McStravick, of Monroe. She was predeceased by another sister, Frances May Guthrie, and brothers Jack May, and Thomas May, all of Monroe, LA. She was also predeceased by granddaughter Mary Catherine Allman of Ruston, LA.In her long years of faithful service to the Ruston Presbyterian Church she participated in the upbringing of, among many others, Wiley Hilburn, former head of the Department of Journalism at La. Tech. In a column he wrote for the Ruston Daily Leader (and several other Louisiana papers) he said Mrs. Jenkins was the Sunday School teacher who calmed me down and taught me, unpiously, that the world was the Lord. Mrs. Jenkins never blinked when I blindsided Robert Barham in the leg with the sharp edge of a hymn book during the Lord Prayer and Bob yelled out loud. Wiley continued, Mrs. Jenkins was prematurely gray, but beautiful in red, high-heeled shoes. She smelled like gardenias in an early Lincoln Parish summer.The world is a better place because of the life and example of Kathryn Jenkins. We all give thanks for her.Her family would like to express their appreciation to Katie Holland, Ann Barnes, and Tammy Netherland, who took such good care of her during the last year. In addition, Premier Hospice provided compassionate care that eased her last days.A celebration of life will be held at the Presbyterian Church of Ruston at 11:00am on Thursday, October 25th. A gathering of family and friends will follow the service in the Fellowship Hall of the church.Those who might like to make a memorial donation may do so to a charity of their choice or to the Ruston Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street, Ruston, LA 71270.Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.