Kathy Joy Pearce 1945-2026

Kathy Joy Pearce was born on Oct. 26, 1945 in Gladewater. She grew up on 105 acres near Hawkins and graduated as the salutatorian of Hawkins High School in 1964.

That same year, Kathy moved to Dallas and began a distinguished 36-year career with the FBI. She retired in 2000 as a paralegal, remembered by colleagues for her precision, dedication and willingness to take on whatever was needed. She was, in every sense, a bit of a spitfire.

Kathy married Joe A. Pearce in 1998 at First Baptist Church in Richardson. They made their home in Richardson for many years before Kathy moved to Ariel Pointe in April 2024. In their retirement, Kathy and Joe traveled across the country together researching their family genealogy. They spent countless hours visiting cemeteries and libraries, tracing the ancestral connections that meant so much to her.

Kathy was a woman of many talents and hobbies. She enjoyed needlepoint, gardening, and photography and possessed a true green thumb – especially with flowering plants. Her beloved frog collection grew over time, becoming one of the many small things that brought a smile to those who visited. She was also the heart of family traditions, most notably her famous Easter bunny cakes topped with homemade seven-minute frosting.

Kathy is survived by her husband, Joe; her son, Christopher Hagan and his wife Kelli; her grandchildren, Courtney and Coby; her sister, Janice Bates and husband Henry; her sister, Betty Arnett, who joined Kathy in rest on April 19, 2026; her brother, Mack Williams and wife Kathy; and many nieces, nephews and extended family members. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and LaVerne Williams; her sister, Peggy Merlene; and her brother-in-law, Ed Arnett.

Kathy will be remembered for her creativity, her strength and the way she made people feel at home. She lived well and leaves behind a legacy of lasting memories.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund in memory of Kathy Pearce at 

https://curealz.org/outreach/in-memory/kathy-joy-pearce/