Katie J. Tomlin

Katie J. Tomlin age of 81 passed away at the Guest Home Estates with her family by her side on February 20,2024 in Caney, Kansas. 

Wilse and Beulah (Nolan) Snell welcomed their daughter Katie J. into this world on July 14, 1942, she was born in the family home in Schaburg, Arkansas. Growing up in Chester, Arkansas offered a simple life and splendor of the mountainous region of Arkansas. Katie attended school in Chester, Arkansas where she completed her education. 

As young women, she and her sister decided to move to Fort Smith, Arkansas to seek employment and shortly after their arrival they began working as waitresses in a local diner where the owner’s son Tommy stopped in one day and the two were instantly attracted to each other… it was love at first sight.  After a few short months of courtship Katie married the love of her life, Orville E. “Tom” Tomlin, on May 10, 1962.  Katie and Tom started their lives together and they moved to Kansas, settling in Coffeyville to raise their three children, Wendell, Kim, and Shelly. They were deeply in love for over 60 years, he preceded her in death on October 8, 2022.  The day he passed he took a big piece of Katie’s heart with him.  Katie was also preceded in death by her sister and best friend Dixie Smith(Snell), and her parents. 

There were many things that Katie enjoyed in life….she loved good food especially sweet desserts, chocolate/candy, word and  jigsaw puzzles, crocheting, and camping, but mostly just being with her husband and family. Family recalls fun memories of Katie and Tommy putting on a record and dancing in the living room, everything from the Twist to a beautiful Waltz. Christmas was her favorite time of the year; she loved her family coming together no matter the time of the year.  Her relationship with her grandchildren was unique, special, and individual to each of them, all of whom she always loved.

Katie was a stay-at-home mom until her children were in grade school.  She began her outside the home employment at Gibsons, JCPenny, Dairy Queen and then Wal-Mart where she worked until her retirement after 17 years of dedication. After both Katie and Tom retired, they moved to Altamont near their daughter, Shelly. They resided there for 18 years until their health began to fail, they moved closer to Kim in Tyro. 

Katie longed for the day to join her husband in Heaven and her family sat beside her side as she entered the presence of Jesus. She leaves behind her children; Wendell Rigsbee and wife Cathy, Kimberly Betts and husband Lonnie, Shelly Wiley and husband Scott. Grandchildren: Wendell Rigsbee Jr.,  Shawn Rigsbee and wife Andrea, Nikki Pease and husband Mark, Crystal Jusino and husband Michael, Zach Reeves and wife Tiffany, Carrie van Andel and husband Hayden, Dakota Wiley, Dalton Wiley, ShyAnne Wiley and Dawson Wiley.  Great grandchildren: Zaylie, Trinity, Gunnar, Piper & Raiden Rigsbee, Whyatt Cates, Emery Pease, Brock Mejia, Adrian, Penelope, Piper & Poppy Jusino, Isabella Reeves, Mylan, Justin & Jackson Wiley.  

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 29, 2024, at 2:30pm at Tyro Christian Church with Evangelist David Bycroft officiating. Thursday the family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 1pm until service time, at Tyro Christian Church.  The burial will take place at Harrisonville Cemetery north of Tyro where she will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband Tom.  The family request memorial contributions payable Guest Home Estates memo marked Activities and may be left in care of the chapel.  Services are under the direction of Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel in Coffeyville.  To leave an online condolence, share a memory or view services visit Katie’s obituary page at www.fordwulfbrunschapel.com