Katherine Lay Reid was born November 15, 1920, in Seguin, Texas, and died January 11, 2014. Her parents were Pearl Lay and Earl Alexander Reid. The family lived in Alexandria, Virginia. Katie Lay, as she was known to all, returned to Seguin with her mother at age two.

She attended Mary B. Erskine Elementary. She often spoke of a wonderful childhood with her mother and beloved Granny, Katie Cothran Lay, for whom she was named. Living next door were her aunt and uncle, Myrtle Olivia and Clarence Delany, and her cousins, Clara, Myrtle, and Ethel.

Katie joined the First Methodist Church in Seguin (when it was located at the corner of Mountain and River Streets) as a young girl. She graduated from Seguin High School in 1938. While Katie was in high school, her mother, Pearl, married Thomas Hugh Donegan. Katie dearly loved Pop and his great sense of humor. One of Katie's grandchildren, Katherine A. Donegan Seeber, is named for them.

Katie attended the University of San Antonio (now Trinity) and also Southern Methodist University. She received both her bachelor's and master's degrees from Southwest Texas State University (now TSU). She majored in English and speech and held teaching certificates in elementary and secondary education. Katie's first teaching position was at a small country school in Zorn where she did her practice teaching. She taught for 28 years, retiring in 1979.

She was married to H.J. Howell in 1941. After a brief stint out of Texas, she returned in 1942 to Seguin where her daughter, Barbara Katherine, was born. In 1947 she married Walter Franklin Hurt and they had daughter Amanda and son Walter Franklin, Jr. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in July 1997, surrounded by their large extended family, including children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Katie and Franklin were married for 59 years until his death in 2006.

She belonged to many organizations: United Methodist Women, Circle Six at her church, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Retired Teachers Association, American Association of University Women, Alpha Delta Pi Alumni, Seguin Study Club, and Delta Kappa Gamma Society, where she was the first president of the local Seguin chapter.
Improving educational opportunities and advancing the status of women educators was a lifelong concern.

For Katie Hurt, the past was not past, but a living part of her world. Her 35-year membership in Daughters of the Republic of Texas was one of her most personally meaningful memberships. Her ancestors came to Texas in 1832 and were part of Stephen F. Austin's second colony; her Beard ancestors gave the land for the San Geronimo Cemetery where she will be laid to rest. She faithfully attended the commemoration of Texas Heroes every March at the Alamo.

Surviving Katie are her daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara and Allen Seeber of Washington, DC, Amanda and Louis Gross of Seguin, and son and daughter-in-law, Walter Franklin, Jr., and Julie Hurt of Gonzales. Grandchildren are Marcy Gallant, Jason Molin, Amy Miller, Katherine Seeber Dean, Nathan Hurt, Zachary Hurt, Lucas Hurt, and Logan Hurt. Great grandchildren are Matthew Strawn, William Strawn, Robert Stasney, Jr., Casey Dean, Anais Molin, Braeden Hurt, Kendall L. Hurt, Raegan Hurt, and Lexi Lay Hurt. Also surviving are cousin Myrtle D. Grisham of Tomball, Texas; half-sister Stephanie Reid Yates of Sussex, New Jersey; and sisters-in-law Sue Reid of Waldorf, Maryland, Lilly Beth Hurt of Seguin, and brother-in-law Hensley T. Hurt and wife Mary Ella Hurt of Gonzales. Preceding her in death was half-brother Thomas Reid of Waldorf, Maryland.

Visitation will be held at Tres Hewell Mortuary on Tuesday, January 14, from 5 to 8 p.m. The funeral service will be held at First United Methodist Church in Seguin on Wednesday, January 15, at 2 p.m. with Reverend Keith Wyatt officiating. Interment will be at San Geronimo Cemetery, immediately following the service. Memorial contributions can be made to First United Methodist Church, 710 N. Austin St., Seguin 78155.