Kitty (Katherine) Withers, born March 4, 1931, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, July 18, 2023 in Dana Point, California. Affectionately known as "Kitten" by her husband, "Jo" to her beloved stepfather, "Lambsey" by her children, and "Mema" by her grandchildren, Kitty was an only child born to Jessie Lawrence and was the beloved stepdaughter to Patrick John O'Shaughnessy. She was raised in Brandon, MS, New Orleans, Fort Worth, TX, and San Diego, CA. Returning to Fort Worth to study early childhood education at Texas Christian University, Kitty worked at Bell Telephone and also as a preschool teacher through college. This is where Kitty met her lifelong soulmate and best friend, Isaac A "Jack" Withers III from Fort Worth, Texas. Jack and Kitty married on September 30, 1950 and had three children: Stephen, Kathy and Leslie.

As a young family they left Fort Worth to make their home in the rolling hills of California's Central Coast during the Aerospace boom. Kitty's passion was raising her family and taking on the lead supportive role in Jack's busy life as the founder of AFA's Vandenberg chapter, which became the Air Force Association's 2nd largest chapter in the state of California. They raised their family in Santa Maria, Solvang, and Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA before moving to Kettering, Ohio with North American Rockwell and under Jack's position as National Director of AFA.

Kitty was known for her intelligence, wit, humor, and sense of design. She also loved to entertain! She and Jack hosted top-shelf holiday parties for the brass, and just as eagerly pulled off the opposite vibe by throwing the much loved annual "Tacky Party" themed, "You just ain't got no class." Kitty was a successful businesswoman, a shop owner, and an amazing mother, wife, and friend. And in the prime of their lives, she was widowed at age 47. She eventually closed her shop and moved back home to California to be near her daughters and six of her grandchildren. She became an active member of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest California in 2003, walked the harbor everyday, loved beach bonfires and bbq's and her grandkids with a passion. A selfless giver who loved the underdog in every sense of the word, she gave the shirt off her back and attention to those in need.

Kitty is survived by her 3 children: Stephen Patrick Withers, Kathy Withers Michael, and Leslie Withers Cyester; 8 grandchildren: Kasey Leigh Ohl, Kyle Walblay (Hinkley), Abbey Cyester, Evan Withers Cyester, Joel Withers Hinkley, Lindsay Michelle Filkins, Gabriel Withers Michael, Jack Withers Stevens and his fiancé Taylor Strydom; 5 great-grandchildren: Hadley Jayne Walblay, Gavin Robert Walblay, Axel Isaac Ohl, Charlotte Belle Ohl, and Maddox Kru Delozier. She is also survived by her nephew, Clarence Tabb Jr., her beloved cousins, Rodney And Carolyn Lawrence, and many other Lawrence family relatives. Kitty's lifelong love for Jack's twin sisters, Caron Snyder (deceased), and Sheron Steele had her always wishing we all lived closer by. Among them were her "best of friends" and mother-in-law's, Helen Withers and Helen Belatti, (deceased), and her nieces and nephews: Caron Barrett, Stephen, Mira, Gigi Sophia and Severin Withers, Ariel Dawn, Christopher, Samantha, Jorri and Cayleigh Barrett, and Jennifer, Jason, Max, and Luke Reed. A loving mention to Kitty's best friend, Billie Coletti Morris, who recently passed before her.

We will all remember Kitty as bigger than life; our role model; our influential, witty, fun-loving "giver" with a heart of gold who touched so many. Her family is ever grateful to have had her in our lives.

In lieu of cards and flowers, the family requests your special story, memory or comments below on Kitty's Tribute Page. Photos are welcome!