Kathryn "Kathy" Ware Hightower Hightower

Kathryn H. Hightower was born March 8, 1954 in Homer, LA to Billy D. and Geraldine “Gerry” Heres Hightower. She passed away in Homer on October 6, 2025 after an illness of several months.

Kathy often said she was born with printer’s ink in her veins instead of blood. Her grandparents J. P. and Katie Ware Hightower moved to Homer from Haynesville in 1945 after they purchased The Guardian-Journal newspaper. Their son Billy and Gerry were also employed by the paper. He worked as a printer alongside his father, while Gerry served as a reporter and secretary. By age 14 Kathy was reporting on Homer Town Council meetings and other events while she learned the newspaper business. Her sister Hilda Hightower later worked as the bookkeeper for the paper.

At age 15 Kathy and a cousin, allegedly on an extended sleepover, hitchhiked with a long-haul trucker taking a load to New York state where they went to the famed Woodstock music festival in Bethel, New York. The 400,000+ attendees saw performances by Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead, Santana, the Who, Joe Cocker and other artists. Just how Kathy returned home and who the cousin was are mysteries she never divulged.

Kathy attended Homer public schools and graduated from Claiborne Academy. She earned a journalism degree from Louisiana Tech University. Kathy returned to the Guardian-Journal before accepting a job with the El Dorado (AR) News-Times. One day, after a dispute with her editor, she posted a forecast of snow flurries on the front page of the mid-summer edition of the paper. From there she took a job with a Midland, TX newspaper, also serving as an oil scout for the paper. While in Midland she got to fly with a millionaire oilman over Mount St. Helens and view the aftermath of the volcano’s eruption.

Over the course of her journalism career she met such celebrities as Charley Pride, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Earl K. Long and Edwin Edwards. Despite failing health Kathy continued working at her beloved newspaper. Kathy enjoyed watching classic movies, westerns and mysteries. Kathy married Bill W. Hightower on October 22, 1982, their marriage lasting almost 43 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Hilda Hightower Spillers, and brother-in-law Jerry W. Hightower.

She is survived by husband Bill W. Hightower, sister-in-law Pam Pixley Hightower, nieces Susan Spillers Kelley and husband David, nephews Hunter Spillers, and Wes Spillers and wife Lauren, great-nieces Caitlyn Kelley, Jenna Kelley, Ella Kelley, Addison Spillers, Landry Spillers, Brooklyn Spillers, and great-nephews Michael Spillers and Colt Spillers. Also Pam Hightower’s children: Jennifer and Brad Holloway, Michael Hightower, and April and Brandon Smith. Their children include Emilee Holloway, Luke Holloway, Lane Hightower, Katie Hightower, Lillie Smith, Pixley Smith, and Steely Rose Smith. Special friends include Pam Austin, Susan Pepper, Sherri Edmonds Wyche, Linda Volentine and Adrienne Sanders. Kathy will be greatly missed by a host of cousins and friends, as well as her dog Ralphie and cats Buddy, Wiillie and Trouble. She and Bill raised and loved dozens of furry friends over the years. 

A visitation is scheduled at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 405 East 5th Street, Homer, LA from 5-8 pm on October 25, 2025. Per Kathy’s wishes no funeral service or memorial service is planned. Accordingly, she chose to be cremated.

Special thanks to Dr. Cliff Salmon, Camille Wise NP, Dr. Kirtan Koticha and his staff, Claiborne Memorial Medical Center, and Claiborne Home Health for the excellent care given to Kathy.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the donor’s choice.

Rose-Neath Funeral Home

Homer Chapel (318) 927-6110