Mary Katherine Holts Love

Mary Katherine “Kakie” Holt Love, age 89, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 15, 2022, at her home in Columbia, Missouri. Kakie was born in Fulton, Missouri on September 2, 1932 to Lewis Reed Holt and Mary Morley Nichols Holt. Kakie was a 1954 graduate of William Woods College. She then attended the University of Missouri where she received a B.S. in Home Economics Education and M.S. Degree in Human Development and Family Studies. After teaching elementary school in Key West, Florida, she returned to Fulton, Missouri where she taught at both elementary and high school at Fulton Public Schools. Kakie then taught at William Woods University from 1965-1997. She served as chair of the Department of Home Economics and Division Coordinator. She also directed Focus on Women for three years. Though she did some administrative work and counseling at WWU, she always said teaching was her favorite. Kakie was awarded Professor Emeritus upon retirement from WWU in 1997. In 1985 Kakie began family and divorce mediation training in Chicago. She opened private practice in 1986 which continued until 2003. In addition to family and divorce mediation, she also served as a mediator for the United States Postal Service and the Missouri Department of Special Education. Kakie also enjoyed traveling, photography, crafts, music (taking piano lessons from 1998 to 2021), cooking for friends and family, and reading. She is survived by her husband, Edwin L. Maynard; her brother, David Holt; sister, Dorothy Hinkle; her sister-in-law, Barbara Binger; her son, Brian Love (Kimberly); and daughter-in-law, Judy Love. She is also survived by step-children, Kim Laquatra, Dana Samuels, Amy Wells (David), and Matthew Maynard; grandchildren, Jessica Love, Spencer Love and Emily Love-Carrell; step-grandchildren, Brooks Laquatra, Taylor Samuels, Elle Laquatra, Madison Samuels, and Grant Wells; and great-grandson, William Edward Love-Carrell. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Edward “Ed” Love; son, William “Bill” Edward Love Jr.; and step-daughter, Pam Samuels. A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, September 2, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 2615 Shepard Blvd., Columbia, Missouri 65201. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the following: Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia, MO, or Central and Eastern Missouri Food Bank.