Katherine Cole Rorison Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

A life well lived, Katherine (Kat) Cole Rorison passed peacefully on Saturday, February 15, 2020 at Deerfield Retirement Community following a brief illness. She was 94. A native of Greensboro, NC, Kat was born May 7, 1925 to the late Dr. Walter Francis Cole and Annie Wharton Cole. She received a Bachelors of Arts degree from Women’s College (now UNC-G) and a Master’s Degree from Columbia University, NY, in 1948. She returned to Greensboro where she met her husband, Brainard Blanton Rorison. They moved to his hometown, Asheville, after their marriage in 1950. Kat spent years advocating for her community in a variety of organizations including the local boards of the YWCA, the Junior League, the Children’s Welfare League, the Asheville Community Theater, Asheville Day Nursery and the First Presbyterian Church. She served on state and national boards for the Children’s Home Society, UNC-G Alumni Association and the national YWCA Board in the 1950s. She was a member of Women for Women of the WNC Community Foundation, the Colonial Dames and the Biltmore Forest Country Club. She led with an open mind and accepting heart. Kat loved travel, epic family beach vacations, swimming, reading, genealogy, duplicate and social bridge, and gin martinis “on the rocks.” In life, she found peace in her faith, and joy forging deeper relationships with each of her children, grandchildren, and friends. Her family will always appreciate her graciousness, sense of humor, tolerance, pragmatism, and generosity. She had “no filter” when she told us what she thought, but it was her natural ability to relate to everyone in a personal way that endeared us to her. Hard of hearing, even with hearing aids, she was stoic in the quiet, but “lit up” when someone she recognized entered the room. She especially enjoyed a sunset, open fire and cocktails and grilled steaks with family at her home on Town Mountain. Kat’s husband of 50 years, Brainard, preceded her in death in 2000, as well as her brother Watt Cole and sister Sis Scheck. She is survived by her three daughters; Katherine Soderquist, Betty Bargerstock (Andy), and Peggy Powers (Garry), Grandchildren Conner Soderquist (Leah), Kate S Taylor (Justin), Caroline B Moretz (Derek), Cami B Mullenneaux (Mani), John Powers (Sarah), Michael Powers (Danielle) and Great-grandchildren Olivia, Leland, Taj, Ethan, Heidi, Sean and Braxton and her nieces Anne Boyd and Kay McVey (Ed) three great nieces and nephews. The family wishes to thank the loving and dedicated staff in Assisted Living at Deerfield, the Care Partner Hospice team at Deerfield, the attentive caregivers from Bright-Star HealthCare, and her personal assistant, Priscilla Gentry for preserving her dignity the last days. A remembrance service will be held at the Deerfield Healthcare Chapel at 10:00, Friday, March 6, 2020. A memorial service will be held at St. Giles Chapel at Deerfield on Saturday, March 7, 2020 at 11:00 with a lunch reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Deerfield Charitable Foundation, Scholarship Fund, 1617 Hendersonville Rd, Asheville, NC 28803, the Children’s Welfare League, PO Box 15425, Asheville, NC 28813, or a charity of your choice.

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Katherine Cole Rorison

May 7, 1925 - February 15, 2020