Kathy Nell Carter Ducote

Kathy Nell Carter Ducote passed away on February 14, 2026, after a long and courageous battle with ovarian cancer, which she began fighting in 2017. Though cancer ultimately claimed her life, it never claimed her spirit. She faced her journey with strength, resilience, and a free spirit that never left her. With her trademark humor, Kathy often referred to herself as a "cockroach," joking that after two rounds of chemotherapy she was still alive and quite literally kicking. Kathy is survived by her long-term partner, Dan Wilcox; her three daughters, Danielle Ducote of Savannah, Georgia, Andrea Brannon (Brad) of Sutton, Alaska, and Rachel Ducote of Colville, Washington; and her seven beloved grandchildren, Cameron, Michael, Annabelle, Shawnee, Luke, Bryce, and Logan, who brought her immense joy and pride. A true free spirit, Kathy found happiness in life's simple pleasures and spontaneous adventures. From riding snowmachines in the middle of the night to blowing big bubbles with her grandchildren and all the kids of Onion Creek, she embraced joy wherever she found it. She loved spending time in her garden, hosting friends and family, creating a welcoming space filled with laughter and connection, and never turning down a cold Corona. She cherished every moment spent with her grandchildren, whom she adored deeply. Those who knew and loved Kathy will remember her just as her family does—twirling in a hippie skirt, dancing and singing along to the Grateful Dead, dancing with Hoover in the bag to Murphy Law, fully present and unapologetically herself. She will be remembered for her warmth, her love of togetherness, her humor, and the way she made people feel at home in her presence. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched and the family she loved so fiercely. A celebration of Kathy's life will be held in the spring, when friends and family can gather to honor her memory—just as she would have wanted.