Kathryn Boone. Photo by Nessosi Studios
Some women we know have the ability to add that special touch and bring something to a home, a classroom, or an organization that truly brings out the shine. We call these women gems. Gems know just what the room needs to make it pop, where to place the child’s artwork, or how to host the perfect gathering.

They always know how to make everyone feel welcome, seem to know the right things to say, and they know when it is simply best to say nothing at all. This issue of Focus on Women features just such a woman who is known throughout the Greater Fort Bend area as one of those women with that special touch. She is known to many as Mrs. Kathryn Boone, the gem of Sugar Land Mortuary. Even the beautiful and well-appointed Sugar Land Mortuary has benefited from her touch, and like the shine of most gems, the results have been hard to miss.

When L. Donnell Williams, founder of Sugar Land Mortuary (SLM), first decided to open his new flagship funeral home in Sugar Land, he knew that he wanted this location to be a reflection of the community that it would serve, and he wanted the community to immediately discern the warm and welcoming difference in a facility that is locally and independently owned and operated. He also knew that the most important step in creating the desired experience at Sugar Land Mortuary was hiring the right staff. He was especially concerned with selecting his new Facility Manager and knew that it would be the most important hiring decision that he would make. Williams was seeking a member of the community who had a heart and a reputation for service and a very special personality. While in the course of an exhaustive search, his fellow Sugar Land Rotary member, Bill Singletary, recommended Kathryn Boone. Singletary spoke so highly of her years of church service, her southern charm, caring personality, and stylish flair that Williams knew he had to meet her.




Initially apprehensive about the idea, Kathryn met with Williams to discuss a possible position at his new funeral home. She had never worked in the funeral industry before, nor had ever considered it. “I am so glad that I set aside my inhibitions and agreed to meet with Mr. Williams,” says Kathryn. When the pair met for the first time, Williams recalls that he was not disappointed. She was everything that his fellow Rotary member said she was. The two also found that they had a lot in common. For starters, they both care a great deal about providing service to their community. In the 14 years that Kathryn has been a member of Sugar Land First United Methodist Church, she has served the community through a variety of church ministries. “As I continued to speak with Mrs. Boone,” says Williams, “it was clear that her heart for others and her service to the community were impressive.” According to Williams, Kathryn’s reputation for service, coupled with her natural grace and impeccable style, made her an unbeatable candidate. This was the person he wanted to greet and serve the public as they entered Sugar Land Mortuary.

In reference to her acceptance of Williams’ offer to join Sugar Land Mortuary, Kathryn mused, “I found the assurance I needed in realizing that without being aware, I had been preparing for this position for quite some time.” Her experience as a Church Lay Leader and a Prayer Leader gave her the confidence to help families through the difficult process of making final arrangements, and she found that she actually had a gift for this type of work.

We asked Kathryn if working at a funeral home has altered her perspective on life, and if so, how. “Well, you can’t help seeing things a little differently. One of the things that I now see more clearly is how unexpected the expected can be. We all know that the day is coming, but just not when, and when it comes, we are so often unprepared for it.”



Kathryn states that she has also been surprised by the difference that pre-planning makes for the family. She has observed how much easier things are for those families who have pre-need arrangements in place. “Before working at Sugar Land Mortuary and becoming a Licensed Pre-Need Counselor,” says Kathryn, “it never occurred to me what an important step this really is. When families are distraught over the loss of a loved one, it is much more difficult to plan services, while trying to keep a budget in mind, and taking in all of the differing opinions of the surviving spouse, children and siblings.” Kathryn has observed that pre-planning allows the family to focus on what is most important; they can focus on taking care of each other and bidding their loved one farewell. “No matter where families may have made their pre-need arrangements, we are able to accept those arrangements and honor the final wishes of the loved one who has passed, or the family member who had the forethought to plan when their loved one was ill. The most important thing is to do it before the need arises so that everyone has peace of mind.”

When asked what she enjoys most about being the face of Sugar Land Mortuary, Kathryn answers, “Being of help to people in a way that I never thought I could and being a part of something much larger than myself. My work here is truly one of the most fulfil-ling things I have ever done, and sometimes it’s a little overwhelming.”

As the Facility Manager of this new institution, the community’s response to Kathryn has also been somewhat overwhelming. Every family that uses Sugar Land Mortuary receives a survey card following their service. SLM has received a surprisingly high response rate to the surveys, and a number of personally written letters. A high response rate is usually an indication that people have something to say that is far from neutral. While most of the comments rave about Sugar Land Mortuary’s beautiful facility, respondents were equally impressed with the care that they received when they were there. Many of the letters and surveys specifically address their experience with Kathryn and the comfort she provided during one of their most difficult experiences. Some of the comments from the surveys and letters that we saw were, “My experience could not have been better. Kathryn and all the personnel were exceptional.” In commenting on the initial arrangement meeting, another gentleman described Kathryn as, “Charming, warm, insightful, caring.” Another family wrote, “Kathryn Boone was absolutely outstanding. She did all she could to make a very difficult timeframe work for the benefit of my family. She is truly an excellent professional with a family point of view.”

With these exceptional reviews, it seems that Kathryn has been a pivotal part of Sugar Land Mortuary’s success. “For any new business coming into an area, it is important to establish the right relationship with the community from the very first day you open the doors, and hiring Mrs. Boone has proven to be one of my best decisions,” says Williams.

Like other places in the community that this gem has touched, Kathryn Boone has helped Sugar Land Mortuary to shine.