Kathleen Rafferty ""Kathie"" Pettit

Kathleen “Kathie” Rafferty Pettit, 75, of Seminole Florida, passed away December 28, 2020 in St. Petersburg, Florida due to complications with Leukemia. Kathie was born to the late Millie and Warren Rafferty in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania on June 26th, 1945. Kathie is preceded in death by her beloved parents, sister Karen, brother Tom, and granddaughter Treasa Webster. Her loving presence will be missed by her family, her husband Gene Pettit, brother Ronald Rafferty, daughter Julie Webster and her husband Bryan, her son Jeff Frye, her stepchildren Kent Pettit and his wife Nancy, Karl Pettit and his wife Lois. Kathie also leaves behind her deeply cherished grandchildren, Taylor Webster and his wife Nicole, Trista Webster, Kaleb Frye, and Tara Webster, Ashley Watts and husband Chad, Nicholas Pettit. Kathie was lucky to have great-grandchildren Abby and Auden Webster, Nathaniel and Genevieve Pettit. As a young woman Kathie left her hometown of Norvelt, Pennsylvania, where she lived with her family to travel and begin her life. She moved around the world, living in New York, Hawaii and Germany. Eventually, she settled back to Youngwood, Pennsylvania to raise the loves of her life, her children, near her family. In the 1970’s, a true feminist in self-sufficiency, she began a prosperous career in the field of insurance and finance. As an educated woman she was an integral part of the success of many corporations in addition to being the president of Toastmasters. As a highly respected and engaging speaker she decided to became an entrepreneur and begin her own business. Kathie became an insurance underwriter, certified financial consultant and planner and created her own business, “Financial Designs.” Kathie’s business thrived for many years until she retired. After her many years of hard work she settled in Panama City Beach Florida to be close to her children and grandchildren. In January of 2001 she married Austin “Gene” Pettit in a waterfront ceremony surrounded by family and friends. They began their life together while they enjoyed dancing, going to casinos and spending time with family. Kathie eventually moved to Seminole to be with family. Kathie was an animal lover; she has many dogs over the years. She always claimed to not be a cat lover, but in her later years the family cats really loved her, and she cared for the neighborhood cat as well. Here she became a voracious bridge player and member of the St. Petersburg Bridge Club. She loved being able to spend time with her growing grandchildren. Her hobbies in life were varied but also passionate. She was a tremendous advocate for pregnancy and infant loss, in support of her granddaughter Treasa. She loved deeply and took joy in her time with family. Kathie was a blessing to her family. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in her honor. www.lls.org Services will be held as a celebration of life in Panama City Beach and Seminole Florida at a later time.

Kathleen Rafferty ""Kathie"" Pettit

January 1, 2020