Kathleen Preston

Kathleen Buckholts Marchant Preston, 80, passed away Saturday evening at her home, surrounded by family and friends.

She was born on July 14, 1936, to Carrie Mae and John Robert Buckholts in DuPont, Georgia, and attended public schools there.

She and her family moved to Tennessee, in 1955, and she worked as a secretary at Cleveland National Bank and at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church early in her career. She was among the leaders in development of the Cherokee Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals.

Ms. Preston joined Life Care Centers of America in 1979 as an associate in the accounting department. Eventually, she was promoted and became the administrative assistant to the president of Life Care, Des Cummings, and served with four presidents before finishing her employment career at Life Care.

“I had never planned to work outside the home,” she once said. “All I wanted was to be a wife and a mother, but when I came to work at Life Care, I found I loved it.”

As Life Care’s First Lady, she traveled often with her husband, Forrest L. Preston, to visit facilities – where she enjoyed interaction with residents and staff members – and to state and national health-care meetings.
Her personal delights were reading, Bible study, spending time with children and grandchildren, and hosting friends and family. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Cleveland.

In addition to her parents, Ms. Preston was preceded in death by brothers J.F. Buckholts, Willie C. Buckholts, and a son, Eddie Marchant.

Survivors include her husband, Forrest L. Preston; daughter and son-in-law, Gaye and Eddie Harris; sister, Irene Smith; brothers Harold Buckholts, Jimmy Buckholts, Joel Buckholts, and Wade Buckholts; grandchildren, Sherry Davenport, (Dean) Kari Harris Gilliland, (Charley) Christy Marchant-Mize, (Patrick) Micah Harris, (Chancey) Amy Marchant and Kyle Harris, (Laura); and 11great- grandchildren.

Visitation with the family will be Tuesday, January 24, from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Cleveland, with the funeral service to follow at 6 p.m. Officiating will be Dr. Allan Lockerman, the Rev. Doug Schultz, and Beecher Hunter.

A private service with the family will be conducted at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens on Wednesday, January 25. Serving as pallbearers are Micah Harris, Kyle Harris, Charlie Gilliland, Jackson Gilliland, Patrick Mize and Anton Lakatosh; Honorary Pallbearers are Harrison Gilliland and Brayden Harris.

Memorial Contributions can be made to Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Ralph Buckner Funeral Home and Crematory is honored to service the Preston family.